A Positive Coach at Almaden Valley Youth Soccer League is a vitally important person in the AVYSL organization since they help shape the culture of a youth sports team and/or organization and will have a direct impact on a youth soccer player's ability to recognize Good Sportsmanship and teamwork.  The team coach will determine the kind of experience that our athletes have with sports.   The AVYSL is committed to the principles of positive Coaching. We expect our coaches to be “Double Goal Coaches” who want to win and help players learn “life lessons” and positive character traits from sports.  The following is what the AVYSL expects from their coaches during the coming season…

 Develop a positive youth sports culture at AVYSL. Culture is simply "the way we do things here." A positive youth sports culture is based on

1. Honoring the Game
2. Redefining what it means to be a "Winner," and
3. Filling Emotional Tanks

• A Positive Youth Sports Culture involves not only the coaches and athletes, but also the parents of the athletes. That's where the "Culture-Keeper" comes in. The Positive coaches job includes the recruitment of “Culture Keeper's” to spread the word about Positive Coaching to parents and spectators on the sidelines.
• Before the start of the season, but after you have finalized your players list for the season, select and recruit at least 2 culture keepers who will be responsible for upholding the Positive coaching culture of AVYSL on the sidelines at your games.
• Make sure that team parents and culture keepers are aware of the Positive coaching workshops being offered by AVYSL.   Make sure that the selected culture keepers attend the workshops, and encourage all team parents to attend.
• Before the playing season begins, hold a meeting with the parents and culture keepers and explain to them that you will be using the methods of Positive Coaching during the season, and that you expect the parents to also use these principles and methods. At a minimum, an AVYSL coach will talk to the team’s parents about:-
  • Honoring the Game
  • Redefining what it means to be a "Winner," and
  • Filling Emotional Tanks
• Become familiar with the three themes of Positive Coaching (Honoring the Game, Redefining Winner, and Filling the Emotional Tank). In particular, memorize the elements of Honoring the Game (ROOTS) which includes respect for
  • Rules
  • Opponents
  • Officials
  • Teammates
  • (One’s) Self
• An AVYSL Positive Coach is a firm believer and advocate for the principles of Positive Coaching. They make it their business to study and understand the theories and methods of Positive coaching, and expand their knowledge in the subject by reading materials on the positive coaching alliance website and by attending further training on the subject at workshops provide by AVYSL.
• Get to know other parents on the team at the beginning of the season. If necessary, hold a special coaches and parents meeting. Talk to the parents about your role and the three themes early on and ask for their support on the sidelines during games. Make sure they have seen the Positive coaching Parent Letter and ask if they have any questions about it. If they haven't, give them a copy. As the season progresses, continue to keep the idea of Honoring the Game alive with all the parents.
• Carry a supply of "Honoring the Game “ cards to give to parents / culture keepers and spectators.
• Make sure that the culture keepers you have selected to support your team are familiar with the principles of positive coaching.  Make sure that they have attended the training on Positive coaching, and make sure that they have access to information to supplement their knowledge.  Make sure the culture keeper is handing out “Honoring the game cards “ to parents and spectators who are unaware of the principles of positive coaching.
• Uphold the constitution of the AVYSL which says that our league will “provide a framework in which participants can experience the rewards and sacrifices which accompany group activities and to learn the discipline of good sportsmanship”
• If parents get upset about calls made by officials or act in any way that doesn't Honor the Game, gently remind them that this team is committed to Honoring the Game no matter what. We Honor the Game even if the official makes a bad call, even if the other team doesn't Honor the Game. This may also be a good time to hand them an “Honoring the game” card.
• Don't forget to enjoy the season. It's going to be a great one.