Green Hornets Soccer Volunteer Coaching Policy Green Hornets is a non-profit organization established in 1949 whose operating principles rely on the volunteer coach. The growth of the organization and the testing of the boundaries of what defines a volunteer coach require that Green Hornets define what it expects of its coaches.
Over the past decade, perhaps no other youth sport has changed as dramatically as has soccer as it regards individuals and teams paying coaches and trainers, both for their league play and to supplement off-season activities. Our teams play in the top leagues in the region and regularly compete against teams whose coaches and trainers are financially compensated. Despite this, Green Hornets Select teams have always distinguished themselves in tournament and league play, and we routinely produce teams that play in the upper divisions of NCSL, WAGS, and BBSL. This is mainly because our Select program is staffed with equally talented, credentialed, experienced and dedicated coaches as those programs. But our coaches serve voluntarily and since our organization’s inception, literally thousands of Green Hornet’s coaches have generously donated their time for the betterment of Severna Park area youth. This is a keystone principle of the Green Hornets organization which must be preserved in all sports.
Therefore, a coach or assistant coach of a Green Hornets registered team may not accept payment for coaching services from the parents, guardians or players for any and all athletic activities associated with the player and team during the playing season*. Any gift given to the coach by the team at the conclusion of the season will not be excessive or extraordinary.
We also recognize the desires of individual players to pursue a variety of activities to improve, whether simply for the joy of becoming as good as one can become, or to be in a better position to make their high school team, or even play in college. We therefore allow that if during the off-season a coach or assistant coach has an indoor team, camp or other training activity that charges a fee, such offerings are to be open to that team’s entire age group, not just his specific team. Participation is voluntary on the Green Hornets player’s part. Non-participation by a player, for any reason, will not be prejudicial to that player in any way.
Please refer to the Green Hornets Camp Policy for further guidance on the offerings of camps.
Violations of the Green Hornets Volunteer Coaching Policy will lead to suspension or barring from coaching.
Volunteer coaching is a fundamental reason for the Green Hornets growth and success. Green Hornets greatly values the need to continue, uphold and enforce this policy.
* Playing Season The playing season is defined as the period of time starting 6 weeks before the first regular season game for that team’s league through the completion of that team’s regular season. In the case of a team that plays in more that one league simultaneously, the definition is from the earliest start to the latest finish.
Last updated on March 4, 2008.
