U.S. SOCCER ANNOUNCES ADAPTED COURSE STRUCTURE, RAISES STANDARD OF COACHING EDUCATION
Updated Pathway Includes Multiple Meetings, Development Periods, Specialized Pathways, Pro License
CHICAGO (June 14, 2016) – U.S. Soccer has announced new course offerings scheduled for summer 2016. U.S. Soccer will host two B courses and under a newly formatted A course structure, there will be one A-Youth and one A-Senior course.
A full course schedule with expanded opportunities is being organized for 2017. Additional details will be provided later this summer. For additional information related to the course updates, please visit http://www.ussoccer.com/coaching-education/licenses
In addition to the newly formatted courses, applicants will be required to apply for the A and B courses. Applications for these course options will begin on June 20 at 12:00 PM EST and will remain open until 12:00 PM EST on July 1. Those candidates selected to attend a course will be notified the week of July 11. Coaches who meet the course pre-requisites may submit their application ( see FAQs) through the U.S. Soccer Digital Coaching Center. Additional information regarding the courses can be viewed on ussoccer.com/coaching-education.
The updated Coaching License Pathway includes multiple face-to-face meetings, periods of practical development in a coach’s home environment and specialized tracks for the senior and youth coaches at the A license level.
Organized by leaders of the U.S. Soccer coaching community, the course curriculum has been adapted based on a set of tasks a coach must carry out. These tasks are defined as coaching matches, coaching training sessions, leading the team, leading the player, managing a performance environment and leadership. Coaches will be educated and assessed based on the progression of these tasks relative to each course within the license pathway.
|
Level
|
Meetings
|
Dates
|
Location
|
Application Window
|
|
National B Course
|
Meeting 1
|
August 9-14
|
Orlando, FL
|
June 20 – July 1
FAQs
|
|
Meeting 2
|
October 11-16
|
Orlando, FL
|
|
Assessment
|
December 9-11
|
Orlando, FL
|
|
National B Course
|
Meeting 1
|
August 16-21
|
Frisco, TX
|
June 20 – July 1
FAQs
|
|
Meeting 2
|
October 18-23
|
Frisco, TX
|
|
Assessment
|
December 9-11
|
Frisco, TX
|
|
National A-Senior Course
|
Meeting 1
|
August 9-14
|
Kansas City, MO
|
June 20 – July 1
FAQs
|
|
Meeting 2
|
October 11-16
|
Kansas City, MO
|
|
Meeting 3
|
December 6-11
|
Kansas City, MO
|
|
Assessment*
|
January 2017
|
In market*
|
|
National A-Youth Course
|
Meeting 1
|
August 9-14
|
Houston, TX
|
June 20 – July 1
FAQs
|
|
Meeting 2
|
October 11-16
|
Houston, TX
|
|
Meeting 3
|
December 6-11
|
Houston, TX
|
|
Assessment*
|
January 2017
|
In market*
|
*In market assessment
The A, B and C courses were previously organized in a nine-day format with education and assessment occurring on-site. Under the new model, these higher level courses will span three to six months at a time and take place over a series of face-to-face meetings. Candidates will have an opportunity to practically apply what they have learned in their home environment with their own team between these assemblies. U.S. Soccer staff will travel to assess candidates in their home environment for the Pro, A-Senior and A-Youth courses. Regional assessment centers will be organized for the C and B courses.
Sitting atop of the pathway, the U.S. Soccer Pro course will serve as the new standard for coaches interacting in U.S. Soccer’s recognized domestic professional leagues. The first rendering of the U.S. Soccer Pro course is set to conclude in December of 2016.
Similar to the A-Senior, A-Youth and B courses, the Pro course will be application based. The criterion for these applications will include coaching experience, current coaching environment and demonstrated commitment to education and self-development. The application window for these courses is set to take place from June 20 –July 1. Coaches who meet the pre-requisites are eligible to apply through the Digital Coaching Center (DCC).
Participants at U.S. Soccer’s National Coaching Schools will have the opportunity to earn a nationally recognized license from U.S. Soccer, a member of Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA), and the governing body of soccer in all its forms in the United States.