At ABYSA, we are committed to making coaching as much fun as playing. With over 4,000 children playing in the recreation program each year we use over 470 head and assistant coaches to serve the communities youth soccer players. ABYSA works hard to create a fun environment for both players and coaches. We provide preseason coaching clinics and meetings and a soccer curriculum for each age group, making it easy for our volunteers to enjoy coaching--even if they have no soccer playing or coaching experience. ABYSA takes care of all the details, supplying coaches with uniforms, schedules, rosters, cones, scrimmage vests, and practice space. We make it easy to get started, so volunteer coaches can concentrate on having fun while teaching the players' soccer skills as well as life lessons along the way.

If you are interested in coaching a recreation soccer team or have any questions, please contact Shane Weems, ABYSA / HFC Director of Coaching and Player Development at [email protected]. All coaches will need to complete the NCYSA Risk Management registration at the link below. 

NCYSA Risk Management Information and Links

Click here for detailed instructions on registering with NCYSA's Risk Management program

Fall 2023 Coaches Meeting Information

ABYSA Modified Games Rules and Setup for Recreation
4U-6U - 3v3 games - Special format; game style may change depending on learning target
7U/8U - 4v4 games - No Goalies - Click Here
9U/10U - 7v7 games - Click Here
11U/12U - 9v9 games  - Click Here
13U-19U - 9v9 games - Click Here

Session Planning Libraries and Tools

ABYSA's Recreation Director will email coaches each Monday with Session plans for the week. Below are additional sources for practice plans and other resources for coaches:

- MOJO for soccer - Click Here
- NCYSA Lesson Plans and Training Aids- Click Here
- NCYSA Coaches Education Class Schedule - Click Here
- US Youth Soccer Coach Resources - Click Here
- The official US Youth Soccer coaching manual- Click Here
- United States Soccer Federation (USSF) Digital Coaching Education Center (DCC) - Click Here
- FREE USSF Introduction Course - Click Here
- USSF Grassroots (4v4, 7v7, or 11v11) ONLINE courses - Click Here
- United Soccer Coaches (USC) Education Center - Click Here
- United Soccer Coaches eLearning Center - Click Here

Below is a very brief summary of how US Soccer's 'Grassroots' soccer learning model is intended to help build the soccer experience in the United States:

Stage 1 - Grassroots/Recreation soccer introduction: Parents that enjoy working with kids and can make practice and games fun can create players that love the game
Stage 2 - Entering the Player Development Pathway: Players that love the game are more likely to be players who want to learn more or take soccer more seriously
Stage 3 - Entering the 'Giving Back' phase: Players that love the game and know the game become parents and coaches that love the game and know the game
Stage 4 - Strengthening future development cycles: Coaches that love the game and know the game build stronger and stronger soccer culture for everyone

Additional Resources

North Carolina Youth Soccer Association - Click Here
US Soccer - Home of the US National Teams -Click Here
Major League Soccer - Click Here