Policy

Suburban District Technical Policy

Coach Qualification and Appointment Policy

The minimum requirement for a Suburban FC head coach is a Provincial B License. Exemptions may be made for coaches currently holding a Pre-B with the intention of obtaining their Provincial B within the next year.

The term of appointment for all coaching positions is one full year which includes a full winter season and the subsequent summer season to follow.

Financial remuneration for the head coach will be in the form of a generous stipend for the commitment to the entire 12 month program. The stipend will be paid following each season. The expectation will also be that each team will be responsible for all travel expenses for the coach when travelling more than 50km outside of HRM.

Assistant coaches must be approved by both the Director of Development and the Regional Technical Director. Senior players registered with Suburban FC and acting as assistant coaches will receive a credit towards the cost of their playing fees.

Coach Selection Policy

Coaches for the Suburban FC teams will be selected by the Suburban District Soccer Association Technical Committee.

If one of the members of the committee has applied for a coaching position they must remove themselves from the selection process for that position. In a situation where one of the coaching candidates has a child on the team they are requesting to coach and there is another candidate of at least equal qualifications then the candidate without a child on the team will be the preferred candidate.

The recommendations of the selection committee will be reviewed for approval by the SDSA Board of Directors.

Player Selection Policy

Players trying out for Suburban FC programs will be assessed on the following 4 criteria:

  • Technical proficiency
    • Capable of performing the basics of the game (passing, receiving, dribbling, shooting) while under varying degrees of pressure
    • Appears comfortable on the ball
  • Tactical awareness
    • Has an understanding of the basic principles of the game both while attacking and defending
    • Shows intelligent movement when not in possession of the ball
    • Makes proper decisions when in possession of the ball
  • Athletic capability
    • Has the ability to solve or create problems with the use of size, speed, strength. quickness, etc
    • Is not noticeably physically outmatched
  • Positive attitude
    • Displays coachable characteristics (listens, responds, co-operates)
    • Has a strong work ethic and is committed to the team
    • Demonstrates focus and intensity

Because it can be difficult to fully judge a player`s potential to contribute to the team the coaches and selection committee may take into consideration any prior knowledge of previous playing experience at a competitive level. Players unable to tryout may still be considered based on this previous playing experience.

Evaluator’s of player talent will consist of members of the SDSA technical committee as well as the head coaches of the corresponding Suburban FC teams.

Playing Up Policy

Players are ALWAYS required to tryout in their proper age group. If the Technical Committee deems that it may be detrimental to the development of the player to play at their proper age group then they may be asked by the technical committee to tryout for an older team. Parents and players WILL NOT request to play up.

Good candidates for players that MAY POSSIBLY play up include players that play up at a Provincial level, players involved in the National Training Centre, and players who have physically developed far beyond other players of the same age. Simply being a dominant player within their proper age group does not mean that a player will be asked to play up. Also, simply being capable of playing up does not constitute reason to play up. Players playing up must be reasonably expected to significantly contribute at the higher level.

The decisions on which circumstances may be detrimental to the development of the player are ultimately the responsibility of the technical committee and as always their decision on player selection is final.

Call Up Policy

Teams in need of players for call up purposes due to a lack of available team members must consult the Regional Technical Director before approaching players or coaches. The Regional Technical Director will facilitate the calling up of players provided that it makes sense for both teams and the players involved. There will be an understanding amongst the coaches within the region that provided a player is available and it does not seem unreasonable for them to have the opportunity to play up all parties concerned will encourage such an opportunity.