COACH INFORMATION & RESOURCES

Northville Parks & Recreation FIELD CLOSURE HOTLINE
(248) 449-9951

Northville FC Executive Director Dan Ferrara’s Cell phone
(248) 345-3501

coach meeting Wednesday 9/2 @ Northville District Library

U4-U8 coaches: 6pm-7pm
U9 and older coaches: 7:30-8:30pm

U4-U8 Coach Information

  • All U4-U8 coaches must complete a background check to volunteer. No adult should be on the field or team sideline unless they have completed a background check.

  • All U4-U8 teams share a Wednesday group training from 5:30pm-6:30pm. Coaches are encouraged to attend these trainings and work with the kids in their age group. Because teams change every season, this creates a familiarity between coaches and players, regardless of team, as the players age up.

    Coach attendance is not required at every Wednesday training, but it is strongly encouraged if you have the availability.

    U7 and U8 coaches may schedule an additional practice outside of the Wednesday group training. Please contact dferrara@northvillefc.com to reserve a field time.

  • The goal of U4-U8 games is enjoyment and player development. Final scores are not recorded and shouldn’t be your primary focus in-game. That said, encouraging competitive play is important.

    PLAYING TIME: All players should play a minimum of ½ the game unless otherwise requested by the player or parent. It’s your job to encourage participation, but not mandate it. Equal playing time is not necessary, but an equal minimum playing time of ½ the game should be your goal.

    PARENT/KID GAMES: Due to potential injury to players and parents, Northville FC does not allow parent/kid games.

  • U4-U8 League rules can be found here.

    Rules can be adjusted, with the agreement of coaches from both teams, if it’s in the best interest of the players on the field. For example, if one team only has three players present, a 4v4 game can become a 3v3 game, or a team can share a player to encourage more playing time at 4v4.

    Rules specifically targeted at player safety may not be adjusted (Headers, goalies, maximum number of players on the field, etc.)

U9 and Older Coach INFORMATION

  • All coaches must complete three items on GotSport.com to be eligible to participate in practices & games:

    • Background Check (Yearly)

    • SafeSport Training (Yearly)

    • HeadsUp Concussion Training (3 years)

    Returning coaches can login to GotSport.com at any time and update their credentials on the DASHBOARD, even if they are not currently assigned to a Northville FC team.

    New coaches should contact dferrara@northvillefc.com if they need access to GotSport.

  • Coaches should read and understand all league rules and policies, including rules for their specific age groups (headers, build out lines, etc.)

    WSSL Rules

  • Referees are paid by direct deposit by Northville FC. Payment at the field is not required.

    Please introduce yourself to all three referees (Center and two ARs) prior to the game. Confirm age-specific rules (no headers for U11 and under) as well as substitution rules. The ref’s ruling is final - if they insist on using rules that are not WSSL rules (generally happens with substitutions), it should be reported to dferrara@northvillefc.com after the game.

    All referees should be treated with respect. It is your responsibility to ensure referees are treated properly by your coaches, players and spectators.

    All referees are learning and many are young. Please assume your referee is as good at their job as your players are at playing soccer. Nobody is a pro yet.

  • You need to print a match card and bring it to every game, whether you are the home or away team. Read the instructions at the bottom of the match card for how to submit your score and card after the game.

    If you have substitute players on your team, you must write their name and birthdate on the match card.

    MAXIMUM NUMBER OF ROSTERED PLAYERS FOR A MATCH:

    • 7v7 - 12

    • 9v9 - 16

    • 11v11 -18

    If there is an issue with a referee or opposing team’s player/coach/spectators, make sure it is written on the match card. Any major issue should be sent to dferrara@northvillefc.com immediately after the game. Include the match number, age group and a copy of the match sheet.

Ongoing Coach Training

Northville FC will provide a variety of coaching resources throughout the year. Please make sure to attend all coach meetings and coach training opportunities.

Online Coach Training is available at the US Soccer Learning Center website:  https://learning.ussoccer.com/

  • Click on Coaching Education

  • Take the free intro course

  • Take the online grassroots coaching course for your age group

Coach FAQ

I’m not available for a practice/game. Can I have another parent from the team coach for a day?

Only coaches who have completed the background check may be on the field for U4-U8 teams. If a parent would like to help, they need to complete the same iCHAT form that all coaches complete. Only coaches who have completed the background check, SafeSport and HeadsUp training may be on the field for U9 and older teams. If you’re not able to coach a practice/game, please reach out to dferrara@northvillefc.com and we’ll do our best to arrange a certified substitute coach for you.

We’d like to do a kids vs. parents game at some point this season. Is that allowed?

Because of the risk of injury to both adults and kids, we do not allow kids vs. parents games as part of Northville FC. We do support an optional team-building activity at some point in the season, such as meeting for ice cream, having a snack/meal together after a practice or game, or other group gathering. However, please understand that any non-soccer activity is not an official Northville FC event and the league is not liable for any issues that arise.

I may not have enough players for our next game. What do I do?

Your first step is to reach out to another coach in your age group using the google coach contact sheet. If players are not available from your age group, you can also reach out to a team ONE year younger. By WSSL rule, girls may play into boys divisions, but boys may not play into girls divisions, regardless of age. ENVY FC players may not sub onto Northville FC recreational teams. If you’re having trouble finding substitute players, please contact dferrara@northvillefc.com as soon as possible. If you cannot find enough players for a game, please reach out to the other coach to reschedule no less than 48 hours prior to the scheduled game time (copying dferrara@northvillefc.com on the email).

For U4-U8 teams, if you do not have enough players, please work with the opposing coach and arrange to share players to form two even teams for the game.

I want reschedule our game, or the opposing coach has requested a reschedule (U9 and older).

You may not reschedule a HOME game on your own without approval. Please email dferrara@northvillefc.com and copy the opposing coach on the email. We will determine if a reschedule is appropriate as well as find an available field for the new time. You are welcome to reschedule an AWAY game if the opposing coach requests it. If you need to request an AWAY game reschedule, you must do so 72 hours before the start of the game. Reach out to the opposing coach to request the reschedule.

I’m having trouble with a player or parent on my team. How do I handle it?

Please reach out to Dan Ferrara at dferrara@northvillefc.com if you’re having a behavioral or other issue with a player or parent. We can help you figure out the best next steps.

I have a player who does not have the proper equipment to play the game. Are there resources available?

Northville FC is committed to providing all players with the equipment needed to play the game if they are not able to afford it. Please reach out to dferrara@northvillefc.com if one of your players needs something.

Our field has spots that are all dirt or look like they’ve recently been repaired.

During practices, please avoid any area of your field that is under repair.  Northville Parks & Rec fills holes, puts down new grass seed and performs general field maintenance throughout the season. Additionally, hold your players accountable and ensure they are not creating holes in the field, pulling up grass or damaging the nets on the goals.

We saw lightning or heard thunder during practice - what do we do?

Please remember that you need to stop practice immediately if you see lightning or hear thunder, even if it's in the distance.  Message your families in the app telling them practice is ending early, then move your team under the nearest pavilion.  Do not leave until all players are picked up.

Are games canceled due to rain?

Games must stop if there is thunder or lightning, and you must wait for 30 minutes with no occurrence of thunder or lightning to continue.  This is listed in the WSSL Laws of the Game.

If fields are deemed unplayable by Northville Parks & Rec, we will reach out to impacted coaches as soon as we are made aware.  We will either move you to a different field or reschedule your game for another day.  RAIN ALONE IS NOT REASON FOR CANCELLATION (although flooded fields is).  Plan to play in the rain if there is no thunder or lightning. COACHES MAY NOT PREEMPTIVELY CANCEL GAMES WITHOUT PERMISSION FROM NORTHVILLE FC. IF YOU CANCEL A GAME WITHOUT APPROVAL, YOU WILL BE RESPONSIBLE FOR PAYING REFEREES.