Pro-tips for Soccer "managers"?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:**^^
Your responsibilities are:
Convey team payment information.
Register team in leagues and events.
Assist with travel logistics
Register players
Communicate practice and travel schedule

Well, you're talking about travel soccer. I (PP) was talking about rec soccer. You are right for your situation. In rec, I've seen situations in which the manager undermines the coach, and that's not healthy.

There is almost no need for a team manager in rec soccer.

Fields are assigned. League schedule is handled by the club. No leagues to register players in. No tournaments to register team in. Your only job is to send out the snack schedule that everyone hates.

game reminders, practice reminders, organize team meeting, organize end-of-season celebration, collect coach gift. Survey families for interest in a second weekly practice... there's more I'm not thinking of at the moment. Manager could coordinate volunteers for team duties like field clean up and set up, and the Manna food donations.

A nice manager would also help with picking up uniforms, etc, though that's usually the coach. And I wish more people hated the snack schedule! I thought kids outgrew snacks by 3rd grade, but with my son's 11th grade team, the practice just won't die!

game reminders -- Can be done by the coach
organize team meeting -- If needed, can be done by the coach.
organize end-of-season celebration -- While fun it is not necessary and anyone can do this.
collect coach gift -- Not necessary. Nice to do but again, anyone can do it.
Survey families for interest in a second weekly practice. -- Can be done by the coach.
Manager could coordinate volunteers for team duties like field clean up and set up, and the Manna food donations.-- Whaaaaa?!?! You mean corner flags? Club does that and is only necessary for the first game of the day and the last game of the day.

You are really reaching on these things. In nearly all of the above list a team manager is simply acting like a middle man and can actually create more work to accomplish the most basic of tasks. Email game reminders? Really? How long would that take a coach to do? Seriously, if you practice once a week and play one game on a Saturday morning I think the coach can handle the complex logistics of emailing the team. Good grief.

Why you so worked up? We're talking parent volunteers here. No reason the coach should have to do everything. The coach shouldn't have to be coach as well as coordinator. And for a bunch of fields, the first team of the day puts up the net and the last team takes it down. Someone has to bring them home, keep them for the week, and bring them to the next game. Yes, it's usually the coach, but doesn't have to be. The first team at the field is also responsible for re-chalking the lines for some fields. Doesn't have to be the coach. Of course someone else could do these things. But in Classic, the coach could also be registering the players. In fact, there it would make more sense to give the coach more of that work, because the coach is paid. The rec coach is unpaid, so shouldn't have to do the administrative and logistical stuff. All the rec teams my kids have been involved with had a manager.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:**^^
Your responsibilities are:
Convey team payment information.
Register team in leagues and events.
Assist with travel logistics
Register players
Communicate practice and travel schedule

Well, you're talking about travel soccer. I (PP) was talking about rec soccer. You are right for your situation. In rec, I've seen situations in which the manager undermines the coach, and that's not healthy.

There is almost no need for a team manager in rec soccer.

Fields are assigned. League schedule is handled by the club. No leagues to register players in. No tournaments to register team in. Your only job is to send out the snack schedule that everyone hates.

game reminders, practice reminders, organize team meeting, organize end-of-season celebration, collect coach gift. Survey families for interest in a second weekly practice... there's more I'm not thinking of at the moment. Manager could coordinate volunteers for team duties like field clean up and set up, and the Manna food donations.

A nice manager would also help with picking up uniforms, etc, though that's usually the coach. And I wish more people hated the snack schedule! I thought kids outgrew snacks by 3rd grade, but with my son's 11th grade team, the practice just won't die!

game reminders -- Can be done by the coach
organize team meeting -- If needed, can be done by the coach.
organize end-of-season celebration -- While fun it is not necessary and anyone can do this.
collect coach gift -- Not necessary. Nice to do but again, anyone can do it.
Survey families for interest in a second weekly practice. -- Can be done by the coach.
Manager could coordinate volunteers for team duties like field clean up and set up, and the Manna food donations.-- Whaaaaa?!?! You mean corner flags? Club does that and is only necessary for the first game of the day and the last game of the day.

You are really reaching on these things. In nearly all of the above list a team manager is simply acting like a middle man and can actually create more work to accomplish the most basic of tasks. Email game reminders? Really? How long would that take a coach to do? Seriously, if you practice once a week and play one game on a Saturday morning I think the coach can handle the complex logistics of emailing the team. Good grief.

Why you so worked up? We're talking parent volunteers here. No reason the coach should have to do everything. The coach shouldn't have to be coach as well as coordinator. And for a bunch of fields, the first team of the day puts up the net and the last team takes it down. Someone has to bring them home, keep them for the week, and bring them to the next game. Yes, it's usually the coach, but doesn't have to be. The first team at the field is also responsible for re-chalking the lines for some fields. Doesn't have to be the coach. Of course someone else could do these things. But in Classic, the coach could also be registering the players. In fact, there it would make more sense to give the coach more of that work, because the coach is paid. The rec coach is unpaid, so shouldn't have to do the administrative and logistical stuff. All the rec teams my kids have been involved with had a manager.

Go ahead and do all those things for a rec team that needs to take a poll to determine if they should practice twice a week. The level of commitment at rec for players and coaches alike is quite minimal. If you want to be a team manager go for it but you are really just creating busy work. If the coach needs to email a manager to email the team that is just stupid and a waste of time. Please tell me how the coaches burden was lessened because they emailed you directions to email the team?

You practice one day a week and play one day a week. It isn't that hard so don't work to make any harder.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:**^^
Your responsibilities are:
Convey team payment information.
Register team in leagues and events.
Assist with travel logistics
Register players
Communicate practice and travel schedule

Well, you're talking about travel soccer. I (PP) was talking about rec soccer. You are right for your situation. In rec, I've seen situations in which the manager undermines the coach, and that's not healthy.

There is almost no need for a team manager in rec soccer.

Fields are assigned. League schedule is handled by the club. No leagues to register players in. No tournaments to register team in. Your only job is to send out the snack schedule that everyone hates.

game reminders, practice reminders, organize team meeting, organize end-of-season celebration, collect coach gift. Survey families for interest in a second weekly practice... there's more I'm not thinking of at the moment. Manager could coordinate volunteers for team duties like field clean up and set up, and the Manna food donations.

A nice manager would also help with picking up uniforms, etc, though that's usually the coach. And I wish more people hated the snack schedule! I thought kids outgrew snacks by 3rd grade, but with my son's 11th grade team, the practice just won't die!

game reminders -- Can be done by the coach
organize team meeting -- If needed, can be done by the coach.
organize end-of-season celebration -- While fun it is not necessary and anyone can do this.
collect coach gift -- Not necessary. Nice to do but again, anyone can do it.
Survey families for interest in a second weekly practice. -- Can be done by the coach.
Manager could coordinate volunteers for team duties like field clean up and set up, and the Manna food donations.-- Whaaaaa?!?! You mean corner flags? Club does that and is only necessary for the first game of the day and the last game of the day.

You are really reaching on these things. In nearly all of the above list a team manager is simply acting like a middle man and can actually create more work to accomplish the most basic of tasks. Email game reminders? Really? How long would that take a coach to do? Seriously, if you practice once a week and play one game on a Saturday morning I think the coach can handle the complex logistics of emailing the team. Good grief.

Why you so worked up? We're talking parent volunteers here. No reason the coach should have to do everything. The coach shouldn't have to be coach as well as coordinator. And for a bunch of fields, the first team of the day puts up the net and the last team takes it down. Someone has to bring them home, keep them for the week, and bring them to the next game. Yes, it's usually the coach, but doesn't have to be. The first team at the field is also responsible for re-chalking the lines for some fields. Doesn't have to be the coach. Of course someone else could do these things. But in Classic, the coach could also be registering the players. In fact, there it would make more sense to give the coach more of that work, because the coach is paid. The rec coach is unpaid, so shouldn't have to do the administrative and logistical stuff. All the rec teams my kids have been involved with had a manager.

Go ahead and do all those things for a rec team that needs to take a poll to determine if they should practice twice a week. The level of commitment at rec for players and coaches alike is quite minimal. If you want to be a team manager go for it but you are really just creating busy work. If the coach needs to email a manager to email the team that is just stupid and a waste of time. Please tell me how the coaches burden was lessened because they emailed you directions to email the team?

You practice one day a week and play one day a week. It isn't that hard so don't work to make any harder.

NP. I agree you are quite explosive toward this rec manager. I think the things the rec manager above is doing is reasonable and nice. Why do you feel the urge need to attack him/her?

I am a manager for a "classic" team, which is not travel, but more commitment than rec. Does that make my job stupid too?

[Anonymous]

If you are just looking for things to do in order to justify being a team manager then the shoe may fit.

All of the mentioned things can certainly be done but they are not all necessary and can be done by anyone on the team.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If you are just looking for things to do in order to justify being a team manager then the shoe may fit.

All of the mentioned things can certainly be done but they are not all necessary and can be done by anyone on the team.

PP here. Not sure what you mean by this. "Anyone on the team" can volunteer to be the manager. I am the PP who mentioned I am a "classic" team manager (not a travel team). True, anyone willing to do the tasks can become a manager. But is everyone willing to do the following?

Analyze team expenses and determine the player fees for the season. Work with the money manager to collect those fees.
Reserve fields for practices
Communicate game and practice information to players (teamsnap)
Organize volunteers for game day and practices through signup genius
Find and reserve indoor practice facility for winter sessions.
Register team for all leagues -- spring, fall, winter.
Get players carded (get them to sign waivers, submit photos, provide proof of age, etc.)
Obtain team input for various issues.
Determine jersey color for each game
Assist coach in recruiting any needed players and get them on board.
Organize any games that need to be rescheduled if other team willing to do so.
Deal with a couple crappy parents who whine about everything.
There is more I bet, but I can't think of it right now

If you think this is something the coach should do, great. But I imagine a team with a manager to help with these things makes for a more robust and organized team...especially where there is a coach working with other teams.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you are just looking for things to do in order to justify being a team manager then the shoe may fit.

All of the mentioned things can certainly be done but they are not all necessary and can be done by anyone on the team.

PP here. Not sure what you mean by this. "Anyone on the team" can volunteer to be the manager. I am the PP who mentioned I am a "classic" team manager (not a travel team). True, anyone willing to do the tasks can become a manager. But is everyone willing to do the following?

Analyze team expenses and determine the player fees for the season. Work with the money manager to collect those fees.
Reserve fields for practices
Communicate game and practice information to players (teamsnap)
Organize volunteers for game day and practices through signup genius
Find and reserve indoor practice facility for winter sessions.
Register team for all leagues -- spring, fall, winter.
Get players carded (get them to sign waivers, submit photos, provide proof of age, etc.)
Obtain team input for various issues.
Determine jersey color for each game
Assist coach in recruiting any needed players and get them on board.
Organize any games that need to be rescheduled if other team willing to do so.
Deal with a couple crappy parents who whine about everything.
There is more I bet, but I can't think of it right now

If you think this is something the coach should do, great. But I imagine a team with a manager to help with these things makes for a more robust and organized team...especially where there is a coach working with other teams.

Collecting a a coach gift does not need to be done by a team manager.

Rec programs are pretty dictated and run by the club. Fields are assigned by the club. Schedules are dictated by the club. Rosters are dictated by the club as players are assigned.

All of this is done because rec soccer is supposed to be about fun and keeping things simple. Travel teams and select classic teams that play in leagues and tournaments have individual team logistics that team managers actually need to help with. Other than a team party, a snack schedule there really just is not much for a rec team manager to actually manage. And nobody needs to be designated a team manager to do those things. They are not official team responsibilities. A team manager represents the team in an official capacity and there really are no such opportunities at the rec level.

What the position on a rec team level is really acting as a "team parent". Nothing wrong with being a team parent but the things you want to do are not officially needed or required.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you are just looking for things to do in order to justify being a team manager then the shoe may fit.

All of the mentioned things can certainly be done but they are not all necessary and can be done by anyone on the team.

PP here. Not sure what you mean by this. "Anyone on the team" can volunteer to be the manager. I am the PP who mentioned I am a "classic" team manager (not a travel team). True, anyone willing to do the tasks can become a manager. But is everyone willing to do the following?

Analyze team expenses and determine the player fees for the season. Work with the money manager to collect those fees.
Reserve fields for practices
Communicate game and practice information to players (teamsnap)
Organize volunteers for game day and practices through signup genius
Find and reserve indoor practice facility for winter sessions.
Register team for all leagues -- spring, fall, winter.
Get players carded (get them to sign waivers, submit photos, provide proof of age, etc.)
Obtain team input for various issues.
Determine jersey color for each game
Assist coach in recruiting any needed players and get them on board.
Organize any games that need to be rescheduled if other team willing to do so.
Deal with a couple crappy parents who whine about everything.
There is more I bet, but I can't think of it right now

If you think this is something the coach should do, great. But I imagine a team with a manager to help with these things makes for a more robust and organized team...especially where there is a coach working with other teams.

The PP is talking about being a team manager for a REC team. None of your list applies as those things are all done by the club.

[Anonymous]

What do folks think about a 2 year limit on Team Managers? Gives others the opportunity to step up and others a break to not be consumed by team manager duties.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What do folks think about a 2 year limit on Team Managers? Gives others the opportunity to step up and others a break to not be consumed by team manager duties.

Great ideal. I am going on my third year and am burnt out already.

[Anonymous]

For heavy travel teams, credential multiple team managers. You can be first among equals, but you don’t want to be the only one who can go to Florida or Texas or wherever.

[Anonymous]

The Rec team manager will turn into what the following post is all about:

https://www.dcurbanmom.com/jforum/posts/list/829508.page

[Anonymous]

Every Monday send out a weekly update with the schedule for the week and be direct with things, don't ask for volunteers, assign people things. Let them know at the parent meeting that it is a rotation of things.

Tournament #1 Fred's family is responsible for room checks if your team does player only rooms

Tournament 2 #1 Bob's family is responsible for dinner meaning you already made the reservation they go early to make sure it is ready or they pick up food to bring back

etc. Don't put out things like we need volunteer for or you will do it yourself.

Parents who don't reply etc you have to call them on it. they will either get with the program or leave the team. a well run team has parents who get the program.

[Anonymous]

and use bcc on all emails so there is no chance for reply all

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Every Monday send out a weekly update with the schedule for the week and be direct with things, don't ask for volunteers, assign people things. Let them know at the parent meeting that it is a rotation of things.

Tournament #1 Fred's family is responsible for room checks if your team does player only rooms

Tournament 2 #1 Bob's family is responsible for dinner meaning you already made the reservation they go early to make sure it is ready or they pick up food to bring back

etc. Don't put out things like we need volunteer for or you will do it yourself.

Parents who don't reply etc you have to call them on it. they will either get with the program or leave the team. a well run team has parents who get the program.

No, you don’t make dinners the responsibility of any parent. Let parents decide for themselves if they wish to join a team dinner or not.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Every Monday send out a weekly update with the schedule for the week and be direct with things, don't ask for volunteers, assign people things. Let them know at the parent meeting that it is a rotation of things.

Tournament #1 Fred's family is responsible for room checks if your team does player only rooms

Tournament 2 #1 Bob's family is responsible for dinner meaning you already made the reservation they go early to make sure it is ready or they pick up food to bring back

etc. Don't put out things like we need volunteer for or you will do it yourself.

Parents who don't reply etc you have to call them on it. they will either get with the program or leave the team. a well run team has parents who get the program.

If you want to be team manager then fine. You signed up for it. But don't make tasks someone else's job.

There are actual team necessities, player cards, tourney registrations, paying refs, etc. Beyond that it is not the team managers job to create work. Team dinners etc are not necessities and fall well out of your authority to assign their planning. You are not the boss of anyone.