I am new at this and was under the impression the coach was the authority of the Team. If parents have a problem with a decsion the coach has made, why are they complaining to me? Should'nt these questions be directed to the coach? Is it the job of the manager to be lobby on the parents behalf?

I am new at this and was under the impression the coach was the authority of the Team. If parents have a problem with a decsion the coach has made, why are they complaining to me? Should'nt these questions be directed to the coach? Is it the job of the manager to be lobby on the parents behalf?

Depends. Are you (the parents) the coach's employer, or do you belong to one of those big clubs where you and your kid are paying slaves with no say?

I am new at this and was under the impression the coach was the authority of the Team. If parents have a problem with a decsion the coach has made, why are they complaining to me? Should'nt these questions be directed to the coach? Is it the job of the manager to be lobby on the parents behalf?

Yes it should be the coach who they talk to. My guess is they feel more comfortable talking to you. Does everyone have the coaches number to call him?

What is worse for me is that everyone complains to my wife, expecting her to tell me, and me to talk to the coach.

I am new at this and was under the impression the coach was the authority of the Team. If parents have a problem with a decsion the coach has made, why are they complaining to me? Should'nt these questions be directed to the coach? Is it the job of the manager to be lobby on the parents behalf?

These are things that should be sorted out between you and the coach early in the season. I have managed teams where I had zero authority over anything. I simply collected money and stood in line to register teams for tournaments. I didn't even make telephone calls. I have also managed teams where I was responsible for everything but training the team and the coach didn't want any contact with or from parents. One thing I would stay away from though; is speaking for the coach as it relates to personnel, play time, strategy etc....let him/her do that; unless the coach askes you to share that stuff. I don't believe it is the managers job to lobby for the parents; I do believe it is the mangers job to share parent concerns with the coach though. Good luck!

I am new at this and was under the impression the coach was the authority of the Team. If parents have a problem with a decsion the coach has made, why are they complaining to me? Should'nt these questions be directed to the coach? Is it the job of the manager to be lobby on the parents behalf?

There are few coaches I know don't want to deal with anything besides coaching, specially the ones that coach more than one team. In this cases TM expected to do everything else, including talking and communicating with parents, including lobbying.

Seems to me that in an ideal world the coach and the manager should be partners. My coach and I work hard to stay in touch on all issues related to running the team, although I try to avoid the on-field issues. Thats her territory. She stays out of the financial part and I deal with that. Tournament schedules are discussed early and often.

Make A Run makes a good point about TM interfacing with the Coach on behalf of parents. I agree with what was said.

Some coaches don't want to interact with parents relative to play issues; and some clubs want the manager to be the first filter for parents so the coach can focus on, well, coaching.

The coach is in charge. Deal with him (her). The manager is there for administrative issues and to let the coach deal with soccer.

Depends. Are you (the parents) the coach's employer, or do you belong to one of those big clubs where you and your kid are paying slaves with no say?

Depends. Do you want parents who have probably never laced up a pair of cleats in their life and may have an agenda (aka a child on the team) making decisions or do you want an impartial professional to decide?

The coach is in charge. Deal with him (her). The manager is there for administrative issues and to let the coach deal with soccer.

Yup...that's it in a nutshell.

coach is there to coach, team manager is the communcator, if they cant answer then ask coach. simple!

Other than on administrative issues for which a Manager has written back-up from the Club (which the Manager can then address authoritatively); a Manager should merely be a conduit for appropriate group communication from parents collectively to coach and vice versa. If it is an individual player/parent problem - tell them to contact the coach directly and cc the coach on your advisement. Stay out of the middle of the individual issues.

Well, if you're reading this to find out what you should or shouldn't expect to do and be as a Team Manager, then you should have learned one thing from reading this thread - that everyone here is wrong. . .and everyone here is right.

The duties and authority of a TM varies from club to club, and may from team to team. So anyone telling you "this is the way it is", may be wrong for where you are.

In the bigger clubs, the coach is almost always a pro-coach assigned to the team by the club's DoC, and either the Team Coach or the DoC makes all decisions on the team. The manager may either be assigned by the Club, or may be the first parent to volunteer to the team's coach - basically a Team Mom with a different name.

In many meduim or smaller clubs, and even occasionally in a big club, the Team Manager may be one of the people who organized the team or brought it to the club from a recreational program, and this person may actually be the one making all the team's decisions.

The truth is that if you are a new manager of a team, you shouldn't be asking people here what your authority and duty is - you should be asking the people in your club.

"The truth is that if you are a new manager of a team, you shouldn't be asking people here what your authority and duty is - you should be asking the people in your club."

Spot on Mike. Each team,club is different...

Well, if you're reading this to find out what you should or shouldn't expect to do and be as a Team Manager, then you should have learned one thing from reading this thread - that everyone here is wrong. . .and everyone here is right.

The duties and authority of a TM varies from club to club, and may from team to team. So anyone telling you "this is the way it is", may be wrong for where you are.

In the bigger clubs, the coach is almost always a pro-coach assigned to the team by the club's DoC, and either the Team Coach or the DoC makes all decisions on the team. The manager may either be assigned by the Club, or may be the first parent to volunteer to the team's coach - basically a Team Mom with a different name.

In many meduim or smaller clubs, and even occasionally in a big club, the Team Manager may be one of the people who organized the team or brought it to the club from a recreational program, and this person may actually be the one making all the team's decisions.

The truth is that if you are a new manager of a team, you shouldn't be asking people here what your authority and duty is - you should be asking the people in your club.

Great summary, Mike.

I was TA for a new club last year. I saw my role as allowing the coach to focus on the pitch during matches and during practices. I took parent concerns, I communicated with the parents about team events, etc. I did everything. This year, I've deputized 5 other parents to handle things like treasurer, tournaments, equipment, registration, and special activities. I'm hoping that this results in less work by me, but I do not expect it to diminish my responsibility. As newbies, each of the parents will need my support from time to time (based on my staggering one year of experience, ha ha).

Great summary, Mike.

This year, I've deputized 5 other parents to handle things like treasurer, tournaments, equipment, registration, and special activities. I'm hoping that this results in less work by me, but I do not expect it to diminish my responsibility. As newbies, each of the parents will need my support from time to time (based on my staggering one year of experience, ha ha).

This is sound advice for newbies - give EVERYONE a job. Its not that hard to come up with 10 jobs that parents can do. No reason for the manager to carry the full burden.

Our structure goes like this:

Social Director- this is the party planner and also coordinates things like team meals and travel reservations.

Fundraising Committee Chair

Fundraising Committee Members (2)

Bench Family - they bring the bench every week. Rotated annually.

Uniform and Spirit Wear Coordinator

Field Crew (2 or 3)- available to work on field repairs and maintenance when necessary (small club means we do this ourselves on occassion!)

Community Service Team (2) - arranges team community service projects.

I would love to pass off the treasurer responsibility but feel its necessary for the TM to hang on to that. I would be interested to know how other teams do it.

This is sound advice for newbies - give EVERYONE a job. Its not that hard to come up with 10 jobs that parents can do. No reason for the manager to carry the full burden.

Our structure goes like this:

Social Director- this is the party planner and also coordinates things like team meals and travel reservations.

Fundraising Committee Chair

Fundraising Committee Members (2)

Bench Family - they bring the bench every week. Rotated annually.

Uniform and Spirit Wear Coordinator

Field Crew (2 or 3)- available to work on field repairs and maintenance when necessary (small club means we do this ourselves on occassion!)

Community Service Team (2) - arranges team community service projects.

I would love to pass off the treasurer responsibility but feel its necessary for the TM to hang on to that. I would be interested to know how other teams do it.

Those are great ideas.

I also suggest a tournament coordinator (registers team for tournaments and can help select them, communicates with parents re time/place, maybe sets up lunch trip between matches). We have a photographer too, though that's just b/c someone takes good pics already and I want him to keep doing it and feel like he's contributing, which he is. Our "equipment manager" will carry the bench and the first aid kit. He'll also be the scorekeeper (tracking all stats during matches) unless someone else shares it with him. The team liaison to club would probably handle fundraising, meaning get our team's parents participating in that club activity. She's got "special events" too, which would be things like Galaxy night or team picnics. Again, this can be divided.

When i was a kid and playing soccer in europe from U12 all the way to the second squad of a profesional team the coaches didnt even knew most of the parents of the players. The closest a parent it could be to the coach it was from the first row behind the bench.The difference between the clubs in europe and here is that there you dont have to many chances, to play soccer in a competitive level. I remember at the beggining of tryouts out of 50 kids maby 5 or 6 continue and from those 6 kids 1 or 2 made it to the team.Coaches in europe are tough and they dont talk to much not only with the parents but not even with the club officials.And a small detail there you dont pay ,club pays everything.I think coach is to coach ,trainer is to train and manager is to take care the administrative part .

When i was a kid and playing soccer in europe from U12 all the way to the second squad of a profesional team the coaches didnt even knew most of the parents of the players. The closest a parent it could be to the coach it was from the first row behind the bench.The difference between the clubs in europe and here is that there you dont have to many chances, to play soccer in a competitive level. I remember at the beggining of tryouts out of 50 kids maby 5 or 6 continue and from those 6 kids 1 or 2 made it to the team.Coaches in europe are tough and they dont talk to much not only with the parents but not even with the club officials.And a small detail there you dont pay ,club pays everything.I think coach is to coach ,trainer is to train and manager is to take care the administrative part .

And this information is helpful to new Team Managers in So Cal. . .in what way?

And this information is helpful to new Team Managers in So Cal. . .in what way?
Was that negative response necessary?

And this information is helpful to new Team Managers in So Cal. . .in what way?
Maybe yes maybe not, it all depends in what point of view you aproaching it.

Was that negative response necessary?
I was wondering the same thing scotchmagic.

Maybe yes maybe not, it all depends in what point of view you aproaching it.

Perhaps if I spelled out my meaning then:

This sub-forum, Manager's Corner, is for Southern California youth soccer Team Managers to discuss and swap ideas and problems with being managers for youth soccer teams in So Cal.

So how does what goes on in Europe have any bearing on what goes on here in So Cal?

Perhaps if I spelled out my meaning then:

This sub-forum, Manager's Corner, is for Southern California youth soccer Team Managers to discuss and swap ideas and problems with being managers for youth soccer teams in So Cal.

So how does what goes on in Europe have any bearing on what goes on here in So Cal?

There are rules about what can be posted here? Where are they?

The very fact that the question is asked, implies the coach is weak, akin to a eunuch in a harem, and should, in my opinion, get a hard kick in a soft place. Get him/her out the door for being such a wimp. A good coach, paid or not, is never the employee of parents; perish the thought.

There are rules about what can be posted here? Where are they?
Evidently MB makes his own rules and we must all abide by them or become the victim of his wrath.

As a team manager in So Cal, I did not find thrileon's post useful. I read it, I thought "hmm, interesting", and I moved on.

I also didn't take Mike's question to be particularly negative, though I can see how it might be taken that way. I try to give the poster the benefit of the doubt though and assumed it was a legit question rather than an attempt to attack the poster.

This is a great thread. I think Mike Benjamin said it best with "no one is right, no one is wrong." There is no set in stone definition of what a manager does. But you do need to establish what your club's position is, if they have one. I am currently helping a new manager with our club navigate these waters as our club has no real stance on this and our director offers his help, but only when asked. So you are really on your own to define duties and boundaries with parents and coach. Communication is definately the one key necessity.

This is a great thread. I think Mike Benjamin said it best with "no one is right, no one is wrong." There is no set in stone definition of what a manager does. But you do need to establish what your club's position is, if they have one. I am currently helping a new manager with our club navigate these waters as our club has no real stance on this and our director offers his help, but only when asked. So you are really on your own to define duties and boundaries with parents and coach. Communication is definately the one key necessity.

Thank you.

There are obviously some things that can be universal, and no matter what Club will be appreciated - well, at least tolerated - such as keeping a good first aid kit, having water, and as LA Soccer said, communications so everyone knows when and where they have to be, and what the uniform of the day will be.

The amount of control or authority the manager has, and for that matter the coach, is really determined by the Club. So no matter what anyone and everyone states here, go to your Club and find out what their policy is.

And this information is helpful to new Team Managers in So Cal. . .in what way?

I think he is just telling us how soccer is different in Europe than how it is here. If you don't find it beneficial, then read it and move on. geez...

I think he is just telling us how soccer is different in Europe than how it is here. If you don't find it beneficial, then read it and move on. geez...

I completely understood his meaning.

And I didn't see how an explanation of youth soccer in Europe (completely different than here) would be helpful to a new youth soccer team manager here in So Cal to understand their responsibilities and authorities - and in fact could be confusing.

Sheesh. . .

I completely understood his meaning.

And I didn't see how an explanation of youth soccer in Europe (completely different than here) would be helpful to a new youth soccer team manager here in So Cal to understand their responsibilities and authorities - and in fact could be confusing.

Sheesh. . .
Thanks for your OPINION, now go back to your own thread where you can make whatever rules you like and tell everyone what they can and cannot post.

Good post. The key point to make is that the COACH needs to communicate early what the manager's role is for the season. The COACH dictates what responsibilities lie with the manager and what lie with the COACH. If the manager starts the season without knowing the ground rules, then the COACH has not done his job.

Good post. The key point to make is that the COACH needs to communicate early what the manager's role is for the season. The COACH dictates what responsibilities lie with the manager and what lie with the COACH. If the manager starts the season without knowing the ground rules, then the COACH has not done his job.

Again, this is only true if it is the policy of YOUR club. Not all Clubs and teams are the same. In many teams, the Manager is the boss, and the Coach works for the Manager.

Again, this is only true if it is the policy of YOUR club. Not all Clubs and teams are the same. In many teams, the Manager is the boss, and the Coach works for the Manager.


What clubs do that?

Again, this is only true if it is the policy of YOUR club. Not all Clubs and teams are the same. In many teams, the Manager is the boss, and the Coach works for the Manager.

IF that's the case, I would say that the "coach" is not a coach at all. I would say he's the "trainer". I think Espola's question is a good one, what club's work in that manner?

IF that's the case, I would say that the "coach" is not a coach at all. I would say he's the "trainer". I think Espola's question is a good one, what club's work in that manner?


You'r missing the point. I'm not advocating either position, like you are. I'm not giving an opinion on who should be the boss.

The point is that a new manager should NOT be taking the opinion of someone here, who is from another club, on how they should be doing it in their club. Their club may be different.

Although this forum can provide different views on this subject, a smart manager - experienced or new - goes to his club's administrative leadership and finds out, in their club, who they should go to for information and who is the boss on the team.

A good coach, paid or not, is never the employee of parents; perish the thought.

Then are we paying for a privilege or a service?

Then are we paying for a privilege or a service?

Bingo!

Unless we're talking about Sir Alex, or someone of that calibur. . .

As a paying parent, who do you want. Someone for whom you pay just to have the priviledge of their presence, or someone who you pay who works for you and will do their best to serve you.

I want the latter.

Celtic can keep the conceited self absorbed former.

Bingo!

Unless we're talking about Sir Alex, or someone of that calibur. . .

As a paying parent, who do you want. Someone for whom you pay just to have the priviledge of their presence, or someone who you pay who works for you and will do their best to serve you.

I want the latter.

Celtic can keep the conceited self absorbed former.

Hopefully, the coach mainly concentrates on servicing the needs of the players. Servicing the needs of us parents seems like an impossible task and should be un-neccessary if the players are taken care of.

Hopefully, the coach mainly concentrates on servicing the needs of the players. Servicing the needs of us parents seems like an impossible task and should be un-neccessary if the players are taken care of.

One of the many functions of the team manager.

Hopefully, the coach mainly concentrates on servicing the needs of the players. Servicing the needs of us parents seems like an impossible task and should be un-neccessary if the players are taken care of.

Serving the players, not servicing them - but that's what I meant.