U.S. Soccer coaching development department implementing significant changes
CHICAGO (Via U.S. Soccer) – The U.S. Soccer Coaching Development Department is making significant changes to improve the development of coaches at all levels.
A new online F license course has been launched in conjunction with a state-of-the-art Digital Coaching Center (DCC), and later in the year an 18-month Youth Technical Director course will be offered. Along with the new license additions, U.S. Soccer has made modifications to the pathway and implemented changes to the former waiver program.
The re-formatted structure provides an improved pathway that offers an efficient and logical progression that increases in depth and complexity and will grow coaching competencies through a series of candidate-instructor feedback opportunities.
F License and Digital Coaching Center
The F license course is aimed at coaches working with six to eight year old players and will be accessible to all coaches. The course will be available online at U.S. Soccer’s Digital Coaching Center, which is a comprehensive resource center for coaches at all license levels. The DCC allows coaches to create a personal profile, register for courses, communicate with technical staff, take part in online courses, create session plans with an online graphics tool, access an archive of U.S. Soccer training sessions and much more.
During the initial launch phase, the DCC will offer the new F license. Registered coaches of the F will also have access to other features such as a graphics tool. In the upcoming months, additional resources and courses will be offered through the DCC.
Youth Technical Director Course
The Youth Technical Director course is sequenced into multiple modules that focus on enhancing leadership skills, provide periodization and strategic planning tools and staff mentoring techniques. The course also includes an international academy case study trip and a technical analysis of a U.S. Youth National Team camp. Additional details on the invitation-only course will be available later this year.
Each course is defined by a specific set of outcomes that U.S. Soccer will expect coaches to master. The U.S. Soccer-licensed coach will maximize their development of skills as they parallel each developmental stage of players and their teams.
“We have implemented a quality, high level educational progression,” said U.S. Soccer Director of Coaching Development Dave Chesler. “The flow and structure of our pathway is closely aligned with some of the leading countries around the world. With the launch of our F license and our Youth Technical Director course, we are nearly complete with sequencing our pathway.”
U.S. Soccer is also in the process of launching a Pro course and additional supplemental courses aimed at goalkeeping and sport science. To learn more about the U.S. Soccer Coaching Pathway, visit the Coaching Education page on ussoccer.com.
Policy Changes
Beginning in 2015, the Youth and Adult level courses will no longer be part of the U.S. Soccer pathway. In addition, coaches who hold diplomas or certificates from other organizations, like AYSO and the NSCAA, will not be provided entry point into the U.S. Soccer pathway. For additional information on entry points into U.S. Soccer’s pathway, click here.
“We feel it is an effective time to incorporate changes to our policies that will coincide with the targeted standards and expectations in the courses we teach,” said Chesler. “These changes are important stepping stones that create a safe, well-defined pathway for our youth players at every level to enjoy a higher-quality environment. The changes reflect increased expectations for the instruction of the course as well as coaching candidate performance.”
