Dear Coach:

Welcome to the coaching education program for Fort Lowell Soccer Club. The coaching education at Fort Lowell is based upon the US Youth Soccer fundamental theme that "the game is within the child." Coaches, through activities, unlock the game for the child. In basing our coaching education on this principle I strongly believe that Fort Lowell Soccer Club will achieve its stated vision of being the place "where soccer players play."

In this site, there will be activities for different age group players, tips for coaches, ideas for parents, and places to obtain further information. I hope that you find all of the information useful and informative.

Welcome to Fort Lowell Soccer!

Sincerely,

Fort Lowell Soccer Club Board of Directors
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FORT LOWELL SOCCER CLUB DEVELOPMENTAL PROGRAM

This program is designed to further the development of players in Fort Lowell and in Tucson. It is meant teach and challenge players in each age group.

PLAYER SELECTION
Players will be selected for the team through an open tryout process. The age group head coach, age group assistant coach, and other coaches as approved and selected by the Board of Directors will select players. Although all coaches in the selection process gives input in the selection, the age group head coach has final decision on the players selected.

Tryouts dates will occur on or after the last TUSD day of classes. The format for tryouts should be team games and small-sided games. Goalkeeper may be selected from a different tryout held by a goalkeeping specialist.
Player notification must be made within 5 days of the last tryout date for the age group. Players who are not selected may be notified in writing.

TEAM NAME
All teams will have the name Fort Lowell Soccer Club, with the only differentiation being the year of the team and the gender of the team, for example, Fort Lowell Soccer Club 90 Girls or Fort Lowell Soccer Club 92 Boys. No team can have a mascot as a name.

PLAYER TRAINING
The Board of Directors will outline the training priorities for each age group. The age group head coach will conduct the training of the players. The number of trainings per week must never put a player’s academic work at risk. Some general guidelines are for U12 to U13, 2 or 3 training days per week and 1 to 2 games per weekend (excepting tournaments). For U14 and above 3 or 4 training days per week, and 1 to 2 games per weekend (excepting tournaments).

LEAGUE PLAY
Players will play in the league that offers the best opportunity for development. In some cases, it may be PCJSL and in others, it may be a Phoenix based league. The coach, in consultation with the Board of Directors, will make that decision.

TOURNAMENT PLAY
The coach, in consultation with the Board of Directors, decides what tournaments that the team will enter. The tournaments that are selected will be appropriate for the level of the team players; and the selected tournaments must further the development of individual players and the team. One of the tournaments that teams must participate in, depending on the age group, is the Tucson Association of Realtors Shootout. Regardless, all teams must have involvement in the operation of the Shootout.

Another tournament that teams should consider is the Pima Cup. This tournament is the season ending tournament for PCJSL and the participation by Fort Lowell teams indicate our support for the local league.

The AYSA season ending tournament, whether it is the Open Cup or the State Cup, is a decision by the coach. That decision must be guided by the quality of the performances of the team throughout the playing year. Certainly, all the teams should strive to play in the State Cup.

Other tournaments may be out of state or in state. There are several fantastic tournaments for select teams that enhance the development of players. The coach will give careful consideration to these tournaments.

COSTS
The present fee for registering a player at Fort Lowell is $175 for Tier 3, $190 for Tier 2 teams and $200 for Tier 1 teams. This fee includes two shirts, a short, and a pair of socks. In addition to the registration fee, some coachs may charge a coaching fee. The fee ranges from $40 to $100 per month depending on the qualifications of the head coach and the assistant coach. Also, parents are responsible for the travel expenses of the coaches at out of town matches and out of town tournaments.

Tournament entrance fees are also an additional cost. The exact amount per player will be determined after the tournament schedule is fixed.

All fees with the exception of the Fort Lowell registration fee are paid to the team treasurer. The team treasurer is selected from among the team parents and is responsible for accounting for the team funds.

COACH TRAINING
All age group coaches are expected to attend an annual coaches symposium to be held at the beginning of the season. In addition, coaches are expected to seek and attend at least one professional development course during the year.

EVALUATION
The Board of Directors will conduct an annual evaluation of all aspects of the Program. When changes are warranted, they will be submitted to the Fort Lowell Board for approval.

FORT LOWELL SOCCER CLUB COACHES CODE OF ETHICS

This code of ethics is provided to assist coaches in their decision making when dealing with players, parents, other coaches, referees, and the community. The code describes acceptable standards of behavior for coaches. It is a moral and ethical compass for coaches.

Responsibilities to Players

§   Coaches shall never place the value of winning over the safety and welfare of players.

§   Coaches shall instruct players to play within the written laws of the game and within the spirit of the game.

§   Coaches shall not seek unfair advantage by teaching deliberate un-sportsmanlike behavior to players.

§   Coaches should not tolerate inappropriate behavior from players or parents regardless of the situation.

§   Coaches shall not place excessive demands on players that impede academic progress.

§   Coaches must never encourage players to violate AYSA and PCJSL recruitment rules and policies.

§   Coaches should direct players to seek proper medical attention and to follow physicians’ instructions regarding treatment and recovery.

§   Coaches shall not place inappropriate pressure, through phone calls to homes or having other players place calls to homes or other inappropriate contacts, on players to play for their team.

§   Coaches shall not prohibit players from transferring to another team or club.

Responsibilities to the Laws of the Game

§   Coaches should demonstrate a working knowledge of the Laws of the Game.

§   Coaches must adhere to the letter and spirit of the Laws of the Game.

§   Coaches must constantly strive to teach good sporting behavior.

§   Coaches are responsible for their players understanding the intent and application of the Laws of the Game.

§   Coaches are responsible for the actions of players on the field and must not condone or permit actions by players with the intent to cause injury to opponents.

Responsibilities to Officials

§   Officials must have the support of coaches, players, and spectators. Coaches must refrain from criticizing officials in the presence of players and/or spectators.

§   Professional respect, before, during, and after the game, should be mutual.

§   Coaches must not incite un-sportsmanlike conduct towards officials.

§   Coaches should direct all comments regarding officials to the appropriate organization that assigns officials.

Responsibilities Regarding Recruiting

§   Coaches, managers, team parents or any team representative must strictly observe all ASYSA rules and regulations regarding recruiting.

§   It is inappropriate to use other clubs public forum to recruit players.

§   It is inappropriate to recruit players actively playing for another team.

§   When discussing advantages of Fort Lowell, coaches should refrain from making derogatory remarks regarding other coaches, teams, and organizations.

§   It is unethical for any coach to make a statement to a prospective player that cannot be fulfilled or to offer compensation as an inducement to play.

Responsibilities to Fort Lowell Soccer Club and other Associations

§   Coaches must adhere to all the rules and regulations of Ft. Lowell, PCJSL, and ASYSA, especially those regarding eligible players, team formation, and recruiting. Coaches must be knowledgeable of these rules and they must not violate these rules.

§   Any problems that cannot be resolved between coaches should be referred to the appropriate Ft. Lowell Board member.

Other Responsibilities

§   A coach’s behavior must be such as to bring credit to herself, to Ft. Lowell, and the sport of soccer.

§   The attitude and conduct of the coach towards officials, players, spectators and coaches should be controlled and undemonstrative.

§   It is unacceptable for a coach to have any verbal altercation with an opposing coach or bench before, during or after the game.

VIOLATING OR NON-ADHERENCE TO THE CODE OF ETHICS WILL RESULT IN DISCIPLINARY ACTION. SUCH ACTION RANGES FROM A REPRIMAND TO EXPULSION FROM FORT LOWELL SOCCER CLUB. IN ADDITION, OTHER ACTION MAYBE TAKEN BY PCJSL AND AYSA. A DISCIPLINARY COMMITTEE WILL HEAR ALL VIOLATIONS OF THE CODE OF ETHICS. A COACH, WHO DESIRES TO APPEAL AN ACTION TAKEN BY THE FORT LOWELL DISCIPLINARY COMMITTEE, MUST DO SO TO THE FORT LOWELL BOARD OF DIRECTORS.

This code of ethics is courtesy of the Washington State Youth Soccer Association.