Meet Coach John!
Please come early! At least five minutes. I've noticed that kids who arrive early play better. By arriving late, you are sending a message to your kid that practice is not important. They will practice and play poorly (They feel left out. They know they've missed something that everyone else heard).
We also do warmups first thing, so by arriving late you are making them more likely to be injured, and who wants that? No one, of course. So please arrive at least five minutes before the start of practice.
I've been practicing at Isetts park for 15 years now. Times and days vary by team.
We do not practice in the rain, but I don't count sprinkles or dark clouds. Use your best judgement. I live close to practice so if it's not actively pouring when I look out my window, I'll be at practice. I understand if you don't want to come. We will stop practice if there is thunder or lightning (state law).
If it does rain, please dress appropriately. This means rain jacket or thick clothes.
Please bring a ball or you will miss out on the fun stuff (for games like 'sharks and minnows', everyone needs a ball).
No jeans (if they fall they skin their knee).
Shinguards are required by KASL, but we should not be doing any drills that require them.
The city is not consistent when they turn the bubbler on, so just bring your own water.
My Philosophy
in that order. I avoid The Three Ls: Lines, Laps, Lectures.
I don't expect them to be any good, but I expect them to run and at least try.
Practices are organized as follows:
We start with warm-ups and conditioning. For older kids this is usually sprints. Younger kids we just play soccer games. (15 Minutes.)
Water break while I explain the lesson of the day. 5 minutes.
'lesson of the day' usually based on mistakes seen during the game, divided as follows:
Any remaining time is devoted to scrimmage. If they behave and get through my drills quickly, they have more time to scrimmage. Misbehave and we do not scrimmage.
Discipline:
I have three rules: Respect me (the coach), respect each other (your teammates), respect yourself.
The first offense is a warning, usually just their name spoken in a growl. Second offense is a token punishment, usually 'run and touch the flagpole'. Third offense is sitting out from the drill. Fourth offense is sitting out from practice. Parents are notified. Fifth offense is loss of game time. Parents are notified. Sixth offense is - well, hopefully we won't get that far.
Offenses are cumulative over the season.
You must arrive at least 15 minutes before kickoff. That means at the field, fully dressed and prepared to play (not searching for a place to park, or putting your shinguards on). It takes 5 minutes to warm up, 5 minutes to assign positions and get organized, and 5 minutes for the referee check-in. If those do not happen, your kid will be mentally and physically unprepared, the risk of injuries increases, the risk for an early goal scored against us increases, and the referee will be grumpy at us.
Playing time is the only consistent positive motivator I have, and I use it to its fullest. Playing time is given to those who hustle and follow instructions. I don't expect them to be any good, but I expect them to run and at least try. Everyone will play at least half the game (A KASL requirement).
Kids are naturally good at certain positions and I respect that. I do accomodate requests. Everyone will play every position at least once, including goalie. I try to have everyone score.
Schedules are at https://kenoshasoccer.com/.
If it's uncertain, the answer is yes. Short of it actively pouring at that exact second, the answer is yes.
I’ve been playing continuously since I was four, including college and the Milwaukee and Kenosha adult leagues. I've been coaching every spring and fall since 2004, all ages, sometimes multiple teams at once. I have my E and D state licenses from Illinois and Wisconsin.
I have Aspergers Syndrome so I take things literally and don't pick up on emotions or hints. Just be direct if you want something and we will get along fine, and please try to be understanding if I come across as too blunt. Its not you, its me. On the plus side, Aspergians get along great with kids!