skip navigation

Intent to Coach Form

This form is for coaches and assistant coaches who wish to coach for the upcoming season. This form must be filled out every season by both the coach and assistant coach.  New coaches and assistants must submit their information for a Background Check and complete the initial Safe Sport Training, before they can be assigned to a team.   ALL background checks and Safe Sport Certificates expire May 31st every year.  Every coach must  renew their Background Check and Safe Sport Training prior to the start of the Fall season.

Background Checks

All teams contacts (Coaches, Assistant Coaches, Managers, etc) must pass a background check each year.  Current background checks expire in June of each year. 

To request a background check, log into your Gotsport account and follow these steps:

 

 

  • In the gray bar, click on the link called 'Background Checks'
  • Click on the button called 'Submit New Report'
  • Enter your information and click 'Submit'

It can take a few days for the report to come back with a result.  If you are approved, you will be attached to your team account. 

Practice Schedules

Coaches pick practice dates and times at the coaches meeting before the season begins.  Practices are scheduled for 1 hour to 1 and 15 minutes increments beginning at 5:30, 6:40, or 7:30 Monday - Friday.  Teams can choose 1-2 practice days, based on field availability and age groups. 

It is necessary to schedule some games for week night evenings and those games take precedent over practices.  Coaches should actively check their game schedule to note conflicts. 

Field lights are controlled by the city based on our practice schedule.  If your practice changes and you need lights at a different time, you must communicate with a board member at least 24 hours in advance.

Contact your Players

Once you have been tied to a team and the team rosters have been released (usually right after the coaches meeting), please contact your player's parents.  Even a note giving them your contact information and telling them you will be getting back with them about practice schedules will go a long way in helping answer many of the pre-season questions we get!

Assistant Coaches

We encourage all teams to have at least one assistant coach in case of schedule conflicts.  Assistant Coaches are determined by the head coach.

Note:  This request MUST come from the head coach.

SEASON PROCEDURES

Game Sheets

Game Sheets

 

 

Printed game sheets will be provided by the officials for each home game. 

 

Game sheets are also available in your team account.  When you view your schedule, clicking on the game number will open a new screen with your game sheet in pdf form.  This game sheet can be printed and brought to each game.

Please do not print all season game sheets at one time.  Any roster changes (for your team OR the opposing team) must be reflected on the game sheet.  In addition, if any players from either team are ineligible to play in a game, their name will be crossed out on the game sheet when it is printed.  To capture those changes, game sheets should be printed no more than 48 hours prior to game time.

At the end of the game, the referee will ask both coaches to sign the game sheets.  The home team's game sheet will be taken by the referee and turned in to the association.  Home team coaches are encouraged to take a picture of the game sheet to aid them in reporting the score.

TRAINING / TIPS / RESOURCES

NTSSA Code of Ethics for Coaches

The code of ethics has been developed to clarify and distinguish approved and accepted professional, ethical, and moral behavior from that which is detrimental to the development of the sport of soccer.  Ennis Soccer Association holds all coaches, assistant coaches, and team officials to the standards of this code.

Laws of the Game

The International Football Association Board (IFAB) establishes and publishes the official "Laws of the Game".  These laws cover the game from youth all the way to adults.  You can find the most current Laws of the Game here.

 

While this Association establishes the overall rules of the game, it is important to remember that they structure them so local associations are able to modify the Laws as necessary for their needs.  Most of our modifications can be viewed in our Quick Game Summary.

SafeSport Training

All coaches, assistants and managers must complete the SafeSport Training before they can be place on a team.   The SafeSport Training Certification expires on May 31, each year.  Once you have taken the full class you are able to renew your certification with a 15-minute refresher course.  This training is available at NO cost to ESA Coaches, Managers and Team Contacts through the U.S. Center for SafeSport The training modules will help to increase your awareness regarding: 

 

  1.  Sexual Misconduct Awareness
  2.  Mandatory Reporting 
  3.  Emotional and Physical Misconduct 

Grassroots Coaching

Beginning in Spring 2021, the Ennis Soccer Association will be requiring ALL coaches to take part in the U.S. Soccer Grassroots Training.

The initial FREE, 20 minute course, 

Introduction to Grassroots Courses, will enable them to begin their journey as a licensed youth soccer coach.

Additional courses,  Grassroots In-Person Licenses, specific to their age division, may be taken in-person or on-line, at their leisure.

A coach's profile must first be created in U.S. Soccer’s Learning Center (USSLC) .

Click on LINK above  to create a profile

Sign Up

U.S. SOCCER LEARNING CENTER

Uniforms

Each team is responsible for ordering their own uniforms.  Your team must have matching shirts with unique numbers on the back.  Uniforms may not advertise any adult subjects, such as alcohol, cigarettes, or weapons. 

Reporting Scores

Home team coaches must enter the game score into GotSoccer at the end of each game.  The easiest method is to scan the QRcode in the upper right hand corner of the game sheet.

You can also enter the score through the Gotsoccer webpage under the event scoring section. 

Game Changes/Reschedules

While we do our best to avoid it, changes to game schedules will happen.  Coaches are responsible for monitoring their teams schedule often to identify any game changes.

Coaches are asked at the beginning of the season to identify up to 2 dates they are unable to play games.  We make every effort to schedule around those exceptions.  Once the schedule has been issued, coaches must follow the Reschedule Policy as outlined by Ennis Soccer Association for U4 - U18

Efffective Practices

There are lot of places to go on the web for game and coaching tips.  Here are some of our favorites!

Feed for https://www.sportsengine.com/rss/api/v1/articles?type=xml&sport%5B%5D=Soccer&topic%5B%5D=Athlete+Health&topic%5B%5D=Books+%26+Reading&topic%5B%5D=Healthy+at+Home&topic%5B%5D=Issues+%26+Advice&topic%5B%5D=Mental+Health&topic%5B%5D=Movies&topic%5B%5D=Nutrition&topic%5B%5D=Recipes&topic%5B%5D=Recruiting&topic%5B%5D=Return+to+Play&topic%5B%5D=Safety&topic%5B%5D=Sports+%26+Education&topic%5B%5D=Sportsmanship&topic%5B%5D=Training+%26+Drills&topic%5B%5D=Trivia


STAY CONNECTED TO YOUR TEAM

Keep connected to your team. Quickly check schedules and team updates, plus message other members on your team and receive heads-up from athletes about practice. Enjoy unlimited access to scores & stats, photo/video sharing, and more.


ESSENTIAL COACH HOW-TO'S

Accessing TeamCenter

Easily add and edit athlete info, manage schedules, and message team members

Messaging Your Team in TeamCenter

Send a message to an individual member, selected members, or the entire team directly from TeamCenter or from the SportsEngine mobile app

Basic Team Management

Perform basic tasks using the Team Page Team Management functionality

Add Contacts to Receive Team Messages

Add additional email addresses to a non-member's profile in order to be able to include all athletes in team communications

Managing RSVPs

Manage RSVPs for each athlete within your team’s TeamCenter or within the SportsEngine mobile app

Sending RSVPs for Existing Games or Events

Do you import your game schedules from a third-party scheduler or create them manually on your team page? This article explains how to add RSVPs to those games and events after they are imported.

More Helpful Coach Links

Review help articles about how coaches interact with TeamCenter and the SportsEngine mobile app

Bookmark your Website to the Home Screen of your Mobile Device

Access your website with a single tap from your mobile device's home screen.