COACHES CODE
The United States Youth Soccer Association is very interested in having responsible and competent coaches and is willing to assist parents, ex-players and other interested persons to become better qualified. It is our hope that the Association’s programs will assist coaches to become more proficient.
The Association subscribes to the principle of teaching by example and it insists the administrators and coaches conduct themselves in such a manner as to set an example that if followed would enable every player to be a credit to the game.
The Association places the game ahead of any desire to win be it on league, District, State or National level. If administrator or coach, no matter how capable fails to control the team, or has players who consistently contravene the laws of the game, the Association will act immediately to remedy the situation. Appropriate disciplinary action can include any one or more, including suspension or expulsion to either the coach, the player, or the team.
It is held to be self evident that a team whose players are frequently incurring penalties may be judged to have a coach not capable of teaching the players to conduct themselves in a manner creditable to the game. The Association however, places itself in the same position as its coaches. Discipline comes only when absolutely necessary and only after all other avenues for remedial action have been exhausted.
A good coach is many things. He/she is a parent, an educator, a friend, a disciplinarian and a psychologist to the players. When the coach accepts the responsibility to coach a team, he or she accepts a responsibility to the team, to the players, to their parents, to the Association, and to the sport.
The coach should accept sport as a part of human activity and recognize its contribution to the enrichment of life.
Coaches should remember:
- Soccer is a game for happiness
- The laws of soccer should be regarded as mutual agreements, the spirit or letter of, which no one should try to evade or break.
- No advantages except those of superior skill should be sought.
- Officials and opponents should be treated and regarded in intention.
- Official decisions should be accepted without looking angry no matter how unfair they may seem
- Winning is desirable but winning at any cost defeats the purpose of the game.
- Losing can be a triumph when the team has given its best.
- The ideal is the greatest good to the greatest number.
In soccer as in life, treat others as you would have them treat you.