Artkick Soccer Academy
Assistant Coach Duties, Responsibilities
& Code of Conduct Policy
Applicable to:
All soccer assistant coaches at Artkick Soccer Academy, including regular assistant coaches, part-time assistant coaches, and volunteer assistant coaches.
Core Principles:
Safety First · Follow Instructions · Responsibility · Teamwork · Respect for Players · Professionalism
1. Role and Position of the Assistant Coach
An Assistant Coach is responsible for supporting the Head Coach in delivering training sessions, including preparation, session organization, technical demonstrations, player management, and safety supervision.
Artkick Soccer Academy focuses on technical soccer development, emphasizing ball control, dribbling rhythm, changes of direction, one-on-one attacking skills, reaction speed, and the application of technical skills in game situations. Assistant Coaches are expected not only to help maintain classroom and training discipline but also to contribute to an efficient, structured, positive, and enjoyable training environment.
All Assistant Coaches must understand and comply with the following principles:
-The Head Coach is responsible for session planning, training content, and on-site instructional decisions.
-Assistant Coaches must carry out the duties assigned by the Head Coach and must not independently alter the training plan.
-Assistant Coaches should proactively observe player performance, provide timely feedback, and help improve training quality.
-Assistant Coaches must not independently assume teaching, management, or safety decision-making responsibilities beyond their authorized scope.
2. Before Session Responsibilities
Assistant Coaches must arrive at the training venue in advance, as required by the Academy and the Head Coach, and ensure that all necessary preparations are completed before the session begins.
-Punctuality: Arrive at least 15 minutes before the scheduled session. Late arrival, early departure, and unauthorized absences are not permitted.
-Equipment and Facility Setup: Assist with setting up soccer balls, cones, training obstacles, mini goals, and other required equipment.
-Safety Inspection: Inspect the training area, playing surface, equipment, and surrounding environment. Immediately report any hazards to the Head Coach.
-Player Preparation: Help players enter the training area and warm up in an orderly manner. Communicate with players and help younger players manage nervousness or other negative emotions. Check training equipment and remind players to prepare appropriate soccer footwear, water bottles, and required protective gear.
-Review of the Training Plan: Confirm the day's training content, player groupings, session procedures, and individual responsibilities in advance.
-Instructional Preparation: Familiarize themselves with the technical movements and training methods they will be assisting with, ensuring they can demonstrate the required techniques according to the Head Coach's instructions.
3. Responsibilities During Training Sessions
Assisting with instruction is one of the most important responsibilities of an Assistant Coach.
-Technical Demonstrations: Demonstrate dribbling, ball control, changes of direction, turns, footwork rhythm, and other technical movements as instructed by the Head Coach.
-Training Organization: Help players understand the rules, exercise sequences, technical requirements, and rotation procedures for each activity.
-Training Efficiency: Organize players promptly and minimize unnecessary waiting time and interruptions so that players receive as many meaningful touches and practice opportunities as possible.
-Individual Guidance: With authorization from the Head Coach, help players correct basic technical movements and reinforce key coaching points.
-Player Observation: Monitor players' technical execution, attitude, concentration, and progress, and provide objective feedback to the Head Coach.
-Discipline and Conduct: Remind players to follow training instructions and prevent roughhousing, deliberate interference with others, and unsafe behavior.
-Positive Player Development: Use positive, clear, and constructive language to encourage players to try, make mistakes, adjust, and improve. Mistakes must never be addressed through humiliation or belittlement.
Artkick Soccer Academy emphasizes technical quality and training intensity. Assistant Coaches must not simply stand on the sidelines and observe. They are expected to participate actively in organizing activities, observing players, and supporting instruction to ensure that every player receives meaningful training opportunities.
4. Player Safety and Safeguarding Obligations
Player safety takes priority over training results and session progression. All Assistant Coaches must fulfill their safety and safeguarding responsibilities diligently.
-Maintain Focus: Remain attentive throughout the session. Using mobile phones, engaging in unrelated conversations, or performing other non-work-related activities during training is prohibited.
-Continuous Supervision: Maintain appropriate supervision of players within the assigned area. Do not leave players without appropriate attention or assistance.
-Injuries and Hazards: If a player is injured, feels unwell, engages in dangerous behavior, or is exposed to an unsafe training environment, take reasonable immediate steps to protect the player and promptly notify the Head Coach.
-Player Departure and Supervision: Do not allow a player to leave the training area without authorization or transfer responsibility for the player to another person without approval.
-Injuries and Suspected Concussion: Do not independently decide that an injured player may continue training. If a concussion is suspected, immediately remove the player from participation and follow the Academy's emergency procedures. The player must not return to training on the same day.
-Respect for Physical Boundaries: Respect every player's physical boundaries. Physical punishment, inappropriate physical contact, intimidation, humiliation, and all forms of abuse are strictly prohibited.
-Child Protection: Comply with the Academy's child protection and safety policies. Avoid inappropriate one-on-one situations with minor players. All interactions must comply with applicable child safeguarding requirements and the principle of two-adult supervision where required by the relevant policies.
-Incident Reporting: Promptly report injuries, conflicts, safeguarding concerns, and other significant incidents to the Head Coach, and assist with completing any required incident reports.
These safety principles are intended to align with the responsible coaching standards of BC Soccer and Canadian soccer safeguarding guidance. All Assistant Coaches must also comply with applicable laws, regulations, and the Academy's current safeguarding policies.
5. Training Discipline and Professional Conduct
During their duties, Assistant Coaches must comply with the following requirements:
-Do not arrive late, leave early, miss assigned sessions, or leave an assigned position without authorization.
-Do not use mobile phones, wear headphones, engage in prolonged conversations, or perform activities that interfere with work during training.
-Do not independently change training content, training intensity, player groupings, or session arrangements without authorization.
-Do not argue with, challenge, or publicly undermine the Head Coach's instructional decisions in front of players. Any concerns or disagreements should be discussed privately after the session.
-Do not verbally abuse, ridicule, discriminate against, threaten, or treat players unfairly.
-Do not make unauthorized promises or commitments to players or parents regarding programs, fees, refunds, player placement, or training levels.
-Do not disclose players' personal information, contact details, family information, or internal Academy information to unauthorized individuals.
-Do not use the Assistant Coach position to privately solicit Academy players, promote unauthorized services, or engage in activities that undermine the Academy's interests.
-Maintain the professional image of Artkick Soccer Academy by demonstrating courtesy, patience, positivity, and accountability at all times.
6. Cooperation with the Head Coach and Other Staff
Assistant Coaches are expected to be reliable and cooperative members of the coaching team.
-Training Arrangements: Confirm assigned duties in advance and carry them out as instructed.
-Player Performance: Objectively record player progress and concerns, and report relevant observations promptly.
-Training Issues: Take reasonable immediate action to address on-site issues and report them to the Head Coach.
-Coaching Feedback: Discuss instructional suggestions after the session and support them with relevant observations.
-Teamwork: Respect other coaches and proactively assist with team responsibilities.
-Emergencies: Prioritize player safety and follow the on-site emergency instructions of the responsible personnel.
-Handover and Follow-Up: Clearly communicate incomplete tasks, outstanding concerns, and matters requiring further attention.
Assistant Coaches may offer constructive coaching suggestions. However, personal opinions must not disrupt training sessions or lead to unauthorized changes to the Academy's coaching standards.
7. Responsibilities and Boundaries in Parent Communication
-Respond politely and professionally to parents' general greetings and basic questions about training.
-Refer questions concerning player assessments, training levels, advancement, class transfers, fees, refunds, complaints, and special arrangements to the Head Coach or Academy management.
-Do not make unauthorized promises to parents that a player will be placed in a particular training group, achieve a specific competitive level, or receive a particular playing or competition opportunity.
-Do not discuss a player's weaknesses, family circumstances, or internal assessment results in front of other parents or players.
-When communicating about minor players in a professional capacity, use communication channels approved by the Academy and comply with applicable child safeguarding requirements.
-Do not establish inappropriate personal relationships with players or use personal social media accounts to engage in private communications with players in ways that violate professional boundaries or safeguarding policies.
8. Post-Session Responsibilities
After each training session, Assistant Coaches must complete the following duties:
-Count, organize, and return all training equipment to the designated storage area.
-Assist with setting up equipment and training activities for the next session, where required.
-Inspect the training area to ensure that no soccer balls, cones, water bottles, or other belongings have been left behind.
-Help players leave in an orderly manner and follow the Academy's procedures for player handover, pickup, and departure safety.
-Report player performance, discipline issues, and any concerns requiring special attention to the Head Coach.
-Report damaged equipment, player injuries, parent feedback, and other unusual incidents.
-Complete training records, equipment organization, and other post-session tasks as assigned by the Head Coach.
-Review any issues identified during the session and prepare for improvements in future training.
9. Learning and Professional Development Obligations
Artkick Soccer Academy encourages all Assistant Coaches to continuously improve their soccer skills, coaching abilities, and professional conduct.
Assistant Coaches are expected to:
-Proactively learn the Academy's coaching philosophy, curriculum structure, and technical standards.
-Observe how the Head Coach explains techniques, organizes activities, corrects mistakes, and manages training sessions.
-Accept guidance, supervision, and periodic performance feedback from the Head Coach.
-Continuously improve their demonstration skills, communication skills, observation abilities, and on-site decision-making within their authorized responsibilities.
-Address identified performance issues promptly and avoid repeatedly making the same mistakes after receiving clear instructions and feedback.
-Refrain from independently conducting training sessions or undertaking duties beyond their competence, qualifications, or authorized responsibilities unless expressly authorized by the Academy and appropriately qualified.
10. Performance Evaluation and Disciplinary Procedures
The Academy may periodically evaluate Assistant Coaches based on their actual performance. Each of the following ten categories will be assessed on a scale of 1 to 10 points.
-Attendance and Punctuality: Arrives on time and complies with scheduling, attendance, and leave procedures.
-Before Session Preparation: Communicates with players and proactively assists with training setup.
-Work Attitude: Communicates positively with players, demonstrates initiative, and remains attentive, responsible, and focused on instructional support.
-Instructional Assistance: Follows training instructions and effectively assists with technical corrections and demonstrations of training patterns.
-Post-Session Cooperation: Helps prepare the next session's training setup and/or clean up and organize the training area.
-Player Safety: Maintains appropriate supervision and responds promptly to potential risks.
-Training Management: Helps maintain discipline, organization, and training efficiency.
-Teamwork: Follows reasonable work assignments and communicates availability and scheduling matters in advance.
-Professional Conduct: Complies with confidentiality requirements, child safeguarding policies, and professional behavior standards.
-Learning and Improvement: Accepts feedback positively and demonstrates continuous improvement.
For general performance or conduct issues, the Academy may take appropriate measures depending on the circumstances, including verbal reminders, written warnings, additional training, or temporary suspension from scheduled shifts.
For serious misconduct, including intentional harm to a player, abuse or harassment of a player, serious violations of child safeguarding requirements, unauthorized disclosure of sensitive information, or serious actions that damage the Academy's interests, the Academy may take appropriate measures based on the nature and severity of the incident. These measures may include temporary suspension of duties, an investigation, or termination of Assistant Coach status. Where necessary, the matter may also be reported to the relevant authorities or organizations.
All disciplinary decisions must be based on the available facts and considered in light of the seriousness of the incident, Academy policies, and applicable requirements. Responsibility must not be determined solely on the basis of an allegation that has not been appropriately reviewed.
11. Assistant Coach Acknowledgment and Commitment
I acknowledge that I have read and understood the Artkick Soccer Academy Soccer Assistant Coach Duties, Responsibilities and Code of Conduct Policy. I agree to comply with the following commitments:
-Follow the Academy's policies and all reasonable work instructions issued by the Head Coach.
-Fulfill my responsibilities for training preparation, instructional assistance, session management, and player safety.
-Treat every player, parent, coach, and staff member with respect.
-Protect player privacy and comply with child safeguarding requirements and professional conduct standards.
-Actively pursue learning and development, participate in performance evaluations, and take responsibility for my professional conduct and actions.