COACHING
MANUAL
2010-11
1
WFC RANGERS
WHATCOM FOOTBALL CLUB
Mission Statement
The Whatcom FC Rangers are the designated soccer club in Whatcom County
that can recruit players across club lines in order
to promote the highest level of play possible within Washington
State’s select system of soccer. The goal is to offer a competitive environment for
those players wanting to strive and compete at a
higher level of play.
As a WFC Ranger coach, you are in an exciting and challenging position. You have been commissioned
to help our counties most advanced soccer players develop to their full potential. It is your responsibility to
teach our players the four components of an elite soccer player:
1. Technical Skills (passing, receiving, dribbling, etc.)
2. Tactical Decision Making (what, when, where we do things on the field)
3. Physical Fitness (speed, agility, balance, strength, coordination, and endurance)
4. Character (leadership, mental toughness, commitment, etc.)
As you are developing individual players, it is equally important to develop players as a cohesive unit.
Don’t underestimate the value of team bonding and camaraderie. Our teams will only go as far as the
weakest player in that age group. Our club is structured so that the Head Coach of the Gold team has
contact with and knowledge of every player in their age group. It is essential that we develop the entire age
group to build club enthusiasm and support between the Gold, Blue, and White teams. In addition, we
don’t ever want to make a child chose between one sport and another. So be flexible with your schedule.
LET’S WORK TOGETHER!
There are so many wonderful people involved in our club. Let’s be committed to getting to know
other coaches, players and parents throughout the season. Take the time to stop and chat with other
coaches before and after your trainings and games. Invite other coaches to help you out occasionally at
games and trainings so your players get the benefit of numerous coaches. Have the younger players watch
some of the older players train or play games. This club camaraderie will enrich everyone’s experience.
ATTITUDE
Our coaches are role models to players. Be conscientious of how your actions, on and off the field,
may be perceived by players and parents. Players learn by example, especially younger players. If you yell
and argue with the referees, you can be assured that your players and parents will adopt similar behavior.
The same goes for showing up to practice and games on time.
MEETINGS & LICENSING
All coaches are expected to attend WFC Ranger Coaches Meetings and Clinics. They will vary in
regards to location and time. The Director will notify you of each meeting at least a month in advance.
Coaches must contact the DOC with their summer tournament and training schedule by
June 1. The club strongly recommends that all coaches obtain their USSF C Coaching License or
equivalent NSCAA diploma. Coaches of premier level teams must obtain their USSF C Coaching License or
equivalent NSCAA diploma prior to tryouts of their second year with the team.
2
DEVELOPMENT PHILOSOPHY
Our goal is to develop individual players and teams to their fullest potential. Players will improve
rapidly if they are motivated to play. Soccer practices and games must be enjoyable for our players. We
can still demand and expect elite performance and focus from players that are having a good time. We
strive to create well-rounded players that can play in different systems of play. Players’ abilities change
dramatically between ages 12-16, so make sure to give your players exposure to different roles on the field.
Strikers should be taught the principals of defending and defenders need to know how to take people on
with the dribble. This will ensure that players are prepared to be successful in any situation.
The Club has a Director of Coaching (DOC), a group of Associate Directors of Coaching (ADOC) and
a Goalkeeper Coach. This development staff is provided by the club to help players, teams, and coaches to
improve throughout the year and their careers. We will run skills clinics throughout the year for the select
level players and coaches. In addition to these clinics we will provide one game evaluation and one training
evaluation for each select level team. The development staff will provide the premier level teams with 5
training sessions and 2 game evaluations. All goalkeepers will have access to training, provided by the club,
during 2 mini camps. The premier level team will also be able to schedule the goalkeeper coach to attend
their trainings during the year to help train the goalkeepers. The staff trainings can be formatted any way
the coaches want. For example the Development staff could work with your defenders while you work with
the attackers or provide 30 minutes of technical finishing training for the entire team at the beginning of
training, or run a three day mini-camp on speed of play and transition. They will help in any way that the
coaches want. They are in place to answer questions and help with development issues throughout the
year.
Great coaches are constantly watching and playing soccer, attending coaching clinics, asking
questions, and reading books. I challenge all of our coaches to move outside their comfort zones and
improve their coaching ability each year.
TRYOUTS
The head coaches for each of the age group teams will conduct tryouts for their age group. Each
group will have two hours on each day to select a team. It is recommended that you evaluate players in
different situations (small sided games, full sided games, drills, etc.). Rate players on their overall ability
on a scale of 1-5. The scores will be averaged and tabulated before the second tryout for your information.
During the second tryout you will need to decide which players are on the Gold roster, Blue roster, and
possibly White roster. A goalkeeper coach will evaluate the goalkeepers for the first hour on the first day
and give you the results. U12-14 team rosters should not exceed 16 players at tryouts to ensure proper
playing time and to accommodate player movement and new players to the area. Players will be
allowed to tryout for their age group and any older age group during tryouts. The head
coaches from the two age groups along with the DOC will decide the best place for these
players.
TRAINING SITES
Finding proper training facilities is the responsibility of the coach. The Rangers have a number of
portable goals that can be checked out from the club. Be sure to respect other facilities. Clean up after your
self and do not do damage on fields by playing on them under poor circumstances. Some suitable training
sites are:
Bloedel Donovan Park Kulshan Middle School Shuksan Middle School
Meridian High School Battersby Park Fairhaven Middle School
Sehome High School Squalicum High School Bellingham High School
Carl Cozier Elementary Civic Stadium Whatcom Community College
Northwest Soccer Park Bender Fields in Lynden
The premier level teams will train together at one site during June and everyone trains together from
November to February. The club will post a schedule with dates and times for these sessions.
3
TEAM MANAGER
Every WFC Ranger team is required to have a team manager. Remember that next to the coach, the
team manager is the most important person on the team. The team manager should attend at least one
practice a week to catch up on team issues and disseminate any needed information. Coaches should
identify someone who is well-organized, dependable, and easy to work with. The manager should take care
of the day to day issues, allowing the coach to focus on coaching.
TRANSFERRING PLAYERS & NEW PLAYERS
The director and registrar must authorize all new player tryouts and player movement including
players leaving the program. Coaches need to notify the DOC and board of directors when any substantial
disciplinary action is taken. The board of Directors and the Development Directors are available to help
with team issues.
PLAYING TIME
Everyone on the team should play substantial minutes in all games. Give serious thought to the
number of players on your roster so that it will be easy to get everyone solid minutes. It doesn’t do any
good for kids to only play 10 minutes a game. Be very careful not to humiliate players by only playing them
10 minutes a game. Have a substitution plan before each game. Try not to start the same players every
game of the year. We all have games where we can start some of our weaker players. These occasional
starts go a long way in building the confidence of these players.
4
Rangers Club Contacts
2010 Coaches Email List
Mike Anderson, adventuredad@comcast.net
Jason Conway, conwayjason@hotmail.com
Dean Haverstraw, dhaverstraw@comcast.net
Matt Durkee, durkee01@comcast.net
Jon Fleck, jfleck@bham.wednet.edu
Josh Turpen, jmturpen@gmail.com
Kevin O'Daniel, koref1@aol.com
Kevin Quinn, padraicquinn@comcast.net
Kyle Langowski, kylelangowski@mac.com
Lance Calloway, lance@whatcomsoccer.com
Mary Wellnitz, wellnim@yahoo.com
Eric Michaelson, ecmich6@comcast.net
Rahmin Buckman, buckman333@hotmail.com
Robert Knowles, rknowles@whatcomymca.org
Marc Ronney, marcr@bellinghamsportsplex.com
Scott Caldwell, skippysoccer@hotmail.com
Molly Soltero, mollyanne710@gmail.com
Shawn Statham, sstatham@tycovalves.com
Travis Connell, travis.connell@wwu.edu
Brian Weeda, bjweeda@callatg.com
Board Contact List
Contact First Last Phone Phone Email
President Dean Haverstraw 920-3147 676-2807 dhaverstraw@gmail.com
VP Eric Russell 738-9179 err@nas.com
VP of Boys Mike Diehl diehl6@comcast.net
VP of Girls Scott Tarleton 319-3855 starleton@supplierlinkservices.com
Boys at Large
rep Tim Hart 592-5392 398-2300 tim@bossconstruction.biz
Girls at Large
rep Liz Herdman herdman5@comcast.net
Secretary Lynda Smith 961-6836 lyndaksmith@comcast.net
Treasure Jennifer Gonzalez 393-6080 jennifer.gonzalez@mossadams.com
Registrar Tara Wolfe 303-3826 twolfe@surveysystems.com
Admin Director Charleen Wallace 671-5408 319-8668 CharsWFC@comcast.net
Websites
http://www.eteamz.com/rangers/ Whatcom Rangers
http://www.wsysa.com/ Washington State Youth Soccer Association
http://www.playerdevelopmentleague.org/ Player Development League (PDL)
http://wwuvikings.cstv.com/ WWU Vikings Athletics
http://www.ussoccer.com/ US Soccer
National Soccer Coaches Association of
http://www.nscaa.com/ America
http://www.whatcomsoccer.com/ Whatcom Sports Commission
5
WFC Rangers
Expectations for Coaches
____________________________________________________
Coaching position:
Coaches are responsible for teaching the skills, rules, sportsmanship, safety and tactics of soccer through
organized training to prepare individual players and their team to be successful in formal competition. This is a multi-
year development effort.
_____________________________________________________________
Reports to:
Coaches, as employees of the Club, report to the Club’s Director of Development and coordinate specific
team activities with the team’s manager.
________________________________________________________________________
Expectations:
Understand that Ranger coaches are highly regarded by young players in their formative years, as well as the
larger soccer community, and conduct themselves as a positive role model.
Submit an annual team calendar to the Director of Coaching. The calendar is to include tournaments, training
schedule and location, special camps or other team activities, and a provision for at least one two-week break
from soccer for players during the summer. This calendar should also be submitted to the team’s manager for
distribution to the team’s families.
Attend regularly scheduled coaches meetings with the Director of Coaching as well as Club functions
including Ranger Night, Registration Night, tryouts and Annual Fund Raiser.
Work with the Director of Coaching to identify and pursue on-going personal development.
Mentor assistant coaches in all aspects of coaching and team management. Placing our assistant coaches in an
environment where they can learn from the best every day for the entire season is the most effective way to
develop strong future coaches. Our future lead coaches will learn more about coaching, communicating with
players and parents, motivation, and dealing with adversity, in this environment than in any clinic, book or
seminar.
Schedule and use the Ranger Club Development Program trainings to improve individual players and the
team. Contact VP of Boys or Girls, as appropriate, whenever a trainer is used so the Club can track utilization
for planning purposes.
Provide all players with feedback by way of a progress report on their performance either in writing or in an
individual meeting at least once a season.
U17 and U18 coaches must help players create college recruiting bios with the assistance of the Club’s
Director of Coaching.
Responsibilities to Players
The coach shall never place the value of winning over the safety and welfare of players.
Coaches shall not seek unfair advantage by teaching deliberate unsportsmanlike behavior to players.
Demands on players’ time should never be so extensive as to interfere with academic goals or progress.
Coaches should take an active role in educating their players about sports nutrition, fitness and about
prevention of tobacco use. Coaches should avoid the use of all tobacco and tobacco related products when in
the presence or view of players at sanctioned events and related activates.
Responsibilities to Officials
Officials must have the support of coaches, players and spectators. Coaches must refrain from criticizing
officials in the presence of players or spectators.
6
Professional respect, before, during and after the game, should be mutual. There should be no demeaning
dialogue or gestures between official, coach or player.
Responsibilities regarding Scouting and Recruiting
It is inappropriate to recruit players actively playing on another team.
When discussing the advantages of his/her organization, the coach has an obligation to be forthright and
refrain from making derogatory remarks regarding other coaches, teams and organizations.
Coaches shell not scout any team, by any means whatsoever, except in regularly scheduled games.
Coach Minimum requirements:
Possess a Valid Washington State Drivers License.
Must undergo and clear a Washington State Patrol Background Check.
Must be 18 Years of Age or older.
Gold team coaches must be working towards their National “C” Coaching License.
Blue and White team coaches should attend coaching clinics throughout the year and are encouraged to attend
the “E” and “D” state coaching license clinics.
Please sign your name below if you agree to abide by these expectations and responsibilities.
Coach’s Signature_________________________________________ Date ____________________
Please sign and return (electronically is fine) to:
Dave Brown, Rangers Director of Coaching
2710 Cody Circle # 203
Bellingham, WA 98225
davebrown2006@comcast.net
7
WFC RANGERS
2010 CALENDAR
Date Time Event Location
March 13-17 BU16-18 Tryouts
May BU12-15 & GU12-18 Ranger Tryouts
June Premier level teams train together
June 25-27 Baker Blast Tournament NWSP
Every team should attend at least one other Ranger
game during the tournament to cheer them on.
June 26 Ranger Coaching Clinic at one of the games NWSP
July 20-23 WWU Premier Soccer Camp (Girls & Boys 9-14) WWU
July 27-29 WWU Blue Chip College Camp (Girls & Boys 15-18) WWU
August 13-15 Rimland Cup NWSP
Cheer on the Girls Ranger Teams!
August WFC Ranger Goalkeeper Camp NWSP
August Coaches should give individual player feedback in written form to all players.
August 27-29 Pacific Coast Challenge NWSP
Cheer on the Boys Ranger Teams!
September 18 4pm WWU Women vs. Saint Martins University Whatcom CC
7pm WWU Men vs. Trinity Lutheran University Whatcom CC
September 25 4pm WWU Women vs. Montana State University Whatcom CC
7pm WWU Men vs. Montana State University Whatcom CC
September Coaching Clinic
October Coaching clinic
October 23 4pm WWU Women vs. Seattle pacific University Whatcom CC
7pm WWU Men vs. Simon Fraser University Whatcom CC
November Training starts at Whatcom CC after Daylight savings
December Coaches should give individual player feedback in written form to all players.
January Premier level teams train together
Premier Finishing Clinics
Premier SAQ Clinics
GK Training
January Rangers Coaching Clinic (DOC)
January-February BU15-18 WA State Cup & BGU11-18 Commissioners Cup
January-March BU12-14 & GU12-18 PDL Winter Season
March –May BU12-14 & GU12-18 WA State Cups
8
WFC RANGERS
Tournaments & Camps 2010
DATE TOURNAMENT LOCATION LEVEL
May 14-16 Showcase of Champions (Girls U16-19) Tacoma Gold Teams
May 21-23 Showcase of Champions (Boys U16-19) Tacoma Gold Teams
May 21-23 Skagit River Cup Burlington Premier & Select
May 28-31 Starfire Memorial Cup Starfire Premier
May 28-31 Viking Cup Poulsbo Blue & White
June 11-13 Rainier Challenge (Girls) Tacoma Premier
June 18-20 Rainier Challenge (Boys) Tacoma Premier
June 18-20 Skagit Firecracker Tournament Burlington Blue & White
June 25-27 Baker Blast Bellingham Premier & Select
June 26-29 US Club Soccer Regionals Lake Washington Gold
July Kent Cornucopia Cup Kent Blue & White
July 2-4 Portland Cup Hillsborough, OR Gold
July 3-5 Pegasus Cup San Diego Gold & Blue
July 9-11 Sounders FC Adidas Cup Starfire Gold
July 10-12 Nike Crossfire Challenge (Boys) Redmond Gold
July WA Games Soccer Classic Starfire Premier
July PCU Summer Classic Portland, OR Blue & White
July 16-18 Beaverton Cup Oregon Premier
July 16-18 Tumwater Kick in the Grass Tumwater Select
July 17-19 Nike Crossfire Challenge (Girls) Redmond Gold
July Narrows Cup Soccer Tournament Tacoma Blue & White
July OPIC Silverdale Blue
July King of the Hill Soccer tournament Puyallup Select
July 20-23 WWU Premier Camp Boys & Girls U9-15 WWU
July 23-25 Harbor Tyee Cup Gig Harbor Select
July United Invitational Snohomish Premier
July 27-29 WWU Blue Chip College Camp Boys & Girls U16-19 WWU
July Marysville Strawberry Classic Marysville Blue & White
July Federal Way Blastoff (Girls) Federal Way Blue & White
August Mission Viejo Invitational California Premier
August Federal Way Blastoff (Boys) Federal Way Blue & White
August Sammamish Mayor’s Cup Issaquah Select
August 5-8 Denver Cup Denver, CO Gold
August 6-8 Starfire Extreme Cup Starfire
August 12-15 Chinook Cup (U10-14) Tigard, OR Premier
August 13-15 Rimland Pacific Cup (Girls) Bellingham Gold
August 19-22 Snohomish Bigfoot Snohomish Premier
August South Mason Kickoff Shelton Select
August 20-22 HPFC Sea-Tac Cup Sea-Tac Blue
August 27-29 Pacific Coast Challenge (Boys) Bellingham Gold
August Sky River Soccer Tournament Monroe Select
Sept. 3-6 Metro-Ford Tournament Vancouver, BC any team
Sept. 3-6 Starfire Labor Day Cup Starfire remier
Sept. 4-6 Skagit (NWU) Labor Day Kick Burlington Select
Sept. 3-6 Puyallup Valley Kick-off Puyallup Select
September 4/5 First Game of Fall season
November 26-28 Starfire Field Turf Showcase (U15-19) Starfire Gold
November 26-28 Nomads Thanksgiving Tournament San Diego, CA Gold
January HPFC Showcase Starfire Gold
January Winter College Showcase (U16-19) Hillsborough, OR Gold
January GRFC Winter Classic (U11-14) Starfire Premier
More information on these tournaments can be found on the tournaments page of the State Website
http://www.wsysa.com/Tournaments/SanctionedTournaments/tabid/143/language/en-US/Default.aspx
9
WFC RANGERS
AGE GROUP OBJECTIVES
These coaching objectives are intended to provide coaches with goals/objectives when working with any
age group of Ranger player. The objectives provide areas of focus that should help coaches organize their
time and energy over the course of a season. As coaches we need to have an understanding of the players
we are coaching. If the coaches have an understanding of their players as well as the objectives outlined
below, it can provide a road map for the overall soccer development of their players.
U12-14
1. Evaluate players and get them on the correct teams.
2. Development of individual technical skills under pressure.
Consistent short and long distance passing (ability to strike a driven ball).
Consistent ability to receive the ball with different surfaces and be constructive with first
touch.
Ability to take players on 1v1.
Ability to finish open chances off crosses, through balls, drops, and combinations.
3. Teach principles of Possession.
Spread out and establish proper shape.
Open your body to the field.
Square support and through support.
Pass and move into space.
Know what you are going to do before you receive the ball.
4. Get in the habit of looking over your shoulder while the ball is moving to you ( head checks).
5. Physical Fitness.
Improve quickness of feet (ladder work).
Improve balance on one foot and both feet.
Increase agility (change direction quickly).
6. Ability to apply principles of defending in 1v1, 1v2, and 2v2 situations.
Delay the ball.
Tracking back.
Helping the defender on the ball (cover).
7. Begin Team Building, character building (responsibility), and mental toughness.
8. Introduce small group decision making.
U15-16
1. Team Defending 3v3, 4v4, 5v5.
Get compact when your team loses the ball.
Slow the ball.
Cover the defender on the ball.
Understand the role of the weak side defender (balance).
Communication.
2. Improve team shape 5v5, 8v8, 11v11.
10
3. Improve combination play.
Angles of support
Timing of runs.
Takeovers.
Wall pass.
Overlap.
Third man run.
4. Position-specific training; for example outside midfield players or forwards crossing the ball.
5. Improve speed of play.
6. Strength Training.
7. Ability to apply the principles of attack.
Support.
Creating Space.
Balance.
Penetration.
Improvisation.
8. Set Plays.
9. Ability to read the visual cues of the game.
If the opponent is flat in the back try to play a penetrating ball.
If the ball handlers head is down facing away from the field we can double team on defense.
Etc.
U17-18
1. Improve positional play.
Roles on the team.
2. Improve strength and conditioning.
3. Complete understanding of 11v11 attacking tactics.
Shape & spacing
Speed of Play and Tempo.
Final third execution.
Creating space.
4. Complete understanding of team defending tactics.
Pressure, cover, balance.
Winning the ball back in certain parts of the field.
Knowing when to drop in and absorb and when to high pressure.
5. Identifying the opponent’s weaknesses and exploiting them.
6. Performance consistency.
11
WFC Rangers Criteria for Coaching Stipends
1. Coaching Experience. Coaches will get credit for each year, up to ten years, that they have been the head
coach of a select traveling team, high school varsity team, college team or better. This is implemented after
the coach has three years of experience.
2. Team. Coaching levels:
- Top league in the state,
- Premier level teams
- select level teams receive
3. Coaching License. The Coaching License amount will be figured at the time of tryouts so if a coach gets a
higher license during the year it will not be reflected in their pay until the following year. The club will no
longer reimburse for licensing courses.
- USSF National A or B License
- USSF National C License
- WSYSA National D License
- WSYSA State D License
- No License
4. Playing Experience. Levels:
- Can prove that they played varsity soccer at a four year college
- coaches that can prove they played professional soccer
5. Development Staff Evaluation. The Director of Development along with the Associate Directors of Boys
and Girls will rate coaches on 7 aspects of coaching (ability to communicate with players, knowledge of
tactics, knowledge of techniques, team management, mature role model, relationship with parents, ability to
mentor assistants coaches). The scores will be averaged to create a grade.
6. Coaching History Levels:
- Head coaching experience at a 4-year college or state/regional ODP teams.
- Head coaching experience at a 2-year college or assistant coaching experience at a 4-year college.
- Club and High School head coaching experience
7. Participation in Club Events. Coaches must attend Tryouts, Coaching Meeting and 4 of the 5 Coaching
Clinics, Ranger Night and give each of their players written and verbal evaluation midway through the year.
If coaches are unable to perform these tasks they will be paid less.
12