All volunteers (coaches, asst. coaches, managers, trainers, etc.) MUST register through the online registration system so that a background check can be conducted AND to gain access to mandatory training modules. Please click HERE to register.
YOU WILL NOT BE ALLOWED TO COACH IF YOU DO NOT COMPLETE ALL 3 COMPONENTS OF RISK MANAGEMENT - NO EXCEPTIONS
In order to meet the new US Soccer risk management program criteria, ALL ADULTS, including coaches, team managers, volunteers, club official, board members, etc. are required to complete the following three items:
All are mandatory in order for the adult to be added to a team account, team roster, or receive a KidSafe (Adult Participation) Pass. These components are linked through the coach, team official, or user accounts in GotSoccer.
The KidSafe Program provides the parents of children involved with youth soccer in South Texas a measure of security regarding the adults charged with responsibility of their children. Criminal background checks are required for all adult participants, coaches, team managers, volunteers, club officials, board members, etc.
CLICK HERE FOR KIDSAFE INFORMATION
To help ensure the health and safety of young athletes, CDC developed the HEADS UP Concussion in Youth Sports initiative to offer information about concussions to coaches, parents, and athletes involved in youth sports. The HEADS UP initiative provides important information on preventing, recognizing, and responding to a concussion.
CLICK HERE for How to complete your CDC Heads Up Concussion Course
On February 14, 2018, the Protecting Young Victims from Sexual Abuse and Safe Sport Authorization Act of 2017 was signed into law and became effective immediately. This bill amended the Victims of Child Abuse Act of 1990 to extend the duty to report suspected child abuse, including sexual abuse, within 24 hours to all adults who are authorized to interact with minor or amateur athletes by a national governing body, a member of a national governing body, or an amateur sports organization that participates in interstate or international amateur athletic competition.
U.S. Soccer has developed the Safe Soccer Framework as a foundation from which all participants in the soccer community, be they athletes, coaches, referees, administrators or volunteers, play an active role in creating an environment free from emotional, physical or sexual abuse. The Safe Soccer Framework is a comprehensive program of policies and process, screening, education and training, reporting, monitoring and enforcement designed to help participants detect and report abuse, respond to it, and prevent future occurrences.
Here are things we look to do and that you can do with the high temperatures and heat index:
Policy for Extreme Cold Weather Conditions
Due to the risk of hypothermia and/or frostbite during cold weather extremes, the following policy has been developed to protect AHFSH athletes, coaches, game workers, officials, and fans:
The time of 2:00 pm is chosen to provide ample time to contact all appropriate people to adjust plans for practices and games, and in most cases, the temperature will not increase significantly after this time of day. In order to maintain consistency, all temperatures will be taken from The Weather Channel website for the 78234/78209 zip code.
The rules of play for youth soccer are modified from soccer's general rules of play. The modifications allow for a modified playing format, e.g., 3v3 as opposed to 11v11, use of a smaller ball, e.g., size 3 for U-5 as opposed to a size 5, and other modifications that encouarage player development.
Following is a pdf of the general rules of play applicable to all of the youth age groups. You will note that the rules vary by age group, so you will need to identify your appropriate age group to determine which modifications apply.
Safety of all of our players, parents and volunteers is always a concern. In the event of lightning, AHFSH recommends adherence to the "30/30 Rule"; specifically, if thunder is heard within 30 seconds of seeing lightning, everyone should leave the fields and go to a safe location for at least 30 minutes following the last sighting of lightning. This Rule is recommended by the NCAA and the Lightning Safety Group.
Additional information regarding lightning safety is also available through the National Weather Service.
Our Director of Training, Steve Jennings, has prepared some documents with valuable and useful information for our coaches.
AHFSH prohibits pets at the soccer fields. Additionally, SMOKING IS NOT PERMITTED at the soccer fields. Teams are responsible for picking up all trash at the fields. Ultimately, the coaches are responsible for collecting trash on the fields, but coaches should enlist the assistance of parents and players. Finally, for those coaches playing on fields with corner flags, please make sure that the flags are in their proper position.
Contact our Director of Training if you have questions about the Coaches' manual or have suggestions for additional material for this page.
STYSA courses are age and level specific. Some courses have pre-requisites and some have pre-course assignments.
If you do not have any previous coaching licenses or certificates, use the following guidelines:
If you are coaching a U6/U12 recreational team, we recommend you start with the U.S. Soccer Grassroots in-person or online course based on the playing format you coach (i.e. 4v4, 7v7, 9v9)
If you are coaching a U13 or older Recreational team, we recommend you start with the U.S. Soccer Grassroots in-person or online course based on the playing format you coach (i.e. 11v11)
If you are coaching a U9/U10 Academy team, we recommend you start with the U.S. Soccer Grassroots in-person or online course based on the playing format you coach (i.e. 4v4, 7v7, 9v9) and the National Youth Course.
If you are coaching a Select team, we recommend you start with the U.S. Soccer Grassroots in-person or online course based on the playing format you coach (i.e. 4v4, 7v7, 9v9, 11v11), followed by the USSF D License Course and the National Youth Course.
Coaching Resources
South Texas Youth Soccer Association recognizes the impact coaches can make at all levels of the game and updates this page regularly with a variety of resources and initiatives ranging from USSF and USYS articles, best-practice recommendations, to articles relating to our Academy and Grassroots programs. For more information please contact the state office at (512) 272-4553
Grassroots/Recreational
Fall 2017 U6 Grassroots Training Sessions- 10 Week Lesson Plans
Planning Training Session Tools
Creating a Training Session Plan
US Youth Soccer Training Session Template
US Youth Soccer Resources
US Youth Soccer U6-U8 Practice Activities
US Youth Soccer U-10 Practice Activities
US Youth Soccer U-12 Practice Activities
US Youth Soccer Development Model
US Youth Soccer Small Sided Games Manual- Updated Feb 2017
US Soccer Resources
US Soccer Player Development Initiatives and FAQS- Updated August 2017
US Soccer Referee Program YouTube - video tutorials on LOTG and other related topics
AHFSH Youth Soccer hired long-time local youth soccer coach and development expert Steve Jennings as its first Director of Training in 2007. Steve has been involved in coaching for twenty years and has attained the highest licenses in coaching at both the senior and junior levels, currently holding both a USSF “A” license and a National Youth License. Since coming to the United States from Liverpool, England, where he played soccer at the semi-pro level with Kirby Town Football Club, he has been actively involved with coaching and developing not only many of South Texas' players, but also many of the coaches who are currently training players in our state.
Steve has served as the Director of Coaching for the South Texas Youth Soccer League (which oversees youth soccer for all US Youth Soccer-affiliated leagues in the southern part of the state), he has coached both girls and boys' teams in Texas' Olympic Development Program, where most of our US National Team players begin their careers, and he has coached teams that have won State Championships at every level. Although Steve will work as AHFSH's Director of Training, he will remain active in our parent organizations, serving as a Senior Clinician for the South Texas Youth Soccer Association and an ODP Scout. Although Steve is charged with overseeing the coaches and professional trainers working with the league's Fire and Academy League ("Fire Junior") teams, Steve also focuses on developing our league's coaches and players at all levels through the introduction of a training curriculum, coaching education and coach/player training sessions.
Coaches are welcome to contact Steve for assistance.
Director of Training
Phone: 210-973-6002/ 210-725-2283 (cell)