League Information
Posted by Dan Hollandsworth on 10/25/2018
COACHES
& OFFICIALS
The Y
is the world’s largest volunteer organization.
All youth sports teams are coached by parent volunteers. Without volunteer coaches, teams would not be
able to function. If there are not
enough parents willing or able to volunteer to coach teams, the Y will ask that
two parents co-coach a team. As a last
resort, the Y will use youth sports staff to coach a team.
VOLUNTEER APPLICATION AND
VERIFICATION
Safety
first is one of the seven pillars of Y Youth Sports. All volunteers must apply and be verified
through background screen before they will be assigned a team. To complete this requirement, all volunteers
must complete a volunteer application, submit to a background screen (free of
charge), and agree in writing to adhere to a Y Youth Sports Code of Conduct
before they are permitted to be declared a coach and/or begin coaching,
assistant coaching or officiating.
PLANNING
FOR YOUTH SPORTS ACTIVITIES - ESSENTIALS
Keep
the following essential points in mind as you plan Youth Sports activities:
·
Purpose.
This is the overall purpose of the particular practice—what the coach
should focus on for that practice.
·
Tactics
and skills. Tactics are what to do during the game (and
when to do it), an understanding of the problems faced by each team during the
game and how those problems can be solved. Skills are the physical skills
traditionally taught.
·
Game
rules and traditions. Rules of the sport are taught as part of
playing games and learning skills. Traditions are those “unwritten rules” that
players follow to be courteous and safe.
·
Fitness
concepts. Important fitness concepts (in the form of
brief activities presented in Fitness Circles) are in each practice plan.
·
Character
development concepts. The four core values—caring, honesty,
respect, and responsibility—can all be related to many situations that arise
while playing sports. Through the use of Team Circles, coaches teach character
development values within each practice.
·
Parent
and family engagement. Family involvement is a characteristic unique
to Youth Sports at the Y, offering volunteer opportunities, parent
orientations, written staff-parent communication, and family events.
TRAINING
In
addition to a coaches meeting, coaching in-services, and prior experience,
volunteer coaches are expected to learn as much as they can about Y youth
sports and how to coach within Y philosophies and expectations. Free online volunteer youth sports coaches
training is provided by the Y-USA. The
website, http://training.ymca.net, offers courses on the
following:
·
YMCA
Youth Sports Programs
·
Parent
Role in Youth Sports
·
Volunteers
Make A Difference
·
Safety
and Emergency Action
·
Coaching
YMCA Youth Sports
·
Officiating
YMCA Youth Sports
·
YMCA
Basketball*
·
YMCA
Soccer*
·
YMCA
Baseball/Softball*
·
YMCA
Volleyball*
·
YMCA
Flag Football*
*focus
is on techniques, skills, and how to develop those skills each week.
VOLUNTEER COACH, ASSISTANT
COACH, and/or OFFICIAL DUTIES
·
Attend
pre-season informational meeting(s), and any other subsequent trainings or
meetings declared or deemed necessary
·
Communications
with team (welcome contact, practice schedules, cancellation, etc.)
·
Plan
and execute practices that adhere to Y Sports Pillars, Goals, and Character
Development guidelines.
·
Create
and distribute snack schedule to parents.
·
Teach,
mentor and have fun!
Additional
training on concussions is also available, free of charge, at http://www.nfhslearn.com/electiveDetail.aspx?courseID=38000
COMMUNICATION
Please assure you provide current and accurate contact information to the Y, notifying your coach and Y management if your contact information changes at any time. The Y will also use Facebook (like us at Middle Town Area Family Y)
TEAM
FORMATION
Teams
are formed in the following order: coach
requests, friend requests, practice night requests, and remaining players. The Y can make no promise that all requests
will be honored.
Switching
teams may be necessary to find a best fit for a particular player. Parents and/or coaches should work through Y
management in this instance.
Y Youth
Sports welcomes children with special needs when reasonable accommodations can
be made. Please identify any health
concerns or special needs when registering for a sport league, so the director
can make appropriate accommodations.
Contact your youth sports director with questions or concerns.
Basketball
team rosters are considered full at 10 players.
Beyond this maximum, coaches and Y management staff may discuss and
agree on the addition of players. New players
will continue to be added to rosters below the maximum as necessary. Transfers and cancellations will similarly be
communicated and discussed amongst coaches and Y management.
PRACTICES
Coaches
choose practice nights and times, based on locations and times made available
through the Y. The Y will provide
basketballs for practices. Coaches will
be responsible for any equipment issued, and for the return of the equipment to
the Y.
Practices
may be held at the YMCA, area churches, community centers or schools. Practice schedules and locations are assigned
after coaches are verified and teams are assigned.
Cancelling
practices (due to inclement weather, etc.) will be determined by team coaches. Notification of a cancellation is expected by
5pm of the practice night, and should be communicated to the Y as well as to
each team member.
Make-up
practices will be held only if possible, working with the established practice
schedule of the league.
GAMES
Games
will either be held on Saturdays at the Y, or other specified locations in the
surrounding communities. In order to bring about the best possible experience
for every athlete, our multiple branch locations run interleague play (AGE
GROUP 8 AND UP) so there are multiple teams per age group. Some leagues will
play on site at different branch locations, please contact the Sport Dept. lead
at your home branch for more specifics.
Cancelling
games (due to inclement weather, etc.) will be determined by the Y. The call will be made no later than 45-60
minutes before game time. The Y will
contact all coaches to notify them of the cancellation, as well as place notice
on the GMV YMCA Facebook and Home Web page.
Coaches will then contact their team members to make notice of the
cancellation.
Make-up games may be scheduled by adding additional weeks to the season. If more than one game is missed, then games may be scheduled during the week in lieu of practices. Schedule will be set by the Y.