All Recreation Coaches                       

Welcome to the 2008/2009 Season

To all TYSA Recreation Coaches, 

First and foremost, let me extend a very sincere thank you for all of your support during the 2007-2008 soccer season.  Without your efforts as coaches, we would have no TYSA league for the kids to enjoy. 

This has been an extremely exciting year for TYSA as we are one of the very few leagues in Georgia to put a high value on the recreational program by hiring a full time Director of Coaching dedicated entirely to the recreational program.  Personally I consider myself to be the fortunate candidate who was hired for this position and then afforded the opportunity to help create something very special.  TYSA also provided me with the opportunity to go to Florida over Christmas and obtain my United States Soccer Federation (USSF) B license --- the second highest license that the USSF grants to coaches.  I’ll be going for my A license this coming Christmas.

EVALUATIONS AND ASSESSMENTS FOR PLAYERS AND TEAM EQUITY

To those of you who returned the player evaluations, thank you.  To those of you who have not done so as yet ---- these are very important to our future attempts at balancing teams.  Please send them to me as soon as possible.

To that end, beginning this August we will have an assessment day for all recreational players between the ages of 6 – 12.  Our staff of professional coaches will be the evaluators and will assign numerical qualities to player skills.  You are encouraged to observe the players during this assessment day.

This assessment, coupled with your written evaluations, will be used during the drafts to ensure that teams are created with equity and parity in mind as a priority.

2007-2008 SUMMATION 

Optional Free Player Clinics: 

• Touches of Fun
• Speed, Agility and Quickness Training
• Flag Soccer
• Elite Camp

These four clinics were held by Franklin Lawson (USSF A license) and me.  These sessions were well attended and very well received and we plan to hold more of them in the 2008-2009 seasonal year.  Please encourage your players and families to attend as they are entirely free of cost to any member.  It’s also a great opportunity for me to have direct impact on kids who strive to improve.

 Equipment: Speed ladders, speed and agility hurdles, speed rings:

TYSA has purchased the equipment listed above for the use of all coaches.  During TYSA’s pre-season and early season coaching clinics, I will provide instruction to all interested coaches on how this equipment can be used to give your team opportunities for building strength, endurance, speed and agility while making it fun.

 Coaching Clinics and Online Coaches Corner

 Three different coaching clinics were held for all coaches who wanted more insight into the development of players as well as new training techniques.  These clinics were geared for specific age groups.  TYSA also held a number of licensing courses.  All of these will be offered this fall and again in the spring.

I have introduced a “Coaches Corner” to the website to provide you with information that will be helpful in coaching all age groups.  The following write ups were posted this past year:

August 31, 2007:                 Welcome to Recreational Coaching

October 16, 2007:               Tactical Component

November 14, 2007:           Physical Component

December 15, 2007:           Player Development Philosophy

January 15, 2008:               Speed of Play

April 15, 2008:                     Psychological Component

May 1, 2008                         Laws of the Game

May 15, 2008                      Player’s Evaluations

 Recreation Tournament

While TYSA has had an optional end of year recreational tournament for several years, this year we decided to incorporate it into the regular season.  Due to a record number of rain impacted weekends, which I take no credit for creating, the scheduling was a huge challenge.  Despite this, the players and teams had a great time.  We learned some lessons and will strive to make it even better next spring.

New for 2008-2009 Seasonal Year 

1) Movie Night:  We will be initiating family oriented activities this fall season with a Movie Night at Henderson Park.  Watch for information.

   2) TYSA has a strong and close working affiliation with the Clayton State University, Oglethorpe University and the Atlanta Silverbacks.  Players from these three organizations will be invited to hold special clinics at TYSA at no charge to our membership.

       3) Player assessments and written player evaluations will be used as tools for improving the equity and quality of player placement on teams.

 TYSA relies on you for your communication to all about the 2008/2009 season so if you would be so kind to spread the good word and please inform all your players and parents that online registration is now available on the www.tysa.com front page.

In summary, I once again want to express my gratitude to all of you for welcoming me to the Recreation Program at TYSA.  I had a wonderful time meeting you and your players.  Thanks for making it all possible. I look forward to another great year and please contact me with any concerns , question and / or suggestions!

Warren van der Westhuizen

Director of Coaching – Recreation

Tucker Youth Soccer Association