Responsibilities of the Team Manager

Team Registration:

Managers are responsible for team registration and for maintaining the official team roster and player passes. This is accomplished through the Virginia Youth Soccer Association (VYSA) using their software, RosterPro. The polices and procedures for registration are complex, numerous, and must be followed exactly in order for your team to be eligible to play any sanctioned games - be they league, tournament, or State Cup. VYSA maintains an excellent web page where you can access all the registration information you need including links for downloading the program and manual for RosterPro at http://vysa.com/registration/index_E.html.

The team registration process takes 2 to 3 weeks and is detailed in the VYSA policy and procedure manuals. You will have to obtain birth certificates or old player passes and photos from each player, enter all the information into RosterPro, print out and assemble the roster and the new player passes, have the players sign the passes, submit it all to the league registrar, then pick it up from the registrar - leaving time to correct any errors and resubmit it if necessary. The final step is submitting the information electronically, via RosterPro, to VYSA.

Before initially beginning your registration process, you will need to review the SEVYSA website also. This website also includes a manual that gives specific information on the requirements of our league. This manual supplements the VYSA registration manual.

Currently, the assistant league registrar for our club is Katie Gunderson. Mrs. Gunderson generally prefers to communicate via email. She can be reached at cgunderson4@cox.net. You will need to drop your team registration materials at her home in Denbigh. Contact her sooner rather than later. Also, be sure to check your email frequently after dropping stuff off; if there are any problems you will find out about them via email and you will be responsible for fixing them.

The packet of information to be submitted to the league registrar for initial registration is as follows:

• Original Roster (from RosterPro) and one (1) copy [State Cup is two (2) copies]
• Two (2) copies of the Audit report
• Original birth certificate or previous years' USYS Member Pass, medical release form (notarized) and signed player pass for each player

Team Conflict

Youth soccer teams consist of players, coaches, managers, and parents. These are all important people. Unfortunately, when people come together there can arise small issues and problems which - if not addressed - can become big issues and problems and can eventually interfere with the functioning of a good team.

Each person associated with your team has roles and responsibilities. The role of the player is well understood. He or she must arrive promptly with the appropriate equipment, well fed and hydrated, and be ready to play and learn soccer. The player must accept feedback from the coach and must constantly strive to understand and improve. The player must accept and respond to the authority of the coach. Simple!

The coach is the authority figure and decision maker for the team. The team is not a democracy. All decisions regarding strategy, positions, playing time, practice field location and times, tournaments, roster, -- everything related to soccer - are made by the coach. A good coach is a benign dictator. He understands that the happiness, skill, and development of each player on the team is directly related to the success of the entire team - this Sunday, next Sunday, this season, and next season.

What about parents? The main job of the parent has already been completed - they have selected an excellent team with an excellent coach for their child. Now they pay the fees, get the young athlete to training sessions and games on time, and stand on the sidelines cheering and supporting their kids. They love their kids and want them to succeed. So sometimes they can't help but wonder - is my kid getting enough playing time? Is she developing quickly enough and reaching her full potential? Why did the coach put that kid in instead of mine? If the coach would just use some sense, we could win this game. How can he leave that other kid in there? Has he taught them anything? Does this coach have the slightest idea what he's doing? Let's face it - sometimes the parenting instincts and emotions can get a little carried away.

At times like these parents begin to chat amongst themselves. Cliques may form. Private conversations ensue. A plan is hatched, seemingly with universal support among the parents. Something must be done! And you, as team manager, are just the one to do it.

Well, something should be done. What should be done is that any parent who has questions or concerns about any aspect of their child's or the team's soccer experience should speak with the only person with responsibility for that experience - the coach. The coach can listen, and he can explain the principles he is using in running the team in practices and games. A good coach will always be interested in talking to the most important people in his players' lives. He knows that you have chosen this team and entrusted your child to him. He also knows that his job is to coach soccer, teach soccer, and hopefully win some soccer games with a soccer team. But it is just soccer, after all. Not all of life's problems can be solved in 2 practice sessions and a game a week. Parents also may need to be reminded that the coach is expected to know more than they do about how to coach soccer and so may not always agree with their suggestions on how the team should be run. When all is said and done, the parents have the ultimate responsibility and can exercise that by finding another team, or another sport, or another activity altogether.

Ideally, if parents have concerns they should first go directly to their coach. If parents prefer, they may go directly to the Director of Coaching to resolve problems.

Other Team Manager Responsibilities May Include:

This is an important position and we appreciate
the responsibility you have accepted!