WDMSC
Volunteers

Parent volunteers are the backbone of our youth soccer teams in the West Des Moines Soccer Club. WDMSC is a non-profit organization that is run by a volunteer Board of Directors and supported by numerous dedicated volunteers from across the community. Volunteering is a terrific way to get involved in soccer, while at the same time supporting your soccer club and ingraining you in the West Des Moines community.

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WDMSC Club Administration, Board of Directors, and Professional Coaching Staff would like to take this opportunity to kindly please consider volunteering and an absolute necessity to our youth soccer programs. 

At the start of every soccer season, we need to fill the team volunteer roles for our West Des Moines Soccer Club teams. WDMSC values our volunteer coaches and the time that they commit to helping our young players learn and love the game of soccer. We could not have such a fantastic program without our volunteers and we want to make the coaching experience as beneficial as possible. Team roles that are needed include head coach, assistant coach, and team coordinator. Review the volunteer responsibilities and coaching responsibilities that are an integral part of becoming a successful team volunteer.

US Club Soccer Adult background check must be completed each year by every volunteer working directly with youth players.

Coaching Responsibilities

If you want to get a start in coaching, the best place to start would be a youth team for a number of reasons. We rely on volunteers to coach youth development and recreational teams but encourage our parents to take classes to earn higher coaching certificates and licenses. We've listed a few:

• Signup to receive valuable information from Positive Coaching Alliance (PCA) Development Zone Resource Center

• Attend Members/Volunteers Preseason Meeting

• Attend Coaches Educational Training Clinic

• Signup for USSA Coaching Certification

​The United States Soccer Association has created new introductory courses that will provide a supportive approach to teaching and coaching players at 4v4, 7v7, 9v9 and 11v11. Whether you are the unfamiliar parent volunteer, the transitioning player or a veteran coach, these courses will provide you with more knowledge and a better understanding of how to effectively develop your players.

Volunteer Responsibilities

• Head Coach

  • Teach your players respect for teammates, opposition, coaches, officials, and parents

  • Adhere to Iowa Soccer Association policies, rules, and objectives

  • Responsible for maintaining care of all WDMSC facilities and equipment

  • Finalize practice schedules and locations for training sessions

  • Discuss parent and player responsibilities at practices and games

  • Parent responsibilities and behavior at training sessions and games

  • Plan practices drills and ensuring your players improve

  • Develop strategies and plays to serve your player's in-game situations

  • Incorporate drills that allow your players to hone their skills to become more proficient on the field

  • Instruct your player's various small-sided games that you'll employ in the game-like situations

  • Monitor players during conditioning and practice drills

  • Ensure that your players understand the rules based on their age group and are adhering to those rules

  • Responsible for ensuring that your team is present for each game and tournament

  • Ensure equal playing time for all players, regardless of the score

  • Discuss the procedure with Team Coordinator for canceling training sessions and games

  • Discuss your philosophy of coaching…it's about player development, not winning and losing!

  • Ensure that the players have an enjoyable and safe sporting experience

  • Delegate responsibilities as needed to Assistant Coach and Team Coordinator

  • Provide feedback to Board Members and Club Administration on how to better improve supporting team volunteer roles

• Assistant Coach

  • Help plan weekly soccer practice schedules and location

  • Aid the head coach with developing strategies and drills

  • Monitor players during practice sessions to identify strengths and weaknesses

  • Assist the head coach during practice sessions to give proper instructions

  • Help the head coach to set up equipment and organize small-sided games

  • Coordinate and manage all communication with Team Coordinator as directed

  • Participate in special events in additions for usual games and practices as required

  • Other duties, as needed

• Team Coordinator

  • Coordination of snacks & refreshments for games

  • Communicate any negative parent behavior during games to the coaching staff

  • Communication of team schedule (practices, games & other special events) as requested by the coach

  • Ensure player cards are present for games

  • Coordination of end-of-season celebration

  • Other duties, as necessary.

WDMSC is a registered non-profit youth sports organization, largely managed and run by volunteers, like you! Our Board of Directors and Committee members are all parents in the Club, with children playing in our Recreational, Discovery, and/or select programs.

We are always interested in talking to parents willing to commit to the spirit of improvement that our club strives for. If you are interested in helping enhance the WDMSC experience as a board member or volunteer, please reach out to club.admin@wdmsc.org

To register as a volunteer, during your child's seasonal registration, you will be prompted to answer the question; "Are you interested in a team volunteer position? - choose "Yes, I am!" and enter your preferences.

If you decide to volunteer after completing the registration for your child, please use the Contact Us form to let us know, including your child's name and the volunteer position you are volunteering for.

Please note, in the spring, we will automatically re-assign fall volunteer team coaches to team rosters where their team plays in both seasons (e.g., 5U-14U) unless we are informed that the team coach is not returning.