We're All in this Together
Sam Snow, Technical Director - US Youth Soccer and Dave Chesler, Director of Coaching - U.S. Soccer
An overview of the coaching education offerings from US Youth Soccer and U.S. Soccer. The latest revisions of current courses will be discussed as well as a preview of new offerings.
Administrators Role in Player Development
Mike Singelton, Executive Director - Massachusetts Youth Soccer
In both directions, there is often strain and, sometimes, animosity between coaches and administrators. Administrators are often considered the "A" word by coaches, and coaches are often considered ignorant of real world needs by administrators. As long as strain continues within this relationship, player development will be compromised. In this session we will discuss many of the commonly glaring challenges this relationship creates and ways to find common ground. We will also discuss prescriptive methods for insuring all parties work toward shared goals with reciprocal acceptance that player development needs be the foundational lifeblood running through all decisions.
Club Management - Personnel, Risk, Business Plan
Skyler Bell, Assistant Technical Director - Idaho Youth Soccer and Brett Thompson, Executive Director - Centerville United Soccer Association
An interactive review and presentation of the relationship and connection between your Club Management, Personnel, Risk, and Business Plan and how they are inter-related
Model Club
Neal Ellis, Technical Director - South Texas Youth Soccer
The model for clubs presented is geared to help clubs create a better environment for their players, coaches, parents and administrators, as well as improve their overall operational efficiency. The evolution of clubs around the country is constant, and we need to be able to keep up with the changes. The presentation will also touch base on the different levels from MLS to local recreational clubs — helping everyone at every level grow their membership and improve the quality of their product.
Youth Soccer's Crown Jewel
Mike Strickler, Technical Director - Florida Youth Soccer and Jim Martella, Chair- US Youth Soccer National Championship Series
The US Youth Soccer National Championship Series is the "Crown Jewel" program of US Youth Soccer. This session will cover various aspects of the National Championship series. The series includes state tournaments, regional tournaments, automatic qualifying leagues, and the National Championship. We will cover the history of the event, the rules and guidelines, and what to expect in the future. The session will also look at the preparations the coaches have made in getting the players and teams ready for the various levels of the event.
Educating Referees in your State Association: How it is being done?
Jeff Kollmeyer - Missouri Soccer Association; Dough Marshak - Minnesota Soccer Association and Chip Walaska
Corporate Directors: Rights and Obligations
John Murphy
National Presidents Cup
Ed Loucks
Parents Are Part of the Team
Dr. Dan Freigang
Developing talent is a complex process. How long does it take to reach expertise and what resources do your need to achieve excellence? Is talent genetic or can you earn expertise? In this session we will learn how to implement the techniques of goal setting, self-confidence and energy management as teachable skills contributing to peak performance. What mental skills to you need to push the envelope? What can we do as adults to create a culture of achievement and excellence? We will provide a practical framework that both parents and coaches can work with to enhance the sport experience.
THE Olympic Development Program - US Youth Soccer
Keith Tabatznik, Head Coach - US Youth Soccer ODP Boys Region I and Jerry Smith, Head Coach - US Youth Soccer ODP Girls Region IV
This presentation will attempt to address the role of the Olympic Development Program for both boys and girls across the country. The landscape of youth soccer has changed substantially in the last several years, which poses many new challenges for the ODP. How we overcome these new challenges as well as continue to manage the multitude of challenges at the State, Regional and National levels across the United States will be the main focus of the presentation. The Olympic Development Program must continue to improve and progress in order to continue to assist in the identification and development of the elite youth player if we are going to continue to grow our game at the highest levels.
TOPSoccer in Your Community
Bob Riggs, Chair - US Youth Soccer TOPSoccer Committee
Soccer is something most kids take for granted. But for a child with special needs, the opportunity to participate is an extraordinary experience offering ways to learn new skills, gain confidence and participate based on ability. TOPSoccer touches the entire community – from administrators who run the program, to local businesses that help support it, to the dedicated volunteers that make it all possible. This session will help you see how TOPSoccer can make a difference in your community.
Growing the Game - Soccer Across America
Greg Vallee, Technical Director - South Carolina Youth Soccer
This seminar will help soccer coaches and club officials understand the positive impact the Soccer Across America program can have on the continued growth of soccer in the United States in underserved areas. This session will present program goals, the startup process and how to create a support network to help sustain a successful program in communities that are not served by an existing club or league.
Increasing Speed and Power on the Pitch
Eric Dannenberg, Performance Manager - Athletes' Performance
Simple solutions and implementation to improve speed. Areas of focus for implementation will be pre-season, warm-ups, technical and tactical practices, conditioning, and performance training in the weight room.
Texting/Internet Warning Information and the 2012 Top Insurance Claims
Pat Pullen
Form 990's and Filing under Group Exemptions
Jen Park, Director of Accounting and Finance - US Youth Soccer and IRS Representative
What Does Your Website say about your organization?
Craig Briars - Americaneagle.com
Leveraging your website and data to your benefit. Learn about the latest trends and advancements in website design to help save time, attract sponsors and entice new members.
Head Games
Dr. Don Kirkendall, FMARC
Few injuries conjure up as much fear in coaches, parents and players as a concussion. It is important for all connected with the game to understand several key issues, including the circumstances leading up to the injury, the actual mechanism(s) of injury and how to recognize that an injury has occurred. All involved must realize that once the injury has been verified, recovery is highly variable to the individual, requiring a written physician release before the player is permitted to return to play.
Recreation Player Pathways (American Cup, Presidents Cup, etc.)
Casey Mann, Technical Director - Nebraska State Soccer
Presentation will focus on the opportunities, development and pathways available for the recreational soccer player. Presentation will focus on both the American Cup and the President’s Cup as examples of opportunities open to recreational soccer players.
Understanding Players with Disabilities and Providing Appropriate Activities in Training
Mike Barr, Technical Director - Eastern Pennsylvania Youth Soccer
TOPSoccer is unique because it truly is soccer for all kids. Hear from parents as they describe their children’s disabilities and how that disability affects their play in TOPSoccer activities or games. From the information provided by parents, appropriate modified activities will be presented to coaches or volunteers in the audience. Knowledge of individual players and the challenges they may have playing TOPSoccer will assist coaches in meeting their needs.
Internal Controls for Small Offices
Jen Parker, Director of Accounting and Finance - US Youth Soccer
AXON
Jason Sada
Background Screening 101
Backgroundchecks.com
Academy Youth Soccer - Panel Discussion
Adrian Parish, Technical Director - Kentucky Youth Soccer; Bill Furjanic, Technical Director - North Carolina Youth Soccer and Joshua Groves, Technical Director - New Mexico Youth Soccer
A Panel Discussion focused on the issues surrounding the implementation of the Academy format for U-9 and U-10 Players. The discussion will include examples from three different US Youth Soccer regions.
Role of a Club Director of Coaching
Mark Godwin, Technical Director - Louisiana Soccer
Soccer Clubs are unique in many different ways, and the role of a club director of coaching needs to adapt to the challenges that present themselves. This presentation looks into some of the issues and solutions of the position as well as how things have changed over the last few years within this competitive environment.
Ethical Coaching
Dr. Ron Quinn, Associate Professor - Xavier University
This presentation will engage the audience in addressing real-life ethical coaching dilemmas through the use of a decision-making ethical model. Ethical dilemmas such as: how you react to an unfair referee call, the use of substitutions in close games, parents that overstep their boundaries, retaliation and overly aggressive play by your opponent, to name a few, will be discussed from an ethical framework and philosophy. The audience will also have the opportunity to identity and discuss ethical events in their own coaching.
Connecting Age Group Activites
Bill Burren, National Instructor - US Youth Soccer
Finding the connections in Developmentally Appropriate activities.
Female Coaches - Where are they?
Sue Ryan, Head Coach - US Youth Soccer ODP Girls Region I and Mike Dickey, Head Coach - US Youth Soccer ODP Girls Region II
This presentation will focus on issues involving recruitment and mentoring of female coaches and the support of women in leadership roles. It will look at role models for young players who may aspire to become coaches and provide networking tips that can lead to becoming a successful female coach. Topics of discussion will include the level of importance of a diverse staff, looking at why females leave the game, and examining the perceived strengths and weaknesses of the female coach.
The Role of Play in Player Development
Steve Cogley, Technical Director - South Dakota State Soccer
In this presentation, we will take an in-depth look at how our players/kids best learn to play the game. We will briefly examine some educational pillars, such as Piaget’s theory of cognitive development, to give us a foundational background of how a child learns and grows. We will look at practical examples of how playing the game itself, through age appropriate small-sided game activities, serves a critical role in players short and long term development.
Soccer as a Lifetime Sport
Mark Sheldon, Technical Directory - Kansas State Youth Soccer
Lifetime sports are those that are enjoyed by the young and the old and can be enjoyed at various intensity levels. Soccer is a sport that can be enjoyed throughout one’s lifetime – either as a young child or as an older adult – as long as the passion, enjoyment, and camaraderie still exists for the participants. Soccer as a lifetime sport can provide many benefits for the participants – young and old.
The Game is the Best Teacher
Sam Snow, Technical Director - US Youth Soccer
Using U-8 players, I’ll demonstrate how to run a games-based training session. The session will be player-centered and will require problem solving by the players while they simultaneously improve their technique, tactical understanding and physical fitness.
Latest Youth Program Updates from the U.S.S.F.
Ryan Mooney - U.S. Soccer
Coping with Ramadan in Soccer
Dr. Don Kirkendall, FMARC
Ramadan, one of the five primary pillars of the Islamic faith, is a time when Muslims undergo spiritual and physical regeneration by combining intensified prayer with ritual fasting. In coming years, Ramadan will fall during the summer months and then the spring competitive season. With the steadily increasing number of Muslims in the United States who love their soccer, it is not a matter of if you will someday have a Muslim player — it's a matter of when. Be aware that this fast is not a traditional fast, rather Muslims shift their food and fluid intake to the hours between sunset and sunrise; they still eat the same amount of food, just at a different time. And this shift will impact training, school, food options, and sleep. Decisions about training time, intensity, when to eat, and more will need to be made in order to minimize any potential impact on performance. The wise coach will be prepared for the challenges that face the player, team and family because of Ramadan that, if properly prepared, may actually result in benefits to team dynamics and cohesion.
Leagues - State to Regional to National
Paul Luchowski, Commissioner - US Youth Soccer Midwest Regional League and Austin Daniels, Technical Director - Arizona Youth Soccer
This presentation will focus on explaining the structures (governance, formats, seasons of play etc.) of the various leagues operated by US Youth Soccer, its Regions and its state associations. After explaining the various opportunities at the three levels to member teams and clubs, we will open up the session for questions.
Coaching the Disruptive Player
Dr. Dan Freigang
You know you shouldn’t eat that massive sugary donut, but you do. It tastes so good going down, but you feel terrible afterward. What motivates you to eat things that are bad for you? Why do we use daily strategies in our lives that don’t work or don’t make sense? Your brain makes a good servant but a terrible master. This session is about using your thinking patterns to enhance your life and move toward the joy and connection of your authentic self. We will explore the skills for healthy motivation, rational thinking and self-confidence as well as identifying the emotional traps where we may fall prey.
Why Small-Sided Games for American Soccer
Shaun Bailey, Technical Directory - Connecticut Junior Soccer
There are many views and opinions regarding the use of small-sided games with discussions on this topic continuing to present themselves on a daily basis. This session will present, and explore the many reasons why Small-Sided games should continue to be a staple diet in the developmental/educational process of our young players and coaches throughout the world.
Referee Round Table
Referee Committee
Treasurers Round Table
Jen Parker, Director of Accounting and Finance - US Youth Soccer and Dennis Brumsfield
Beyond 2010
Bill Buren, National Instructor - US Youth Soccer
A few modest proposals for Youth Soccer Development in the coming decade.
Tactical Distribution
Steve Franklin, Technical Director - Indiana Soccer
Session will focus on the available options and techniques for the goalkeeper and field players; and conditions affecting match environmental factors (score, time climate, etc.). Many youth coaches and players fail to teach/coach/train the tactics of what to do with the ball once the ball is recovered by the goalkeeper. Solid distribution is extremely important if you want to be a top goalkeeper.
TOPSoccer - Coaching Without Tears
Rick Flores, Technical Director - Illinois Youth Soccer
Interactive lecture along with collaborative effort to better understand who we are coaching in TOPSoccer. Focus will be temperament of various disabilities and what could happen and how to prevent issues and examples.
Coaching at Tournaments
Gordon Henderson, Technical Director - Ohio Youth Soccer South
One of the challenges facing coaches at any level is preparing your team for tournament play. These events create a unique environment that usually has multiple games over a short period of time. This lecture will address some common issues and solutions to assist coaches in building a platform for success. Topics include:
- Pre- Event Training......What should my training sessions look like to prepare for the event?
- Game Performance..... How many minutes should players play? Who has a specific role?
- Rest and Recovery......How do I use my full squad to maximize success on the field?
- Nutrition....................What should my players eat during tournament play? What are some of the common myths?
- Administration for Success....."Failing to plan is planning to fail (proverb); what are some simple things I should have ready and prepared to ensure a stress free event?
- Question and Answer........Opportunity for attendees to ask questions not covered in the lecture.
The Street Soccer Coach!
Dr. Tom Turner, Chair - US Youth Soccer Coaching Committee | Technical Director - Ohio Youth Soccer North
Street soccer may be gone, but the ideals of street soccer are still fundamental to youth soccer. The purpose of this session is to entertain some young kids by playing soccer. Lots of it; but with a twist. With only a limited number of hours available for soccer training each week, the modern youth coach has to develop game awareness, skill and fitness and also make sure that the kids leave wanting more. No laps. No lines. No heavy coaching. Just lots of play with a purpose. To add a twist, I have invited a few adults to join in. The most ignored lesson of street soccer is that the older kids taught the younger ones. What young kids can’t do on their own, can often be accomplished with a little help.
Kohl's American Cup
Cody Houseknecht, Soccer Operations Programs Assistant - US Youth Soccer and Juan Paz, Kohl's Department Stores
The FIFA 11 +
Dr. Don Kirkendall, FMARC
All sports, soccer included, carry a risk of injury. In soccer, injuries are obviously concentrated on the lower extremity. The most common injury is a contusion, but this rarely leads to any significant time loss. The top 4 time loss injuries are ligament sprains of the ankle and knee, as well as muscle strains of the hamstrings and groin. Recent research has shown that up to a third of all injuries can be prevented and over half of selected injuries are preventable through the use of a structured warm-up program. The 11+ is a progressive program of running, dynamic flexibility, plyometrics, strength, and agility that serves as a warm-up for training and competition. Using The 11+ prior to each session is effective for both warm-up and injury prevention.
Role Models in Youth Soccer
Dr. Dan Freigang
Ask the master coaches which component players need to succeed and you will get the same answer. It's self-confidence. If this is sound thinking, then where does self-confidence come from? Some people exude confidence, while others tend to fall apart and choke just thinking about the next game. Why does this happen? Why does their confidence fade away when they need it most? Is self-confidence genetic or can someone give it to you? The answer may surprise you. In this session we will explore how people enhance the quality of their lives by skill building and learning from the best practices of the master coaches.
Zone 1 - A Game Centered Approach
Kurt Luitwieler, Technical Director - Oklahoma Soccer
Everyone remembers playing a hardcore game of dodgeball in P.E. class. Can you imagine learning how to play such a game if the soccer coaches of today replaced the gym teachers of our youth? Do you think a game of tag can help kids learn to have better possession on the pitch? Why do kids (and adults) get SO HOOKED on video games? If we want to make sure kids play better soccer now and continue to play life-long, we must address these questions. We will look at practical ways to bring GAMES into our training sessions with younger players that are both meaningful and enjoyable. Come prepared to play and to experience how being active participants allows gamers to "try on" various possibilities and come up with new and creative solutions. Isn’t that what we are asking of our kids playing this beautiful game?
Positive Parenting
Paul Shaw, Coaching Education Director - Virginia Youth Soccer
This is a "Yellow card" workshop for coaches. What are the caution offences and how to navigate them? We will outline keys to parent development within your team and how to get the best out of this important relationship.
Player Development Model
Mike Smith, Technical Director - Oregon Youth Soccer
An inside look at the US Youth Soccer Player Development Model manual. The manual provides a player-centered technical curriculum for US Youth Soccer Clubs. The workshop presentation will specifically address US Soccer Zone 1 (6-12 years old) and Zone 2 (13-18 years old), with specific examples provided from working within the Portland Timbers Academy youth system.
Elite Soccer
Dr. Tom Turner, Chair - US Youth Soccer Coaching Committee | Technical Director - Ohio Youth Soccer North
This presentation discusses some of the key elements of the youth environment that impact clubs aspiring to be considered "elite." Discussion points include the periodization process; implementing a style of play; player development from the entry-level forward; coaching education and the coach development process; winning and losing and the value of competitive structures.
TOP Soccer
Chris Hershey, Director of Education - New York State West Youth Soccer
Engaging children with disabilities in a fun, meaningful and differentiated learning environment. This session will teach coaches how to create a games-based environment to facilitate development in children with disabilities.