PLEASE NOTE THAT EVEN IF YOU ARE CURRENTLY COACHING A TRAVEL TEAM, YOU NEED TO RE-APPLY EACH SPRING IF YOU HOPE TO COACH AGAIN IN THE FALL. DO NOT ASSUME THAT THE COMMITTEE KNOWS YOU WANT TO COACH AGAIN. Please have your application submitted by June 1, 2023.
Coaching a Travel team is a sizable commitment that is fun and very rewarding. Travel teams typically practice twice per week for an hour and a half each practice. Games are on Saturdays, and half the games are home and half the games are played away throughout Essex County.
ASA recommends that Travel coaches obtain at least an E license. ASA will reimburse any coach for the cost of licensing courses ( E,D, and C). Course descriptions, prerequisites, and course schedules can be found on the Massachusetts Youth Soccer Association’s website under the “Coach Education” section.
Often there are multiple qualified applicants vying for the same position, which is a good problem to have, but can sometimes leave those not selected feeling unappreciated, which could not be further from the truth. In all cases, the Coach Selection Committee makes the selection of coaches based on what ASA believes is in the best interests of the players. Our focus is always on providing the most positive soccer experience we can for our kids, and that may mean that applicants with lesser soccer experience are the better choice than others who might have an abundance of experience. Every case is different and each is subjected to open debate and a vote of the Full ASA Board. We are committed to an inclusive and transparent process, and welcome any inquiries about our process that you may have.
Also note that you are encouraged to put in an application for a coaching position for any existing team even if there is already a coach in place. In addition, putting your name in to coach a Travel team will not have any effect on the placement of the coach's child in a particular division. The player's placement will be based on current season's Coaches' Evaluations, Travel Assessments (conducted in May), and spring Game Observations.
As an organization, we are always striving to improve the quality of coaching within the ASA system. One way to do that is to recruit and encourage new participants and introduce new ideas to the mix. With that in mind, please encourage friends and other parents who have a desire to contribute to the development of our children.
Thank you for considering taking on this valuable role.