IMPORTANT DATES

8/4/2024 - All clearances/certs completed by this date
8/12/2024 - In Person Coaches' meeting
8/15/2024 - Field permits active
9/8/2024 - Start of the Fall Travel season


NEW COACHES - DUE 8/4/24

There are a number of action items for you to complete. Some will provide instant responses while others require additional steps. All fees associated with the below activities will be reimbursed by TJSC, so please keep receipts. US Soccer license only reimbursed up until E license (4v4, 7v7, 9v9, 11v11).

Clearances

To start: please visit the following link: Risk Management - USYS - PA West (pawest-soccer.org)

Scroll down just past halfway on that site to find a section titled "How To Obtain The Required Documents". You will need to complete:

PA State Police Report (online)
Child Abuse History Report (online)
FBI Certification (options)
FBI Criminal Background Check (online registration and in person visit to IdentoGO) if you have NOT lived in PA for the past 10 consecutive years, OR
Print the Volunteer Qualification Affidavit ACT 153 Form + go to a notary if you have lived in PA for the past 10 consecutive years.
Once you are done with all of the above, you will need to upload all clearances to PA West Soccer's Online Risk Management Portal. The links, along with instructions on how to use the system, are listed in the above link. 

To request a FBI Fingerprint Clearance: 
The service code to apply for volunteer fingerprinting is 1KG6ZJ.  The approximate cost will be $21.35.


PA West Coaching Licenses

PA West requires a minimum Grassroots license that can be obtained through US Soccer. 

Register at U.S. Soccer Learning Center (ussoccer.com)
Attend and complete a 20 minute prerequisite intro course:  U.S. Soccer Learning Center (ussoccer.com)
Select an appropriate age group Grassroots ONLINE (not in person) Course (7v7, 9v9, 11v11) from the list at U.S. Soccer Learning Center (ussoccer.com). The course also includes the mandatory 90-minute SafeSport module, as well as the Introduction to Safe and Healthy Playing Environments module. Budget about three hours to complete all (does not have to be in one setting). 
Once completed, the TJSC Registrar will locate your USSF ID with US Soccer and link it to your PA West coaching profile. Then, we are all set!

Please complete all activities and notify Paul Callaghan ([email protected]) and Patrick Neville ([email protected]) no later than Sunday, August 4, 2024 as rosters must be submitted to PA West that week.

RETURNING COACHES - DUE 8/4/24

Please visit US Safe Soccer via this link: U.S. Soccer Learning Center (ussoccer.com)

Ensure that all statuses associated with Phase 1 are either "Complete" or "Valid". If not, please take care of the outstanding action items ASAP. 

Example of what Phase 1 should look like if you have completed all yearly required US Soccer coaching tasks: 



NOTE: Completing Phases 2 and 3 are optional but recommended.  We think the two 20 minute training modules 'Positive Soccer Environments' and 'DEIB' were very informative. 

Please complete all recertification/training updates no later than Sunday, August 4, 2024 as rosters must be submitted to PA West that week.



ALL COACHES - Training Opportunity and Preseason Meetings

A TJSC Coaches' in person meeting will be held 8:00pm Monday, August 12, 2024 at Mulligan's in West Mifflin. TJSC will be providing all coaches with necessary equipment needed for Fall (cones, balls, pinnies, PUGS, keys to access field resources, etc.). If you have specific equipment requests, email those in advance to Stephanie Tintera.
At this meeting, you will also be working with Dan Mastrangelo, our Field Coordinator, on preferred practice days/times/fields as well as discussing known game day conflicts.
Wes Cryder will be scheduling a virtual coaches "best practices" meeting prior to the start of the season. Time and date TBD.
There is a Coach 4 Community session being held at Village Green Field in Bethel Park (behind Best Buy and Market District) on Sunday, August 18, 2024 from 1:00 to 3:00. The description on the website is confusing-- this will be an in person session that will provide coaching education, player development, and more. Please consider registering and attending: U.S. Soccer Learning Center (ussoccer.com)

Things To Know:

• Know that every player is different and will not perform like others.
• You need to have patience and understanding.
• Best advice is to have fun and make sure that the players are enjoying the sport.
• A sense of humor will go a long way toward dealing with a variety of personalities.
• You will have a profound effect on many of these kids' lives.
• Learn about PA West Soccer and take advantage of our resources