Mission
To create an honest, structured channel for player voice — so coaches understand what's working, what needs to change, and how we can better support our players. The council exists because this program is built together, not handed down.
Council Composition
14 players + 5 coaches — grade representatives selected by coaches, captains selected by players
Grade Representatives · Coach Selected
Freshman — 2 players
Selected for maturity, communication, and ability to represent their class honestly.
Grade Representatives · Coach Selected
Sophomore — 2 players
Selected for leadership potential and willingness to speak up for their peers.
Grade Representatives · Coach Selected
Junior — 2 players
Selected for experience, credibility with teammates, and constructive communication.
Grade Representatives · Coach Selected
Senior — 2 players
Selected for program perspective and ability to bridge player and coaching staff views.
Team Captains · Player Selected
6 Captains — two per team
Each player votes for two nominees. The player with the most votes earns the first captain spot. The second captain is chosen by the coach, informed by the vote totals and their own evaluation of the team.
Varsity (×2)
JV Red (×2)
JV Black (×2)
14
Player council members · 8 grade reps + 6 captains · Grade reps drawn across all three teams, not by roster
Coaching Staff
All 5 coaches attend every council meeting
Head Coach
Coach Wray
Head Varsity Coach
Assistant Coach
Coach King
Assistant Varsity Coach
JV Director
Coach Collins
Head JV Red Coach & JV Director
JV Coach
Coach Zuniga
Head JV Black Coach
Goalkeeper Coach
Coach Pearce
Head Goalkeeper Coach & Assistant Varsity Coach
Selection Process
Completed before the first council meeting
1
Coaches identify grade representatives
Coaches select 2 players from each grade based on communication skills, peer respect, and willingness to speak honestly — regardless of which team they're on. Players do not need to be starters or team leaders to be selected.
2
Players vote, coaches finalize
Each player submits two names — the players they want as captains. Ballots are turned in to the coach, who tallies the votes. The player with the most votes is named the first captain. The coach selects the second captain using their own evaluation of the team, informed by the vote totals and the input received from players.
3
Council is announced to the full program
All 14 player members are announced publicly. The purpose, expectations, and confidentiality norms are communicated to every player — so the full team knows who to go to with feedback between meetings.
4
First meeting: orientation and norms
The first session is an orientation — not a feedback session. Council members align on purpose, agree on ground rules, and set expectations for how meetings will run. Coaches share what they hope to learn and commit to how they will respond to feedback.
Meeting Structure
Every other Wednesday at 6:00 PM · Locker Room · Coaching staff primarily in listening mode
14
Days between meetings
60
Minutes per session
Every other Wednesday at 6:00 PM — consistent, predictable cadence
Location: locker room
Attendance is a commitment — council members are accountable to the group
Coaches attend every session; players run the agenda
Standing Meeting Agenda
60 min total
5 min
Open — Check-in & Action Item Review
Quick personal check-in from council members. Rotating facilitator opens the meeting. Review action items from the previous session — what was committed to, and what happened.
Opening
10 min
What's Going Well
Council members share specific positives from the past two weeks — training, culture, game management, communication. Coaches listen and ask clarifying questions only. No defending or redirecting.
Player Voice
15 min
What Needs to Improve
Honest feedback on what isn't working — training sessions, playing time communication, team dynamics, program culture, anything. Council members speak for their peers. Specifics are encouraged; names of individual players are kept out unless absolutely necessary.
Honest Feedback
15 min
Player Ideas & Suggestions
Council members bring specific ideas from their peers — things they'd like to see added, changed, or tried. Could be training format, pre-game routine, team traditions, communication methods. No idea is dismissed without discussion.
Player Voice
10 min
How Can Coaches Support You Better?
A dedicated, direct question to the group — not about soccer tactics, but about what coaches can do differently to support player development, wellbeing, communication, and trust. Coaches respond honestly, including when they disagree or need to think about it.
Coach Accountability
5 min
Action Items & Close
Every piece of feedback that requires action gets assigned — who owns it, and what the timeline is. Action items are written down and reviewed at the next meeting. The session closes with one word from each person.
Accountability
Meeting Roles
Rotated each meeting among council members
Rotates each meeting
Facilitator
Opens and closes the meeting
Keeps discussion on track and on time
Ensures every voice is heard
Names a note-taker at the start
Rotates each meeting
Note-Taker
Records key themes, not a transcript
Writes down every action item clearly
Shares notes with coaches within 24 hours
Keeps the record between meetings
Every meeting — all staff
Coach Presence
Listen more than speak
Ask clarifying questions only
Respond to feedback — don't deflect
Own action items and follow through
Council Norms
Agreed to by all members at the first session
What's said here stays here
Conversations inside the council are confidential. Council members share themes with peers — not specific words or who said what. The only exception is a concern about a player's safety or wellbeing.
Come with ideas, not just complaints
Feedback is welcome in any form, but the expectation is that council members come prepared to think through solutions together — not just air grievances.
Every voice matters
No rank, no seniority, no bigger platform because you're a starter or a captain. Every member's perspective carries equal weight inside this room.
No calling out individuals
Feedback about a specific teammate stays out of the room. Discuss patterns, culture, and systems — not individual players. This is not a grievance forum against each other.
Represent your peers honestly
Council members are here to speak for the players around them, not just their own experience. Check in with your grade group or team before each meeting to collect real feedback.
Coaches respond to everything
Every piece of feedback gets a response from the coaching staff — even if the answer is "we disagree" or "we need more time." Silence from coaches is not acceptable here.
Communication Back to the Team
How council conversations become program-wide action
👥
Council Members →
Peer Groups
After each meeting, members share key themes with their grade group or team — not details, not quotes. "Here's what we talked about and what's coming."
📋
Coaches →
Full Team Update
Coaches share the action items they own at the next full team meeting — what feedback they heard, what they're doing about it, and what they need from players.
🔄
Each Meeting →
Action Item Review
Every open action item is reviewed at the following meeting. Nothing falls through the cracks. If something didn't happen, coaches or council members explain why.