US Club Soccer will launch its first Innovate to Grow program, Coach Education for Current Players, in collaboration with NorCal Premier Soccer and SOCAL Soccer League. The program will include a fully funded U.S. Soccer grassroots coach licensing pathway to ignite a passion for coaching to current players aged 16-22.
In order to be considered for grant funding, members’ proposed programs were required to meet certain criteria as part of a comprehensive application process, including:
- The program must be new and different from current efforts.
- The program must demonstrate capability to grow participation.
- The program must demonstrate potential to scale in other markets.
- The program must align with U.S. Soccer Player Development Initiatives.
- The member must also be financially invested in the program.
What is the Coach Education for Current Players Program?
US Club Soccer strongly believes in U.S. Soccer’s philosophy that education is a journey, and our goal is to provide the necessary tools, guidance, and mentorship a coach requires.
One demographic that has rarely been represented in coach education around the country has been current players, specifically in the high school to college age group of 16-22 years old. US Club Soccer believes that in order to start the “journey” of education, coaches must be able to ignite their passion for coaching at a young age, through a structured coach education program with low/no barriers of entry.
US Club Soccer, in collaboration with NorCal Premier Soccer and SOCAL Soccer League, will launch a three-year, accessible, comprehensive program to encourage and guide current players in their coach education pathway.
Content Overview
The courses are tailored around the four new grassroots game models: 4v4, 7v7, 9v9 and 11v11. These course options will offer coaches the chance to learn more about how to develop a player-centered approach to coaching. Spanning four hours in length, each in-person course consists of both classroom (virtual or in-person) and field-based (in-person) sessions. Coaches will learn about U.S. Soccer’s coaching education philosophy, play-practice-play methodology and the six tasks of a grassroots coach, amongst other topics.
What is Innovate to Grow?
Recognizing the vital role that Federation Members play in the growth of soccer in the U.S., the Innovate to Grow Fund was established in 2017 to help U.S. Soccer member organizations launch new and innovative programs designed to grow participation in their markets.
