Dowling Soccer Club

Coach Tips and Responsibilities

 

Thank you for agreeing to coach a Dowling Soccer Club team!  Coaching youth sports is a fun activity.  Our goal is that you can help lead your team to learn more about themselves, as well as the game of soccer, while having an enjoyable experience.  In order to assist you, we have outlined below many common questions that come up for new coaches. 

 

Supplies needed:

  • Club provides:
    • Game ball: Size 4 - U-10 and U-12; Size 5 – U-14 and up
    • Team pennies for new coaches to club
    • Basic medical kit for new coaches to club
  • Other suggested items:
    • Cones
    • Air pump
    • Goalie gloves (if no player has any)
    • Extra soccer balls

 

Team Organization:

  • Uniforms:
    • Club provides T-shirt for uniform.  Player provides maroon shorts. 
    • Contact Soccer Connection if your team wants to order Club Uniform Jersey and Shorts.  All orders need to be made at least 2-3 weeks minimum in order to have in time for first game.
    • Players can get Club standard soccer socks at Soccer Connection – choose either white with maroon stripes or maroon with white stripes.
    • You should have players bring another standard color shirt or use pennies in case the opposing team uses the same colors.  The visiting team is required to change uniform if the colors are too similar.
  • Player information:
    • You will be provided a team roster with phone numbers, addresses and e-mails.  We suggest you forward to the team so parents can have this information, also.
    • Club will contact parents by e-mail to notify them that their child has been placed on your team.  They will receive your name and telephone number. 
    • Please contact your team as soon as possible after you receive the roster so they know the basic information about your team.  We suggest you set up an e-mail list so you can efficiently contact the team. 
    • New player cards are issued in the fall for all players and used for the fall and spring seasons.  New cards are issued in the spring if the player did not play for our club in the fall.  Player cards must be signed and have a picture affixed or the referee may not allow them to play. 
    • If we are aware of any medical information that would impact a player’s condition, we will forward that information to you. 

 

 

  • Practices:
    • Fields are difficult to utilize for practice at Dowling Catholic.  Club teams typically practice at area fields including Indian Hills Middle School in Clive or Urbandale Parks (Townsend, Walker Johnson).
    • Players should have proper equipment at all practices.
  • You may want to assign duties to Team Parents.  Examples might include: contacting team members with changes to planned games or practices, managing referee pay and organizing uniform acquisition.

 

 

Games:

  • We expect all players and coaches to display good sportsmanship at all times.  Please request that parents also display appropriate behavior on the sidelines.
  • We recommend arriving at least one half hour before game time.  If you cannot arrive that early or have to miss a game, please request a parent to assist and provide them the necessary information and supplies for the game.
  • You will be provided player cards and an official roster.  You must have both available at all games.
  • Each player on U-14 teams must play at least ˝ of each season game that they attend, except for injury or disciplinary action.   Players on U-15 teams and above must play at least 1/3 of each season game that they attend.  These are Greater Des Moines recreational league rules so all team must abide by this rule.
  • Score sheets:
    • Coaches will be provided an official score sheet that referees must complete and sign after each game (U-12 and above).
    • Coaches report scores each week by Sunday evening to Director of Scores – currently e-mail Bob Vander Linden at bob@ergcorp.com.  Bob will report to Greater Des Moines League.  See their website at gdsmsoccer.org.
    • At the end of the season, the completed score sheet must be mailed to Director of Scores, Bob Vander Linden.

 

 

Home Game Details:

  • Home games are played at Dowling Catholic High School on the appropriate sized-field on the northwest side of the campus.
  • One home game per year may be scheduled at Cownie Fields on the southeast side of Des Moines – so check the schedule closely.
  • For games at Dowling Catholic:
    • Fields will be marked regularly by field maintenance volunteers.  See website for Director of Fields with questions or to volunteer to assist.
    • Corner flags must be set up and taken down before and after each game, unless another game is schedule immediately before or after your game.  The goals also must be secured by stakes.  The goals are usually staked for the entire season once the season begins.  The flags and stakes are located in the shed on the west side of the fields between the upper and lower fields.  The combination of the lock is currently 33-39-25.
    • Pay referees:
      • After each game, the coach must pay the center referee and ARs, if certified ARs are used.  Pay will be provided at the beginning of the season for all home games.  The coach must have the referees complete the receipt of payment form for each game.
      • At the end of the season, the referee pay receipts must be returned to the club Treasurer, along with any unused pay provided.  Coaches are responsible for any unaccounted cash.
  • Rescheduling games:
    • If weather conditions require a home game to be rescheduled, a club officer will contact you.  Please contact the opposing team and your own team as soon as possible.
    • If a home game must be rescheduled because one of the teams cannot field a team or any other reason, please contact the Referee Scheduler, the opposing team and your team.
    • To schedule a new time for a home game, please contact the Referee Scheduler and Field Scheduler.

 

 

 

Resources and Contacts:

  • See Club website at www.Dowlingsoccerclub.org for list of current officers and contact information.
  • Coaching tips including a coaches manual that has sample practice games can be found at the Iowa Soccer Association website at www.iowasoccer.org.