COACHING RESOURCES

WDMSC Coaching Resources

At West Des Moines Soccer Club, we take our responsibility to provide the participants (coaches, players, parents, referees, etc.) of our programs with a high caliber, high-quality program, very seriously! We are always striving to improve our programs so that our community can continue to benefit from such a tremendous array of soccer program opportunities. One of the reasons that we can maintain successful programs is by continuing to have the support of the individuals in our great community. Coaches, we cannot thank you enough for the time, energy and effort that you invest in our program and in your team! We only hope that you gain as much from your experience as a coach, as your players will gain by having you as a role model and mentor for the season! The Coaches Resources provides helpful materials and resources for coaches within the WDMSC programs.
  • Coaching Materials
  • Field Reservations
  • Coaching Equipment
  • Coaching Certifications
  • Coaching Requirements
  • Practice Locations (City Parks and Schools)

Frequently Asked Questions

Coaching Materials

Field Reservations

How to Make Field Reservations
Click on the link assigned to your team: ​
  1. Returning users will log in with your coach's email and password.
  2. New users will click the "Click the new user account" link. This will take you to a new page then enter in group password "wdmsc1" to create their account. Please use the email address that you used to register to coach.
  3. Next, create your reservation
  4. Approval will be sent to Club Administrator.

Restrictions
  • Reservations will not be available until 2 weeks before the first weekend of games.
  • All requests must be approved.
  • There will be no recurring reservations so requests must be made each week.
  • 7v7and 9v9 fields will be available after 6:30 PM on Thursday.
Field Reservation Policy
​
YOU MAY ONLY USE THE FIELD DESIGNATED FOR YOUR AGE GROUP:
  • U7/U8 Fields Raccoon River 17-21
  • U9/U10 Fields Raccoon River 10-11 or Academy 13-14
  • U11/U12 Fields Raccoon River 7-8
  • U13+ Fields Raccoon River 16

Field reservations should be used for practices in which you need the lines or goal to practice i.e. corner kicks, scrimmage, etc. We DO NOT take standing reservations at our fields (every Thursday at 5 pm for instance). We have many teams and want to give them all a chance to use our fields for practice. You can schedule a practice reservation up to 2 weeks in advance and all reservation requests must be approved by the administrator. If your team has reserved and used a field many weeks in a row, your request may be denied to allow another team to use the fields. We will do our best to make sure EVERYONE gets a chance to use a field for practice. Open grass areas at both Raccoon River are first come first serve. There is usually plenty of room. If you like to keep your practice time and location the same each week and get denied a reservation, you may use this open area to practice. If fields are closed due to weather, you must find another place to practice (if applicable). Please stay off the fields when they are closed.

Coaching Equipment

Equipment Request Form
BAG TAG COLOR AGE GROUP BALL SIZE SOCCER BALLS PINNIES CONES EQUIPMENT BAG WHISTLE

WHITE

U13-U19

5

3

11

22

1

1

GREEN

U11/U12

4

2

9

20

1

1

GREY

U09/U10

4

2

7

16

1

1

PINK

U07/U08

3

2

4

10

1

1


​All coaching equipment bags MUST be returned at the end of the season to restock inventory. Failure to do so incurs an increase of registration fees and no equipment for next season coaches. All coaching bags are assigned to teams so next season's coach who is assigned that team ID will need that bag.

Coaching Certifications

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 recreational teams but encourage our parents to take classes to earn higher coaching certificates and licenses.
​
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.
Become a Licensed Coach
Iowa Soccer's coaching courses are open to members and non-members. Members are entitled to a discounted course fee. A member is any parent, coach, player or club volunteer/board member/administrator who in the current seasonal year (September through August) has participated within an Iowa Soccer member organization (namely, your club). Non-members are those who participate in a soccer club or league that is not a member of Iowa Soccer (YMCA or church league, for example). If you are unsure about your member status, visit our Member Directory page to see if your organization or club is listed. If so, then you're a member!
​
Iowa Soccer's coaching courses are open to members and non-members. Members are entitled to a discounted course fee. A member is any parent, coach, player or club volunteer/board member/administrator who in the current seasonal year (September through August) has participated within an Iowa Soccer member organization (namely, your club). Non-members are those who participate in a soccer club or league that is not a member of Iowa Soccer (YMCA or church league, for example). If you are unsure about your member status, visit our Member Directory page to see if your organization or club is listed. If so (in the current seasonal year) then you're a member!
​Please note Iowa Soccer Association (ISA) offers a promo code to take in-person courses at no cost. Reach out ISA for more information.

Coaching Requirements

Returning Coaches
All former coaches must re-register each season to be assigned to their child's team.

Grassroots Introductory Module
All coaches (head and assistant) must complete the onetime 20-minute on-line U.S. Soccer Grassroots Introductory Module.

Concussion Training
All coaches (head and assistant), board members and club personnel are required to complete concussion training as provided by the Center for Disease Control every two years. You must complete the concussion training prior to participating with the team as a team official and upload the completion certificate into your US Soccer Connect member profile.

If you believe you have completed this training within the past two years, and therefore current, you may obtain a copy of the certificate by visiting the concussion training login link and enter the username and password you first used to register for the training.

Abuse Prevention Training
All coaches (head and assistant), board members and club personnel are required to complete abuse prevention training every year. You must complete the abuse prevention training prior to participating with the team as a team official and upload the completion certificate into your US Soccer Connect member profile.
If you believe you have completed this training within the past year, and therefore current, you may obtain a copy of the certificate by visiting the abuse prevention login link and enter the username and password you first used to register for the training.
SafeSport.org is the designated independent national safe sport organization. The organization offers a variety of tips and resources on how to report a potential violation. Visit safesport.org/report-a-concern for more information.

Requirement Steps
  All Coaches
  1. Sign up to coach Recreational or Academy
  2. Upload a photo to your coaching profile for your coach's card
  3. Complete required Concussion Training then upload the certificate to your member profile
  4. Complete required Abuse Prevention Training then upload the certificate to your member profile (more info)
  5. Complete the 20-minute online U.S. Soccer Grassroots Introductory Module

    Additional U4 to U8 Requirements
  6. Signup for in-person 4v4 training course or complete U.S. Soccer 4v4 Online Module

    Additional U9/U10 Requirements
  7. Signup for in-person 7v7 training course or complete U.S. Soccer 7v7 Online Module

    Additional U11/U12 Requirements
  8. Signup for in-person 9v9 training course or complete U.S. Soccer 9v9 Online Module

    Additional U13 & Up Requirements
  9. Signup for in-person 11v11 training course or complete U.S. Soccer 11v11 Online Module

​WDMSC will credit the coach's account for the following season upon successful completion of U.S. Soccer Grassroots Certifications listed above. For more information on getting a coaching certification, visit Iowa Soccer Association Coaching Courses

Practice Locations

Soccer Fields & Parks
West Des Moines Soccer Club proudly serves over 600 soccer players thus 75+ coaches are biding for soccer fields to schedule practices for their teams.

Raccoon River Soccer Park
Per our use agreement with City of West Des Moines, West Des Moines Soccer Club has contracted the use of Raccoon River Soccer fields for practice, scrimmages, and game use. We only have a certain amount of fields for use and we want to allow equal opportunity for each team to practice on our fields, therefore, the WDMSC Board of Directors has implemented the following rules to provide each team has fair use of the fields.
  • Field reservations start after season's parent's meeting and end the final week of games
  • Field use should only be reserved for soccer practice if the coach needs the field lines (i.e. corner kicks) or goal for shooting
  • Field reservations can be made for 1 (one) hour to 1 (one) hour and 30 minutes per week per team
  • Field reservations can only be reserved 2 (two) weeks out from the current date
  • Standing field reservations are not permitted (i.e. every Thursday at 5 pm)
  • Online reservations will be monitored and any abuse of this policy may result in loss of all on-line reservation/registration privileges
  • Coaches are responsible for the cleanliness of the fields
  • Coaches are responsible for ensuring that the parents of their players abide by all No Parking signs
  • Official Games scheduled take priority over practice permits

West Des Moines Parks & Schools with Soccer Fields
If Raccoon River soccer field reservations are not available, we've compiled a list of parks and schools that have available space that is available for community use and could, therefore, provide opportunities for soccer training and practices.

  Parks
  • American Legion Park - 301 Vine St, West Des Moines, IA 50265
  • Ashawa Park - 4431 Waterford Dr, West Des Moines, IA 50265
  • Brookview Park - 400 81st St, West Des Moines, IA 50266
  • Crossroads Park - 5205 Ashworth Rd, West Des Moines, IA 50266
  • Fairmeadows Park - 543 22nd Street, West Des Moines, IA 50265
  • Holiday Park - 1701 Railroad Avenue, West Des Moines, IA 50265
  • Huston Ridge Park - 8455 Coachlight Drive, West Des Moines, IA 50266
  • Jaycee Park - 5608 Center Street, West Des Moines, IA 50266
  • Jordan Creek Park, 310 50th Street, West Des Moines, IA 50265
  • Kiwanis Park - 3101 Maple Street, West Des Moines, IA 50265
  • Maple Grove Park - 9350 Chalk Street, Waukee, IA 50263
  • Meadowview Park - 638 Prairie View Drive, West Des Moines, IA 50266
  • Peony Park - 1100 63rd St, West Des Moines, IA 50266
  • Quail Cove Park - 1515 S. 52nd Street, West Des Moines, IA 50265
  • Scenic Valley Park - 1223 S. 24th Court, West Des Moines, IA 50265
  • Valley View Park - 255 S 81st St, West Des Moines, IA 50266
  • Western Hills Park - 4115 Walnut Street, West Des Moines, IA 50265
  • Wild Rose Park - 6801 Cody Dr, West Des Moines, IA 50266
  • Willow Springs Park - 5685 Wistful Vista Dr, West Des Moines, IA 50266
  • Wilson Park - 298 9th Street, West Des Moines, IA 50265
  • Woodland Hills Park - 1230 S 95th St, West Des Moines, IA 50266
  Schools
  • Clive Learning Academy - 1600 73rd St., Windsor Heights, IA 50324
  • Crestview School of Inquiry - 8355 Franklin Ave, Clive, IA 50325
  • Crossroads Park Elementary - 1050 50th St., West Des Moines, IA 50266
  • Fairmeadows Elementary - 807 23rd St., West Des Moines, Iowa 50265
  • Hillside Elementary - 713 Eighth St., West Des Moines, Iowa 50265
  • Jordan Creek Elementary - 4105 Fuller Road, West Des Moines, Iowa 50265
  • Western Hills Elementary - 600 39th St., West Des Moines, Iowa 50265
  • Westridge Elementary - 5500 EP True Parkway, West Des Moines, Iowa 50266
  • Indian Hills Junior High School - 9401 Indian Hills Drive, Clive, Iowa 50325
  • Stilwell Junior High School - 1601 Vine St., West Des Moines, Iowa 50265
  • Valley Southwoods Freshman H.S. - 625 South 35th St. West Des Moines, IA 50265
  • Valley High School - 3650 Woodland Ave., West Des Moines, IA 50266
  • Walnut Creek Campus - 1020 Eighth St., West Des Moines, IA 50265
We develop the PERSON, and then the PLAYER. We act with RESPECT, HUMILITY, and INTEGRITY at all times. We are a TEAM that requires the BEST FOR, and BEST FROM one another. We demonstrate a RELENTLESS DRIVE TO MAXIMIZE OUR POTENTIAL. We are UNCOMPROMISING in our pursuit of EXCELLENT. We are more than a soccer club; WE ARE A FAMILY.
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