Standing on the Shoulders of
Giants
#112
AYSO National Coaching Program
Workshop Objectives
• The value of implementing a mentoring program
• Mentoring Types/Approaches
• The Mentor
• The Mentoring Relationship
• Preparing for a Mentoring Session
• Mentoring and your Region
Player Development Requires Coach
Development
• New coaches attend certification training
• Get their team assignments
• Some go to clinics and EXPOS.
But then…
• All begin the long, slow process of figuring out
what it really takes to be a great coach.
Questions Beyond the Classroom
• How do I keep my team motivated and engaged?
• How do I deal with a difficult player, parent, coach, referee,
etc.?
• Where can I go to get more information on teaching my
forwards how to attack effectively?
• Should I get a US Soccer license?
• Should I implement a flat 4 defense? How do I teach it at U-12?
• I would like to be an all-star coach. What steps do I need to
take?
Mentors Can Help You Find Answers
Mentoring Strengthens AYSO Culture
A Mentoring Program Helps New Coaches
Embrace Our Vision and Mission
Vision
To provide world class youth soccer programs that enrich
children’s lives.
Mission
To develop and deliver quality youth soccer programs, which
promote a fun, family environment based on the AYSO
Philosophies.
Coach Mentoring
Mentoring helps both new and veteran coaches embrace the Six
AYSO Philosophies.
•
•
•
•
•
•
Everyone Plays
Balanced Teams
Open Registration
Positive Coaching
Good Sportsmanship
Player Development
Standing on the Shoulders of Giants!
Within your Region there are probably at least 100 years of
collective coaching experience and wisdom…
It’s essential to
surround yourself with
individuals who are
ALREADY where you
want to be.
“Iron sharpens iron!”
Mentoring Relationship Types
Type
Description
Advantage
Traditional
(one on one)
Senior person works
with junior person
Opportunity to learn from someone who has
done the activity
Group
One or more mentors
address a large
audience of mentees
Able to reach more mentees; more knowledge
is accessible; more questions are available
Peer
Support of colleagues as Sometimes learning comes better from peers
they develop & grow
Reverse
Junior person works
with senior person
Sharing unique knowledge sets and
perspective
Situational
Provide right help at
right time
Informal, short term to address an immediate
or specific need
Flash
Busy leaders recruited
to become mentors
Opportunity to learn from very experienced
people without huge time commitment
Mentoring Approaches
One-on-One
• Advanced/National Coaches/Instructors
• More senior coach
• Paid trainers
• College coaches
Group
• Division collaboration
• Skills based
Team-Based
• Region or Area-run programs
Peers
• Coach/Assistant Coach
A Mentor…
Provides
• Encouragement and motivation
• Candid feedback about perceived strengths and developmental needs
• Advice on dealing with obstacles
• Guidance on setting goals and periodically reviews progress
Shares
• Experiences that contributed to personal success
• Understanding of AYSO, its mission, and formal and informal operating processes
Encourages
• Appropriate training and developmental opportunities
• Sense of self-awareness, self-confidence, and adaptability
• Efficient and productive performance
Serves
• As a confidant, counselor, guide, and adviser
• As an advisor for development ideas or opportunities
• As a resource for enhancing personal qualities and skills/knowledge
Mentor Roles
Advisor
• Initiate discussions and helps mentee formulate goals
Coach
• Help identify development needs, identify training opportunities, and
imparts skills and behaviors
Facilitator
• Assists with finding resources to solve problems and to help with
coaching progression
Advocate
• Recommends opportunities for further growth and to have others
observe positive capabilities
Mentor Benefits
Increased Knowledge
• Gain mastery of the materials you discuss because you will
examine it from many angles
• Mentors have something to teach
Personal Satisfaction
• Its an opportunity to pass your knowledge on to the next
generation
Expanded Contacts
• You meet mentees and make contacts/relationships with folks
who can help your mentee learn
Mentee Benefits
• Increased self-awareness
• Builds confidence and
receives encouragement to
grow
• Has a role model and
trusted advisor
• Gain better understanding
of AYSO and coaching
• Gains visibility into
additional
training/coaching
opportunities
Create a Successful Relationship
Respect
• Mentee recognizes desirable attributes, skills, and competencies of mentor
• Mentor appreciates the attitude, effort and progress of mentee
Trust
• Gained through open communication, frequent discussions, and enthusiasm
Realistic Expectations/Self Perception
• Mentor needs to provide honest feedback
• Mentee should be honest is assessing themselves
Time
• Set frequent and specific times to meet
• Respect the commitment of time
Preparing for a Session
Mentor
• Prepare a loose agenda to guide the discussion
• Deliberately plan time to allow the mentee to share/express thoughts (on
or off the agenda)
• Should be prepared for discussion topic(s) of and do research to fill in
potential knowledge gaps
Mentee
• Be prepared to discuss the agenda topics
• Complete any agreed to outside action (e.g. take a class, talk to someone,
write down a training session)
• Be prepared to raise/discuss additional topics
Mentoring in Your Region Are You
Capturing It?
Do you have a system in place to pass along won experience to
your new coaches?
MENTOR:
SOMEONE WHOSE
HINDSIGHT CAN
BECOME YOUR
FORESIGHT
~ANONYMOUS
Or does it seem you're…
• Reinventing the wheel every season?
• Dealing with the same problems season after
season from coaches who mean well but haven’t
embraced the AYSO philosophy?
• Struggling to find effective, efficient ways to help
your new coaches be successful quickly?
• Losing more than a volunteer when an experienced
coach retires?
Better than
a thousand
days of
diligent
study is one
day with a
great
teacher.
Japanese
Proverb
Thank you for attending!
#112
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