Summarize the following:
Typically you'll receive a calendar outlining the games your team will play over the course of the soccer season. You can build your practice schedule around these games.  Older kids may be able to handle practice more than one day a week, but five- and six-year-olds shouldn't practice more than once a week. You don't want to have practice too close to games, either before or immediately after. Give space of a few days to a week between games and practice. For example, if you're coaching the youngest kids, you may schedule practices every Monday afternoon, with games on Saturday. However, on weeks after games, practice is on Wednesday afternoon instead of Monday afternoon to give the kids ample time to recover after the game. Participation is important, and your team may not be able to play if you don't have a certain minimum number of players show up to games. For this reason, an attendance policy is an important part of your team's planning.  Little kids aren't going to be driving themselves to games and practices, so your attendance policy is really with their parents, not with the kids. Set notice requirements if the kid isn't going to be able to attend a game. Typically you'll want to know by at least one game before. This way you have a practice or two to plan for the game without that player. Avoid penalizing kids for missing games or practice, particularly younger kids. Whether they show up to practice, or show up on time, typically is not within their control. Understanding early childhood development can help you structure your practice sessions so they are age-appropriate. It also will help you create realistic goals and expectations for your players.  You can research child development online, or look for courses offered in your community. For example, most community colleges typically offer classes on early childhood development. These classes are usually not expensive, but if you don't have the time or resources to invest in a class, read articles online to get a sense of what the kids you'll be coaching can handle at their age. You also can find resources on the website of your state or national youth soccer association. Typically there are coaching manuals, lists of drills that are appropriate for different age groups, and other informational articles. Your youth soccer league or association may already have specific rules and requirements that players must meet if they want to continue to compete on a team.  However, these rules typically are the bare minimum for players to qualify for the league. As a coach, you may want to set your own rules that will encourage discipline, teamwork, and participation. The rules may vary depending on the age of the kids you're coaching. Generally, you want to focus on good sportsmanship, teamwork, and appropriate conduct on the pitch or while on the bench waiting to play. Make sure every child on your team has a copy of the rules and is given the opportunity to go over them with their parents before the season starts. Before the season starts, a meeting with your team's parents is crucial to establish your goals and expectations for the team and answer any questions the parents may have.  When you meet with the parents, let them know your expectations as far as when the players should arrive at the games and practices, and what parents should do if their child will have to miss a game or practice. Get contact information for all the parents of the players, and circulate this contact information, including contact information for yourself and any other coaches or team organizers, after the meeting. At a minimum, you need a phone number and email address for each parent. Address playing time and how positions will be determined. Typically you should do your best to meet the desires of the players and their parents. However, if you're coaching older kids in a more competitive league this may not be possible. You also want to cover the requirements for playing on the team, including the purchase of uniforms or travel to games, and any fundraisers or other commitments the players and parents will have. When you meet with parents, and throughout the season, keep the goals of participation and overall development of all players in mind. Realize this may lead to confrontation with some more competitive parents.  For example, a parent may be angry that their child, who is a strong player, was pulled out of a close game and replaced with a weaker player. Acknowledge the parent's anger and the validity of their concerns. Tell them that at this point in the kids' development, giving everyone an opportunity is more important than winning games. For example, you might say "I appreciate your concern, and you're right – your daughter is one of the strongest players on our team. I have no doubt we could have won the game if I had kept her in, but it's more valuable to give everyone a chance to play than to win the game." Remind them that part of playing sports is learning how to be gracious in defeat as well as in victory. Let them know that when the kids get older, they will have opportunities to play in more competitive leagues in which playing time is determined by skill.

summary: Set your practice schedule. Establish attendance policies. Study child development. Create documents with rules and requirements for participation. Have a meeting with parents. Focus on the overall goals of the program.


Summarize the following:
After you have the desired number of tulle layers, sew the layers together along the stitched edges to connect them. A zigzag stitch works best to connect your tulle layers securely. Line up the ribbon edge with the edge of the tulle on one side and pin along the edge. Make sure that the ribbon overlaps the edge of the tulle by about 0.5 inches (1.3 cm). The ribbon should also have an equal amount of excess on either side of the tulle skirt edge so you will be able to tie the ribbon in a bow. Fold the ribbon over to the other side of the tulle and pin along this edge to hide the raw edges of the top of your tulle skirt. Sew along the pinned edge to secure the ribbon. Remove the pins as you go. If you want to secure the tulle skirt with elastic instead of ribbon, line up the elastic and the top edge of the tulle skirt on your sewing machine so that the ends are even. Begin sewing a zigzag stitch down the length of the elastic.  Tug the elastic slightly as you sew to ensure that it is the same length as your skirt edge, but do not stretch the elastic beyond the edge of the skirt. Sew all the way to the end of the elastic and tulle skirt. Stitch the ends of the elastic and tulle skirt together to secure them in a circle. Your skirt is ready to wear after you sew the ribbon into place. You do not need to sew a seam on the bottom of your tulle skirt because tulle does not fray. You can leave it unhemmed and it will be fine.
summary: Sew the tulle layers together with a zigzag stitch. Pin the ribbon onto the pleated edge of the tulle. Fold and sew the ribbon onto the tulle edge. Sew the tulle onto your elastic strip. Leave the bottom of the skirt unhemmed.