What changed, and why: Kickoff is the only setting all year where 150 coaches are in one room. We are prioritizing the two things that require a room — connection and modeled practice — plus the one thing that requires a truck – equipment and gear! Key information transfer will move to required virtual supplemental trainings (by coach type) with a signed comprehension check.

*Full attendance looks like: attending in-person + required supplemental training (Full $100.00 Kickoff Stipend = $80.00 in-person + $20.00 virtual)

Full details can be found in the slide below.

Coach Kickoff Fall 2026.pptx

Resources: Fall 2026 Coach Kickoff Training

Fall 2026 Coach Kickoff Slides

Description: Our focus for Coach Kickoff Training Fall 2026 was to build community and connection to align on a clear mission: "empower youth to lead healthy lives, be engaged students, and have the confidence and character to make a difference in the world." Check out our full training slides by clicking the button below.

Our training outcomes are shared in the "What success feels like walking out?" slide, pictured.

Training included breakout sessions by local partners:

Soccer Field Session (City Sporting Club)
Healing Through Sport (Center for Healing and Justice Through Sport: CHJS)
Intersectionality & Allyship (SMYAL)

Fall 2026 Coach Kickoff SLIDES

Community Partners - Training Facilitators

Learn more about the community partners who led our breakout sessions. 🖱️Click on each to learn more.

City Sporting Club

Session at Kickoff: Soccer Field Session

What they do: "City Sporting Club Youth Soccer is dedicated to fostering a player-centric environment where the long-term development of each individual is our top priority."

Resources:

Center for Healing and Justice Through Sport (CHJS)

Session at Kickoff: Healing Through Sport

What they do: "Our work is backed by neuroscience research showing that sport - the activity that has brought humans entertainment and joy for thousands of years - has both a physiological and psychological healing effect. CHJS brings trauma-informed coaching to youth through our accessible programs and services."

Resources:

"Ten Inclusive Coaching Principles"

SMYAL

Session at Kickoff: Intersectionality & Allyship

What they do: "SMYAL supports and empowers LGBTQ+ youth. We actively work to create a world where queer and trans youth thrive through affirming programs and services designed to develop critical life skills, build community, and foster a sense of belonging."

Resources:

"Creating Inclusive Spaces for LGBTQ+ Youth" (Midseason Training, Spring 2026)
"In School Support"

Fall 2026 Coach Kickoff Exit Survey

Coach Kickoff Exit Survey

(Part 2) Required Supplemental and Makeup Trainings - Virtual: Required based on Program Pillar

Required part 2 from Coach Kickoff to compensate for what is missed due to a shorter in-person session.

Three sessions, three audiences. All sessions are recorded and uploaded in the CRC so they double as the makeup path. Each virtual training is compensated ($20.00).

What if you miss a required supplemental training?: Each session runs once live and is recorded. All required coaches will need to attend live or watch the virtual recording and complete the “check for understanding” assignment to qualify for the full Kickoff stipend.

*Any coaches who miss kickoff and only attend the virtual supplemental (or poetry makeup) training will qualify for our virtual training stipend amount. Completion status will be tracked and communicated weekly from 9/1.

New Coaches who missed Kickoff: Will also be required to attend onboarding office hours week of Sept. 25-28. This will be communicated.

Liaison Compliance & Launch

Wed Sept 2 · 3:45–5:00pm

WHO: All site liaisons

WHERE: Virtual - Join Zoom Meeting: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83199727516?pwd=Ds95AJIOl9H9gpY9TBye1bz7ty6v8l.1

Stipend: $20 - after completion of check for understanding

CHECK FOR UNDERSTANDING LINK will be posted here

Recording will be uploaded here

Leagues & Game Day Policies

Thu Sept 10 · 6:30–8:00pm

WHO: Every soccer coach

WHERE: Virtual - link to follow

WHAT: League Rules & Laws of the Game, the non-negotiables standard, Game day expectations: before/during/after, Fair Play, referees, coach conduct, cancellation and makeup policy, chain of support

Stipend: $20 - after completion of check for understanding

CHECK FOR UNDERSTANDING LINK will be posted here

Recording will be uploaded here

Poetry Makeup Training

Asynchronous · before Mon Sept. 14th

WHO: Poetry coaches who missed Kickoff (this includes any poetry coach who did not attend poetry session at kickoff)

WHERE: Click for ▶️ Poetry Makeup Training Video

WHAT: Video recording outlining poetry curriculum, expectations, and best practices

Stipend: $20 - after completion of check for understanding

💲In order to qualify for your stipend, click here to complete the CHECK FOR UNDERSTANDING.

Poetry Makeup Training

Poetry Makeup Training Video (26 min)

*Poetry Office Hours

Mon Sept 14 · 6:30–7:30pm

WHO: Highly encouraged for Poetry coaches who missed kickoff; Optional for Poetry coaches who have questions

WHERE: Virtual - link to follow

WHAT: Opportunity to ask questions, request support, and brainstorm with our Poetry Team

Stipend: (no stipend)

Additional details can be found in the slide below.

Coach Kickoff Supplemental Trainings.pptx

Fall Midseason Training

10/5/26 - Fall Mid Season Training (In-Person) - Writing

Spring Trainings

Spring Coach Kickoff

2/27/27 - Spring Coach Kickoff - Soccer and Writing

Spring Midseason Training

4/19/27 and 4/20/27 - Spring Mid Season Training - Soccer and Writing

Office Hours (General Admin Support)

Payment, Attendance, & Playmetrics

This is for: all new coaches and, especially, liaisons.

View (9 min) explainer video below and slides here.

Past trainings

Find slides, recordings, photos, and resources.

Midseason Training 2026

🌈Creating Inclusive Spaces for LGBTQ+ Youth (Facilitated by SMYAL)

SMAYL dc_scores_presentation.pdf

(Tuesday, April 21, 2026) Review the training slides. Read our "All on the Pitch" Midseason Training One-Pager

Description

With 9.3% of adults in the U.S identifying as LGBTQ+, comprehensive LGBTQ+ inclusion is a must. Not only that, but 60% of our LGBTQ+ youth have felt discrimination due to their gender identity or sexual orientation, 32% of youth in schools face harassment because they are a part of the LGBTQ+ community, and policies in our own backyards have limited the spaces and resources available to LGBTQ+ youth. As a result, there is a high need for LGBTQ+ allyship and support for our youth. In this highly interactive session, participants will learn about the need for and positive impacts of LGBTQ+ inclusion in all parts of the community. They will become familiar with key inclusive language, and the basics of allyship, and they will leave the session equipped to implement crucial ally actions to create belonging and safe spaces for all queer and trans youth.

About the Facilitator

Krischell Mini Bio: Krischell (she/her) is a Training Coordinator with SMYAL who has 4+ years of experience in peer-to-peer and youth education. A Baltimore native who found her home in DC, she's driven to make sure in everything that she does she gives back to the communities who molded her into the woman she is today. When not serving youth in the DMV area she's home gaming with her friends, taking walks around her neighborhood, or reading on her E-Reader.

Additional Resources

(Will be posted here, once received)

Spring 2026 Coach Kickoff

🤓 Site Management

Coach Kickoff: Learn about our Community Building Coach Development training, new Dual Site Coordinator pairings, and review our communications. (Slides here, pgs. 42-66)
Makeup Training: Covering slides 35-66 (📹 Video Recording here - 28 min)
Liaison Training: Review - What is the role of a liaison? (Slides here)
Office Hours:
- March 4: 💲Payment, ☑️ Attendance, and 📧 Playmetrics (Slides & Video)

🤝 Coach Development

Coach Kickoff: Learn about our Community Building Coach Development training and SCORES Play Card. (Slides here)
Midseason Training: TBA
Community Building Resources: Materials to help your team get off to a strong start, including "Poet-Athlete Promise", "Parent/Guardian Promise", "Building Team Culture: Values and Norms" Worksheets, and more! (Linked here)

✏️ Service Learning

Coach Kickoff: Review project examples and learn about our NEW Community Sessions and the Stage 1 Check In, which will be due on March 27th. (Slides here)
Makeup Training: (📹 Video Recording here - 38 min)
Midseason Training: Monday, April 20th, 6-8pm

⚽ Soccer

Coach Kickoff: Request equipment, review spring events, goal updates, and coach clinics via our slides (here).
Makeup Training: (📹 Video Recording here)
Midseason Training: Tuesday, April 21, 6:45-8pm

Fall 2025 Coach Kickoff

▶️ Site Management & Liaison Kickoff Slides

▶️ Coach Training Resources

All on the Pitch: DC SCORES Online Coach Training (Fall 2025)

Complete the following training by 10/10/25 to receive credit for the on-demand training. RSVP HERE to receive more information.

All on the Pitch DC SCORES Online Coach Training.mp4All on the Pitch is an interactive online training designed to help DC SCORES coaches build inclusive, supportive, and empowering environments for poet-athletes. Coaches will explore the meaning of Fair Play, learn strategies to create safe and brave spaces, and practice setting team norms and agreements. Through reflection, real-life scenarios, and quizzes, this training provides practical tools to strengthen team culture and ensure every player feels seen, celebrated, and supported—on and off the pitch.

Powerpoint Slides: All on the Pitch: DC SCORES Online Coach Training (Fall 2025)

Online training ALL ON THE PITCH.pdf

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