Coaches Corner

Thanks for your interest in coaching youth soccer in Tiburon.

Coaches, players, referees and TPSC officials are governed by the rules of both the TPSC and its parent organization, US Club Soccer.

In our rec program, we have volunteer/parent coaches manage the team with the assistance of one of our rec-trainers. This format of combining a parent coach with a professional coach:

Ensures delivery of our age-appropriate curriculum
Provides another voice for the kids
Assists the volunteer coaches at practices

Pro Coaches will assist at one practice per week for grades K-6th, and at every practice for 7th/8th grade and 9th/10th grade teams.

Questions? Email us at recreation@tiburonsoccer.org

The Tiburon Peninsula Soccer Club’s curriculum

Was created to ensure age-appropriate instruction
Developed by TPSC Director of Development Mattias Kodzoman
Updated to mirror US Youth Soccer Curriculum
Removes the luck factor of who the coach is
Helps volunteer rec coaches learn to coach!
Connects our players to what the rest of the world is learning as soccer players

TPSC Weekly Curriculum

Select week below to view details.

Recreational Coaches Resources

Game Formats By Age Group

Below is a list of how many players are on the soccer field at each group:

kindergarten games shall be 3 v 3 or 4 v 4
1st grade games shall be 3 v 3 or 4 v 4
2nd grade games shall be 4 v 4 with no goalkeepers
3rd grade games shall be 5 v 5 including a goalkeeper
4th grade games shall be 7 v 7
5th grade games shall be 7 v 7
6th grade games shall be 9 v 9
7th/8th grade and all older Rec league games shall be 11 v 11

Why Small-Sided Games?

US Youth Soccer has thought long and hard about the answer to the question, "Why Small-Sided Games?"

What does "Small-Sided Games" mean? These are soccer games with fewer players competing on a smaller sized field. These are fun games that involve the players more because fewer players are sharing one ball.

All ages can play "Small Sided Games", but it has a definite developmental impact on our younger soccer players. US Youth Soccer recommendations for "number of players" at the various age groups are as follows:

U6 | 3 against 3 no goal keepers
U8 | 4 against 4 no goal keepers
U10 | 6 against 6 with goal keepers
U12 | 8 against 8 with goal keepers
U13+ | 11 against 11 with goal keepers

Here are some of the reasons why we believe, as soccer coaches, administrators and parents must guarantee that our young soccer players play small-sided games:

Because we want our young soccer players to touch the soccer ball more often and become more skillful with it! (Individual technical development)
Because we want our young soccer players to make more, less-complicated decisions during the game! (Tactical development)
Because we want our young soccer players to be more physically efficient in the field space they are playing in! (Reduced field size)
Because we want our young soccer players to have more individual teaching time with the coach! Fewer players on the field and fewer players on the team will guarantee this! (Need to feel worthy and need to feel important)
Because we want our young soccer players to have more, involved playing time in the game! (More opportunity to solve problems that only the game presents)
Because we want our young soccer players to have more opportunity to play on both sides of the ball! (More exposure to attacking and defending situations)
Because we want our young soccer players to have more opportunities to score goals! (Pure excitement)
Because we want to include children of all temperaments, assertive to shy, to have more opportunities to interact with others and the game! (Socialization)

These are the reasons why we adults must foster "Small-Sided Games" in our youth soccer programs. The "Small-Sided" environment is a developmentally appropriate environment for our young soccer players. It’s a FUN environment that focuses on the young soccer player. It just makes sense doesn’t it?

Good Coach - Bad Coach

The goal of the TPSC rec soccer season is to elevate the skill of ALL players on every team and spark a passion for the beautiful game.

Below are the behaviors we value in a coach.

Good Coach:

Follows the TPSC Curriculum
Invests in the development of ALL players
Models good behavior
Allows for guided discovery
Rewards effort above results
Celebrates beyond goals & wins – good pass, nice save, great tackle, trying a new move, nice kick, new juggling record etc.

Bad Coach:

Puts priority on winning games over developing players
Screams
Over coaches
Poor role model
Foul language
Yells at 12 year old referees

Resources

Sportsmanship

Player Health and Conditioning

Other Resources

Additional Links and Resources

Additional Coaching Website Links & Resources

Manuals

Getting Your License

Coaching Opportunities

Coaching - you can coach, we will help! Our recreational program needs volunteer coaches for kindergarten - 10th grade teams and we make it very easy for you. We hold a coaches training session before the season to get you up speed on what to focus on and what drills to run. We also provide a simple and age-appropriate curriculum to follow throughout the season. Finally, we have licensed coaches help/teach you how to run your practices and games. You can express your interest to coach when you register your child, or by contacting us at recreation@tiburonsoccer.org