Coaches Corner

All teams contacts (Coaches, Assistant Coaches, Managers, etc) must pass a background check each year.  Current background checks expire in June of each year. 

To request a background check, log into your Gotsport account and follow these steps:

• In the gray bar, click on the link called 'Background Checks'
• Click on the button called 'Submit New Report'
• Enter your information and click 'Submit'

It can take a few days for the report to come back with a result.  If you are approved, you will be attached to your team account. 

All coaches, assistants and managers must complete the SafeSport Training before they can be place on a team.   The SafeSport Training Certification expires on May 31, each year.  Once you have taken the full class you are able to renew your certification with a 15-minute refresher course.  This training is available at NO cost to MSA Coaches, Managers and Team Contacts. 

The training modules will help to increase your awareness regarding: 

1.  Sexual Misconduct Awareness
2.  Mandatory Reporting 
3.  Emotional and Physical Misconduct 

Beginning in Spring 2021, the Midlothian Soccer Association will be requiring ALL coaches to take part in the U.S. Soccer Grassroots Training.

The initial FREE, 20 minute course, 

Introduction to Grassroots Courses, will enable them to begin their journey as a licensed youth soccer coach.

Additional courses,  Grassroots In-Person Licenses, specific to their age division, may be taken in-person or on-line, at their leisure.

A coach's profile must first be created in U.S. Soccer’s Learning Center (USSLC) .

Click on SIGN UP  to create a profile

Coaches pick practice dates and times at the coaches meeting before the season begins.  Practices are scheduled for 50 minute increments beginning at 5:30, 6:40, or 7:30 Monday - Friday.  Teams can choose 1-2 practice days, based on field availability and age groups. 

It is necessary to schedule some games for week night evenings and those games take precedent over practices.  Coaches should actively check their game schedule to note conflicts. 

Field lights are controlled by the city based on our practice schedule.  If your practice changes and you need lights at a different time, you must communicate with a board member at least 24 hours in advance.

Once you have been tied to a team and the team rosters have been released (usually right after the coaches meeting), please contact your player's parents.  Even a note giving them your contact information and telling them you will be getting back with them about practice schedules will go a long way in helping answer many of the pre-season questions we get!

We encourage all teams to have at least one assistant coach in case of schedule conflicts.  Assistant Coaches are determined by the head coach who will need to send an email to info@midlothiansoccer.org and ask for the assistant coach to be added to a team.  Note:  This request MUST come from the head coach.

Each team is responsible for ordering their own uniforms.  Your team must have matching shirts with unique numbers on the back.  Uniforms may not advertise any adult subjects, such as alcohol, cigarettes, or weapons. 

Download the most current copy of the quick game summary to keep as a reference throughout the season.

Printed game sheets will be provided by the officials for each home game. 

Game sheets are also available in your team account.  When you view your schedule, clicking on the game number will open a new screen with your game sheet in pdf form.  This game sheet can be printed and brought to each game.  Further help with finding and printing game sheets can be found here.

Please do not print all season game sheets at one time.  Any roster changes (for your team OR the opposing team) must be reflected on the game sheet.  In addition, if any players from either team are ineligible to play in a game, their name will be crossed out on the game sheet when it is printed.  To capture those changes, game sheets should be printed no more than 48 hours prior to game time.

At the end of the game, the referee will ask both coaches to sign the game sheets.  The home team's game sheet will be taken by the referee and turned in to the association.  Home team coaches are encouraged to take a picture of the game sheet to aid them in reporting the score.

The winning team is required to enter in game scores immediately following the game. In the event of a tie, the Home team coach must enter the game score.   The easiest method is to scan the QRcode in the upper right hand corner of the game sheet.

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You can also enter the score through the GotSport webpage under the event scoring section. 

Step by step instructions for using this method can be found here.

While we do our best to avoid it, changes to game schedules will happen.  Coaches are responsible for monitoring their teams schedule often to identify any game changes.

Coaches are asked at the beginning of the season to identify up to 2 dates they are unable to play games.  We make every effort to schedule around those exceptions.  Once the schedule has been issued, coaches must follow the Reschedule Policy as outlined by Midlothian Soccer Association for U4 - U12.