Coach FAQs
COACH FAQS
What is a Security Clearance/Police Information Check?
Coach’s Card: Who, Where and When?
All team officials (U7 & up) need a coach card for the Indoor season.
Click here for further information (where & when you can get a card)
Why are the coaches volunteers?
Community soccer is run by volunteer coaches, assistant coaches, and team managers to keep costs down.
Do I need to know how to play soccer?
No, EMSA West offers a coaching course for all our volunteers.
U4-U9 mini courses are being offered at no cost to all EMSA West registered coaches. This course is for new and returning mini-coaches. Information on training courses can be found here.
For other coaching courses, please go to www.albertasoccer.com.
What if I need help once the season has started?
Contact the office at 780-451-6453 Ext. 0 to talk to the office staff. We will provide you with additional information or arrange for someone to come out to give you advice.
What if I want to coach but can’t commit to all the games?
You can still sign up to coach, but please indicate on the form that you cannot commit to all of the games. We can arrange to pair you up with a co-coach or place you in an assistant coach position.
How many team officials can be on a roster?
EMSA Rules & Regulations (page 33) state that a maximum of 5 team officials can be listed on an ASA roster. However, a maximum of 4 non-playing team officials can be on the bench during the game. One must be the same gender as the players. A bench parent counts as one of the non-playing officials.
Do I have to be a parent of a child playing on the team?
No, you can be an aunt, uncle, grandparent, family friend, or sibling (minimum 16 years old for mini teams).
All coaches must complete a Security Clearance form before the season starts. Please contact soccer@ewzsa.com.
As a new coach, will I be supplied with any equipment?
Every coach receives an equipment bag with the appropriate size of soccer balls for your age group, net and corner flags (if applicable), jerseys, and a first aid kit.
The field our team played on the other day had a couple of big holes in it. I consider the field unsafe for our players. What can I do about it?
EMSA West does everything we can to ensure that the fields are safe for our children to play on. However, if we have missed a damaged field, please bring it to our attention by contacting our field assignor at stats101@shaw.ca. Please provide us with the name of the field, the exact location of the problem on the field, and the problem itself (i.e., hole, debris, etc.). The responsibility for ensuring the safety of the fields belongs to the City of Edmonton, and we will contact them to have the field repaired as soon as possible. You may also contact the City of Edmonton directly by calling 311.
How do you score games on emsasoccerportal.com?
Do the mini teams (U7 & U9) need to practice as they have a practice before each game?
As the coach, that is up to you. If you are willing to put in the extra time, we will try to get you to a local gym to practice at.
Can parents just drop their children off and leave them for 55 minutes?
No, at these age groups, a parent or legal guardian is required to be on the premises throughout the duration of the game or practice.
Please note community teams work best if there is more than one parent and can be made up as follows:
- Coach
- 2 Assistant Coaches
- Team Manager
- Bench Parents