SafeSport Training: Once you complete the volunteer form, you will receive access to SafeSport training through our organization. Please complete the training and upload your certificate at your earliest convenience.

Rosters: Prior to the first session, you will be assigned a team and receive a roster with player names, parent/guardian names, and contact information. Preferably, each team will have a Head and Assistant Coach assigned; however the number of volunteer coaches in each grade dictates how many coaches are assigned to each team. If you are the only Coach assigned to your team, reach out and ask the parents/guardians on your roster to assist, so that you can have a second coach on your team.

Equipment: You will receive an equipment bag at the first session which will include: balls, cones, ice packs, and first aid kit. Keep this bag for the season, bring it to each session, and return on the last day. As a thank you for your volunteerism and leadership, you will receive an authentic ELSA Coach shirt. Please wear your Coach shirt at each session to be visible for your team, coaches, coordinators, and other ELSA members and affiliates.

Weekly Lesson Plans: Lesson plans are emailed weekly, typically on Wednesday or Thursday, for you to review before the session. The lesson plans include diagrams, written descriptions, progressions for the drills, and sometimes QR codes to videos on how to teach specific skills. You do not need to have soccer experience in order to understand and teach the lesson plans in recreational soccer! Please read the lesson plan carefully before each session, and email the PreK-2 Recreational Coordinator if you have any questions.

Arrival and Setup: Please arrive 15 minutes early to set up. The Coordinator will offer suggested adaptations or make additional equipment available to complete the lesson plans. Make sure that you have all of the equipment that you will need throughout the session before starting. If you cannot coach one week, please reach out to the parents/guardians on your roster to arrange for one or more to cover the session and inform the PreK-2 Recreational Coordinator. East Lyme has an amazingly supportive soccer community!

Demonstrations: Demonstrations are helpful for our young players to learn new soccer skills, continue to develop the skills previously introduced, and understand how to use those skills in the drills you run. When demonstrating a soccer skill or drill, you should:
   - Choose a position where all players can see and hear you;
   - Avoid speaking while moving, especially with your back to the players;
   - Ensure that all soccer balls are still, if you prefer, by asking players to take a knee;
   - Limit your coaching points to two or three per demonstration.

Player Development: Each week's lesson plan builds on the skills taught in the prior lesson plans. When running the drills provided in the lesson plan, maximize players' time with the ball to ensure as many touches as possible by:
   - Avoiding long lines;
   - Encouraging players in line to do toe taps, penguin touches, drag back turns, for example, or any skill taught in an earlier lesson plan;                                  - Avoid large scrimmages. No goal keepers are used in our Pre-K to 2nd grade recreational soccer program.