Coaches and Managers

Volunteer coaches and managers are the backbone of Shorelake Soccer Club. It takes a substantial commitment from each of you to ensure that our players have the opportunity to take to the field each weekend. Thank you!

Head Coaches

Whether you’re an experienced coach or a parent picking up the clipboard for the first time, the resources below can help get you started with planning your training sessions and game day strategy.

Taking the time to attend in person classes and build training sessions based on your team’s needs will help make you more effective and will make your time volunteering that much more rewarding. Some resources are as follows:

• Seattle Youth Soccer Association

• Washington Youth Soccer

  • In Person Classes

  • Age Appropriate Training Sessions

• US Soccer

• Arena Sports Classes

Some of the things we’re looking for from our coaches:

• Leadership - Coaches are leaders and mentors. This means showing up on time, having a plan, setting a good example and providing age and skill-level appropriate guidance for your players.

• Enthusiasm - Coaches need to bring enough enthusiasm to get every player hyped to play soccer. When things are going well, they need to encourage the players to continue executing the game plan. When they’re not, they need to encourage players to hold their heads high.

• Patience - Whether its a U5 team of six or a U16 team of eighteen, soccer players are an active bunch. Your patience will be tested, but keeping your cool and setting an example as a leader and role model for your players will help them succeed.

Please contact our Development Coordinator with any questions regarding coaching resources.

Assistant Coaches

Assistant Coaches are a huge component of any successful team. Having one or two additional sets of eyes looking out for the players at practices and games can make all the difference in how a season goes.

Some of the things that Assistant Coaches can help with are as follows:

• Set Up and Tear Down - While the head coach might be working with the active drill, assistants can help clean up from the last drill or help set up the next.

• A watchful eye - A full team of 18 players isn’t something a head coach can handle on their own. Whether there’s a drill that requires the team to split into smaller groups, a player who might need a bit of extra encouragement, or a tactical opportunity that needs to be raised, having another set of eyes on the team at practices and games can be all the difference in a successful training or match day.

• Encouragement and guidance - During practices and games, having another person who knows the players, their tendencies, and their personal goals will help make their experience more rewarding.

• Bench and sideline management - During games, having someone to keep the players on the bench (and the parents in the stands) focused on the game can be incredibly helpful as the coach is focusing on the tactical moves on the field.

• Offering backup - Life happens and sometimes there are scheduling conflicts. Having assistants that are able to step in when the head coach can’t make a practice or game will give the players continuity and familiarity that will allow them to continue to grow.

Team Managers

Team Managers are essential to keeping each of our teams running. They take the administrative burden off of the coaches and help connect the parents and players to one another.

Some of the things Team Managers can help with are as follows:

• Fall Registration Reminders - For established teams, team managers often help get the call out for registration as it opens up in May of each year.

• Uniform Pick up and Distribution - Picking up, packaging, and distributing uniforms can be a time consuming process.

• Collect Medical Waivers - Tracking down medical waivers for each player can help the coaches stay focused on practice.

• Snack Schedules - Coordinating the snack and orange slice schedule can be more time consuming that one would think. Team Managers often help put the schedule together.

• Carpooling - Team Managers often help organize carpools (and, for younger players, the corresponding car seat transfers).

• Picture Day - Picture day occurs each season in October. Team Managers often help with scheduling the team’s timeslot so everyone can make it, and making sure everyone is at their appointment time early. Picture ordering information will be emailed to families from our vendor. Picture packets are mailed directly to families.

• Group Outings - Some teams like to pick a Sounders, Reign, or local high school game to attend together and the team managers might coordinate a group ticket purchase.

• SYSA City Tournament Registration - For teams U11 and older, team managers often help coordinate entry into the SYSA end of season tournament. The tournament runs from the week after Thanksgiving through mid-December. Registration closes around November 1 each year and requires an entry fee.

• End of Season Parties - Many teams get together at the end of the season for a pizza or frozen yogurt party or a parents/kids game (or both!).

• End of Season Awards - Many teams hand out trophies, medals, certificates, and other keepsakes for their players. It can be a nice way for the players to remember their season and for the coaches to call out a job well done.

• Spring Soccer Registration - Many teams get back together in the spring to play spring soccer against other SYSA teams. Team managers often help coordinate entry, fee collection, and other logistics around the spring league.