Team Manager's Corner

Each Team should have one Team Manager. The Team Manager’s job is an important link of communication from Coach to Parents. The Team Manger does not get involved with the coaching of the team or need to know very much about soccer, just someone who is willing and organized to help out the team and assist the Coach with certain responsibilities. Below is an outline of most of these duties:

    1. Communication – The coach communicates to the team manager with regards to games, practices, tournaments and any other club news. The team manager distributes this communication to the parents. It is a good idea to start the season with an introduction of who you are and your method of communicating information to the parents. You can also give them a brief outline of the season and what may be on the horizon for tournaments and indoor training. Talk this over with the coach and try and get as much information as possible about future schedules to share with the parents.

    2. Rosters/packet – The team manager receives a packet with copies of all the MYSA Membership forms, Birth Certificate copies, official MAPLE Team Roster and pass cards on each player and coach. All the information and documentation you should need for developing an email distribution list and for tournament registration and MAPLE games are in this packet. It is fine if you want to put together a list for your parents of players’ names, shirt numbers, town and phone numbers. This will help them with coordinating car pooling and such.

    3. Games - When you receive your packet, you will need to make at least 20-30 copies of the Game Roster. You will need at least 2 copies at each game for distribution. You should bring this packet with you to every game. About 30 minutes prior to the game, you should give 2 copies of the roster and pass cards to the coach for “Player Check In”. Coach should return pass cards to you after Check in.

    4. Game Changes – Game changes can happen for a number of reasons; weather, field conditions, or another team forfeiting. The coaches will check the MAPLE Site for changes; however, it is a good idea for the Team Manager to check also. The coach may also ask your assistance in rescheduling a game if needed. You can find the Team’s Schedule and any changes on the website: http://www.maplesoccer.org/

    5. Reporting scores – There is also information on the website for first time coaches and managers. This will help you with Reporting Scores to MAPLE and rescheduling games. Scores are supposed to be reported Sunday nights by both teams. The Coach can assist you with this.

    6. Tournaments – The coach will let the team manager know which tournament the team is doing. The team manager is responsible for signing up the team for the tournament and registering them at the tournament. The club pays for two tournament fees and the team manager can request a check for the tournament from Stefano Franciosa at sfranciosa@comcast.net. There can also be tournaments (above the 2 paid for by club) and/or out of town, where coaching fees, travel accommodations and tournament registration fees are required. The team manager would take care of arranging the travel requirements for the coach and collecting the fees needed from the team for the total costs. You can email Carolyn Gourdeau for additional help on this if it arises, at Gourdeau@comcast.net.

    7. Player Changes – Players may be added or dropped from a team as the season goes on. All those changes need to have documentation and be changed on the roster with the MAPLE Registrar. The team manager should get from the coach the add/drop information and send to Carolyn Gourdeau, Club Administrator. The documentation will be prepared and then the team manager will be responsible for getting the documentation to and from the MAPLE Registrar.

    8. Equipment/Uniforms – At the beginning of each season uniforms may be ordered, initially this is done over the summer during the Club Registration Process. Other uniform pieces that need to be ordered before the start of the Spring Season should go through the team manager. The team manager can get uniform order forms from Carolyn Gourdeau to process requests. Uniforms will always be sent back to the Team Manager or Coach for distribution. Parents and players with questions regarding uniforms can address them to the team manager and they in turn will communicate with the club administrator.

    9. Collection of Fees – Again sorting out what extra the parents need to pay for additional events are the responsibility of the team manager. Information regarding what the club pays for is in the Registration handbook that everyone receives at registration time. Additional fees for coaching may also be necessary if a team makes it into the championship finals for MAPLE in June. When figuring out the per player fee, always make sure you have a commitment of players participating (most events players are expected to participate), give the parent/player a commitment deadline that allows you ample time to organize and collect fees, set the fee structure a little higher than anticipated. Extra expenses always seem to pop up and anything extra can always go towards a team party at year end if you want. In addition, you may be asked to relay messages to parents regarding due dates of tuition fees or past due amounts that will need to be collected before a player continues to play. You will only be asked to send the reminders and the full responsibility for collecting will be on the administrator and coach.

Finally, if you have any questions or concerns regarding the role as team manager, please feel free to speak with your coach or the Club Administrator.