Most of the coaches in the organization have no personal soccer background, and have learned their soccer from others in the soccer community, their kids, books and videos, and by paying attention to games that they have seen. In other words, you have all the background and qualifications needed to start your coaching career.

     The "links" section of the DSA Website has many great sources of coaching information to apply directly to day-to-day youth coaching. Happily soccer is a simple game (especially at the younger ages) and it is easy for the youth coach, with a little innovation and preparation, to stay ahead of the kids.

      Coaches in the youth recreational leagues usually have a couple of practices per week, and coach the weekly game on Saturday. Traveling coaches come from the same pool of people, but are often those who have coached recreational soccer for a while, or who have played the game themselves. There are coaching licensing clinics available sometimes through Central Illinois Youth Soccer League www.ciysl.com, and DSA has less formal training sessions as needed before the season starts.

     Practices are in the local community, a park, a playground, at any other suitable site, or at the complex. Games are at the Danville Area Soccer Complex on Winter Avenue.DSA always needs volunteer coaches to keep the program going. Coaches are picked annually at the team assignment time in late July or early August. Anyone with an interest should contact a board member at the time that kids register, or indicate on the child's registration form.

Specifically designed for DASA coaches::   U-6 Coaches Manual  U-8 Coaches Manual  U-10 Coaches Manual  U-12 Coaches Manual    U-14 Coaches Manual

Other Resources::

• http://www.footy4kids.co.uk/
• http://www.decatursports.com
• http://www.brucebrownlee.com Bruce Brownlee Coaching Notes Great site for all coaches to start.
• http://www.worldofsoccer.com Eastside Youth Soccer Association Wonderful free coaching manual on line for youth coaches.
• http://www.soccerclinics.com Soccer Clinics Lots of demonstrations, techniques, directions for any level coach.
• http://eteamz.com/soccer/pills/jpill.htm Jeff Pill's Online Drills Jeff Pill's drills are a coaching classic.
• http://www.allsportsoccer.com/coaching/index.shtml Allsport Soccer for the Soccer Enthusiast Lots of Pill's drills in one place
• http://www.nscaa.com/tips/index.html National Soccer Coaches Association page of drills and skills for higher-level players.
• http://www.decatursports.com/soccerdrills.htm Decatur Sports Page Soccer Drills This page will connect you to hundreds of coaching tips and drills.
• http://www.fundamentalsoccer.com FUNdamental Soccer Great site for the beginning coach and parent. Stresses fun and young player development.
• http://www.ucs.mun.ca/~dgraham/coach.html Soccer coach-L, a free mailing list for soccer coaches who are really into it.
• http://www.ucs.mun.ca/~dgraham/manual Soccer Coach-L Coaching Manual Comprehensive online manual for soccer coaching, including a section on coaching the "swarm" of the very young.
• http://www.saysoccer.org/Library/librarycoaching.asp Soccer Association for Youth-Kids Having Fun Several insightful articles about coaching and playing. Good for any parent or coach
• http://www.mcysa.org/links.htm Youth Soccer Links Directory Many coaching links and resources, including an opportunity to buy a book on coaching beginning soccer players.
• http://www.eteamz.com/youthsoccercoach Youth Soccer Coach A soccer dad and coach has built his Website from 10 years coaching experience, presented for you here. Comprehensive, lots of practical knowledge.
• http://www.soccerperformance.org Soccer Performance. Excellent animated drills for the more advanced player and coach
• http://www.soccercoaching.net Soccer Coaching Net-Bringing Coaches Together International coaching forum for the more advanced coach or player.
• http://www.thepitch.org The Pitch Soccer Site Nice site by a serious coach, with many articles including stretching, care to choose words carefully, drills.
• http://www.coachingsoccer101.com