Coaching

The Malden YSA Cosmos are staffed with all volunteer coaches and team managers.  Every coach is required to have obtained an E License coaching license from the Massachusetts Youth Soccer Association.  The E License is a 16 hour course that covers U10 / U12 / U14.  In addition, every coach and team manager is required to have a CORI check prior to the start of each season.

Team Organization

Team play is a major objective, and individual players are trained within the team framework. Each team is organized as follows:

• The Head Coach: A Head Coach will be designated for each Cosmos team. That Coach will have overall responsibility for the team, and he or she should be your first contact in the event of a problem. The coach is responsible for team discipline, player substitution, and game tactics. Other Cosmos Coaches may participate, from time to time, in your team practices and games. Please give the Coach your support and assistance.

• Assistant Coaches: It is desirable, although not always possible, to have at least one Assistant Coach for each team. In the U9 program, the player’s attention span is shorter so the Assistant Coaches are essential if a practice is to be meaningful, and parents are encouraged to volunteer for this position. Soccer experience or knowledge is nice, but not necessary. We offer "on the job" training.

• Team Manager: The Team Manager is an invaluable member of the team organization. The Manager handles many of the administrative aspects of the team, such as uniform orders, team telephone list, tournament travel plans, and other items to help the Coach with all of the time-consuming administrative details. If you are interested in becoming a Team Manager, or assisting the Team Manager, please contact your Coach.

• Other Volunteers: The demands of running a successful soccer program are tremendous. If you have a skill, or no skill but a desire to serve, we have an opportunity for you! Some of the Cosmos teams keep team statistics and a parent is "trainable" as a team statistician. Help in securing a team banner, responsibility for keeping and setting up a team tent , assisting with transportation, organizing game refreshments, volunteering as a chaperon during tournament trips, are just a few of the many ways in which a parent can make a very important contribution to a son or daughter's Cosmos team.