Volunteer Roles | EMSA South West

Team Officials

Coach (Head Coach)

The lead Coach is often called the “Head Coach”, however we often have “Co-Coaches” who share responsibility for the team.  Their main duties include:

  • The main contact for SWEMSA Admin, SWEMSA Age Level Directors and/or community Soccer Coordinators.
  • Follow the Coaches Code of Conduct.
  • Are listed on the team roster as the Coach.
  • Receives their roster & makes initial contact with players prior to the season starting.
  • Holds a team meeting before the season begins to provide parents & players with all necessary season information.
  • Notifies SWEMSA Age Level Director (Indoor) & community Soccer Coordinator (Outdoor) if any player has consistently missed practices/games, OR has withdrawn from the season.
  • Ensures equipment & jerseys are picked up prior to the season & returned in tact.
  • Attends required Coach meetings held by SWEMSA and/or their community.
  • Plans/runs practices to include drills which enhance player skills & knowledge of the game.
  • Determines team tactics & game strategies.
  • Gives motivational team talks prior to & after games/practices.
  • Ensures on-line Coaches’ Kits are reviewed prior to the season & all forms are completed properly/submitted on time.
  • Ensures game sheets are completed properly & submitted on time; enters the game score when they are the HOME team.
  • Responsible for the conduct of their players & spectators.
  • Ensures each family is involved during the season to fulfill their volunteer commitment.
  • Seeks assistance from Assistant Coach & Team Manager when needed; assigns specific duties to allow them to concentrate on coaching the team.

Assistant Coach

The Assistant Coach or “Co-Coach” assists the Coach with his/her duties throughout the season.  Their main duties may include:

  • Takes the place of the Coach if they are unable to attend games, practices or meetings.
  • Assists with the planning/running of practices & determining game strategies.
  • Walks the field prior to each outdoor game to ensure it is safe for play.
  • Reports unsafe outdoor field conditions to Center Referee.
  • Reports poor outdoor field conditions to community Soccer Coordinator.
  • Reports unsafe or poor indoor change room conditions to Soccer Center staff.
  • Provides one on one training with players during practices.
  • Takes care of player needs when injured.
  • Ensures all equipment is collected at the end of the game & outdoor field/surrounding area is clear of garbage.
  • Ensures all equipment is collected from the bench at the end of indoor games & the change room is left clean.
  • Any other duty assigned by the Coach.

Team Manager

The Team Manager is an integral part of the team.  Every Coach should take advantage of this role so they can concentrate on coaching their players in the game of soccer.  Duties may include:

  • Act as the contact person for the team, whether between SWEMSA, EMSA or parents.
  • Provides team information and correspondence to the parents via email, phone, Team Snap or other communication site.
  • Creates & distributes a team contact list of parent names, phone numbers & email addresses.
  • Collects medical information forms from parents & keeps them in a sealed envelope, only to be opened in the case of a medical emergency.
  • Completes game sheets & submits to SWEMSA or EMSA during the outdoor season.
  • Enters the game result if the HOME team.
  • Pays the game officials (Center and/or Assistant Referees) after each game where applicable.
  • Arranges a roster to cover snacks for younger teams, player “seating area” monitor for younger teams, Referee Liaisons for U10-U18 teams, indoor gym practice monitor, net & flag set up/tear down for outdoor season, bench parents.
  • Advises SWEMSA Admin (indoor) or community Soccer Coordinator (outdoor) which parents have volunteered during the season & in which role.
  • Researches gym availability for extra practices & makes request with SWEMSA Administrative Assistant.
  • Regularly checks the equipment bag & asks the community Soccer Coordinator for replacements.
  • Arranges team photos.
  • Researches tournaments, enters the team & collects funds from parents.
  • Researches team fundraisers & organizes event.
  • Collection of money for tournaments, end of season parties, team gifts etc.
  • Any duties the Coach or Assistant Coach needs help with so they can concentrate on coaching.

Team Assistance Volunteers

Bench Parent

All teams must have one Team Official on the bench who is the same gender as the players.  If the Coach, Assistant Coach or Team Manager is not the same gender, a Bench Parent is necessary.

  • This volunteer is not seen by Referees as a “team official”, merely as a volunteer to assist with the needs of a player in non-game related issues.
  • Bench attendants do not require an EMSA coaching card but require a piece of photo I.D. if your division / group / tier requires an EMSA ID card.  Their name must be marked in the appropriate spot on the game sheet.
  • Bench attendants must be at least eighteen (18) years of age.

Equipment/Uniform Manager

Some Coaches assign this role to a parent for the entire season, others use a different parent each game.  Duties may include:

  • Picks up the uniforms & equipment (balls, nets, flags, practice equipment, First Aid Kit) prior to the start of the season & returns it at the end.
  • Keeps a log of the jersey number handed out to each player.
  • Brings the balls/nets/flags/First Aid Kit & other equipment to practices and/or games.
  • Sets up/takes down the net & flags before and after games.
  • Regularly checks the equipment & First Aid Kit; reports deficiencies to the Team Manager so replacements can be obtained.
  • Maintains equipment by keeping it clean & in good repair.  Keeps balls in playable condition.
  • Collects uniforms at the end of the season (if applicable); returns with the equipment bag.
  • Informs community Soccer Coordinator if any jersey has not been returned (uniform deposit will be cashed).

Field Marshal

Field Marshals are required by EMSA during post season play for City Finals, Inter-Cities & Provincials.  Each zone within EMSA provides volunteers to assist with these competitions & duties vary season to season.  Responsibilities may include:

  • Field Marshals are typically assigned to at least one field, but depending on the layout of fields at a complex can sometimes be placed between two adjacent fields or at the corner of four adjacent fields.
  • Serves as a communications intermediary for the competition.
  • Reports scores of games to tournament HQ.  This may be done by collecting the game sheets & handing them in at HQ, or by radio.
  • Reports injuries to tournament HQ so that medical staff can be quickly notified of incidents and a need for their assistance.
  • Reports incidents that require the attention of tournament staff (IE: abuse directed at/or by any Team Official, Referee, player or spectator.
  • Passes on questions to tournament staff from Team Managers or Coaches for tournament rules interpretation.
  • Assists the Referee with team check-in at the field site.
  • Reports field issues to HQ so maintenance can be done prior to the start of the game.
  • Provides teams & spectators with directions to HQ and/or their game field.
  • Any other duty assigned by the tournament staff.

First Aid Responder

First Aid Responders play an important role on any team.  They take care of those minor cuts & scrapes, but can also be a support network between parents & EMS staff.

Referee Liaison

All U10-U18 teams (outdoor) & all U6-U18 teams (indoor) must designate one individual at each game (home and away) to act as a Referee Liaison.  They many not be the Coach or Assistant Coach.  The role must be filled by either the Team Manager or a spectator.

  • Their main role will be to act as a deterrent to possible acts of misbehaviour by spectators or Team Officials.
  • They will be available to the Referee should a request to do so be made or a potential problem arises.
  • If a team has not identified a Referee Liaison for their team within (15) minutes of the scheduled start of the game, they will then forfeit the game.
  • Introduce yourself to the Referee prior to the start of the game and tell them that you are here to help them if they require it.
  • Wear the identifying lanyard badge provided by your team.  The lanyard is included with every coach package.
  • Monitor the behaviour of your team’s parents.
  • Be visible at half time and full time by walking onto the field with your fellow liaison from the other team.  Walk towards the Referee and be ready to assist them if needed.
  • Quickly diffuse potential problems before they arise by either being visible or calmly speaking with the individual(s) involved.
  • Deal with, and act on, inappropriate comments, gestures and/or general unsporting behaviour directed at Referees, players or any other individual by your teams’ spectators or Coaches, but please avoid getting into a confrontation.
  • Submit a brief report in writing to the SWEMSA office (outdoor season) or EMSA office (indoor season) of any incident you feel they should be aware of involving inappropriate behaviour by ANY individual.  Based on any official report, SWEMSA and/or EMSA will conduct an investigation into the incident and act accordingly.