Fall season games have started.  Good luck to all our Fall teams!  The High School teams are in action.  Please support our local school teams.  It's a great opportunity for your players to see some quality soccer.

   Barry

1. Upcoming Coach training
2. MYSA Goalkeeper Development Program
3.
Future Coach training
4.
Fall/Early Winter training

5. Protecting a cast for game play
6. Review your First Aid information
7. Video of the month - possession and the 5v2 game

1.
Upcoming Coach training
   Save The Date!!! - Sat 10/31/09 (yes, Halloween... no, you don't have to dress up!)
   We will have a coaching clinic run by the Coerver coaching staff who will be providing our Nov/Dec player footskills training.  They will provide an overview of the Coerver philosophy, teaching method and curriculum, and then demonstrate some of the techniques and drills with Valley players.  This training will help coaches get the most out of observing the Nov/Dec training.
   This session will most likely be on Sat 10/31, 10A-12P at the Apple Valley Community Center, but these plans are still being made.  Stay tuned for a confirmation email about this session.
   We also had a new coach training session for both Valley United travel coaches and VAA community coaches on Wed. Aug 26.  The material from that session is available at http://www.slideshare.net/bcaplin/valley-united-soccer-club-new-coach-training

2. MYSA Goalkeeper Development Program
 This sounds like a great training opportunity!  Please let me know if you need any more info.  Coaches are also welcome to observe this training.
Sat-Sun Nov. 21-22 http://www.mnyouthsoccer.org/programs/gdp.cfm

3.
Future Coach training
   We will have a number of "coffee talks" on Saturday mornings in the off-season.  Upcoming topics will include: Introduction to Coerver, Coaching the Keeper within the team practice, New Coach training for U9/U10 coaches, and Set Plays/Restarts.  Other opportunities include our Annual Meeting and the MYSA Winter Symposium.  Please let me know if you have any ideas or would like to request any topics.
   Watch http://www.mnyouthsoccer.org/coaches/clinics.cfm for information on local upcoming coach education courses.  Currently there is only one D and E course scheduled for Woodbury in Nov and a Y Module in Maple Grove.  Please watch the MYSA website for more offerings (and I will send updates as well).  These courses are very useful and worthwhile.  VUSC will reimburse coaches for their local coach education.

4. Fall/Early Winter training
   Starting in Nov, all registered VUSC players, including those players who registered for tryouts but have not yet been placed on a team (and all U9/U10 players), can participate in weekly free footskills training.  This year VUSC has partnered with Coerver USA to offer Coerver training.  This will take place at the Rosemount Irish Dome on Tuesday evenings in Nov and Dec.  Watch for more details.  This is not only great off-season training for our players, but coaches should attend and watch to learn many new drills and activities you can, and should, use in your pre-season and in-season training.

 

5. Protecting a cast for game play

The USSF/MYSA LOTG state that player's equipment must be safe for players and opponents.  The Ref has the final say on what is appropriate.  In my experience, a couple of layers of bubble wrap with an ace bandage over the top (no exposed threads, edges, etc.) meets the requirement for almost all refs.  We did once have an issue with a ref in a state pool game, but we were able to convince him it was fine because all the previous state refs had allowed it.  I have also seen foam padding held in place with athletic tape as an acceptable alternative.

6. Review your First Aid information
Please review the First Aid information provided by MYSA.  It can be found in the MN Sports Medicine guide on the back of the laminated 2009 MYSA Coaches Guide.  It includes information on head injuries, concussions and nose bleeds.

7. video of the month - possession and the 5v2 game - 5v2 is a great classic activity for getting your players to move, and recognize and use offensive space.  It can also be a great conditioning game!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9jxVRLQJ3rw