New Coach Information
Help! I Volunteered!
Many first-time coaches volunteer or are volunteered to do the job. With these 16 Tips for the First Time Coach, you can create a fun, learning soccer environment for your players in training and in games.
Interacting with Parents – Quick Tips
Involve the parents and enlist their support.
Communicate your philosophy and team goals.
Having the parents support and reinforce your discipline policies are crucial. Your expectations for player behavior should be clearly stated at the beginning of the season.
Engage parents in the process of understanding best soccer practices
Communication
A guide to listening and communicating with players:
Players appreciate and expect open communication. For coaches, building these skills and insuring they understand players is crucial in addressing their questions and quandaries.
A skilled coach needs to develop communication skills as both giver and receiver to truly excel and build strong relationships with the players.
Active listening is a communication skill that guarantees clear, mutually understood communication, makes players more willing to talk to the coach as well as promotes a more meaningful relationship between the coach and player. In active listening, the receiver tries to understand the sender’s message, puts their understanding into their own words and feeds it back for the sender’s verification.
Good listeners pay full attention to the player’s words and signal their attention to the player with small responses via their head and facial movements, low-key ‘verbals’ and body posture.
Be aware of the four common pitfalls that lead to communication break downs:
Bias, such as in the form of personal prejudice or anger, can affect how well coaches listen and how they perceive what the player is saying.
Environmental factors, such as noise, temperature and limited time after or during a game or practice, can cause coaches to focus their attention on other factors besides what the player is saying.
Rehearsing a response takes place when coaches catch the drift of what the player is saying or anticipate it’s their turn to speak, so they begin to rehearse a response, thereby missing parts of the message.
Hot words, or certain words that people react to (i.e. “play favorites,” “don’t know what you’re doing,” or “stupid,” causes the listener to concentrate more on the emotion of the word or its implications. This leads to the listener losing sight of what is being said.
Coaches can communicate with purpose by being aware of posture, eye contact, facial expressions, distance between the coach and the player, distracting behaviors and voice quality.
Read more on communication skills and coaching by Michael Singleton.
Additional Resources:
Communication Between Parents & Coaches
Communication & Motivation
Game Day Management
Quick Tips:
Making the game more enjoyable for players
Teach fair tactics.
During matches, leave the tactical decisions to the players.
Concentrate on coaching.
Stay calm.
Always be positive and be a role model of fair play.
Set high standards for themselves, the players, the officials and the parents.
Provide good behavior guidelines to parents.
Be firm with parents.
Communicate.
Enjoy the work. Enjoy the game. Strive to win.
Read more on game day management by Jozsef Fabian.
Training Sessions
10U 7v7
| 10U (7v7) | |
|---|---|
| Attacking Sessions | Defending Sessions |
| Phase 1 Building Up in Own Half (1) Building Up in Own Half (2) | Phase 4 Preventing Build Up in Opponents Half (1) Preventing Build Up in Opponents Half (2) |
| Phase 2 Building Up in Opponents Half (1) Building Up in Opponents Half (2) | Phase 5 Preventing Build Up in Own Half (1) Preventing Build Up in Own Half (2) |
| Phase 3 Scoring Goals (1) Scoring Goals (2) | Phase 6 Preventing Goals (1) Preventing Goals (2) |
12U 9v9
13U+ 11v11
| 13U+ (11v11) | |
|---|---|
| Attacking Sessions | Defending Sessions |
| Phase 1 Building Up in Own Half (1) Building Up in Own Half (2) | Phase 4 Preventing Build Up in Opponents Half (1) Preventing Build Up in Opponents Half (2) |
| Phase 2 Building Up in Opponents Half (1) Building Up in Opponents Half (2) | Phase 5 Preventing Build Up in Own Half (1) Preventing Build Up in Own Half (2) |
| Phase 3 Scoring Goals (1) Scoring Goals (2) | Phase 6 Preventing Goals (1) |
Grassroots Curriculum
Grassroots Training Session Manual
One Week Plan
Leading the Team
What Makes a Great Team?
Winning and Losing
Working in Teams: Co-operation and Communication
Leading the Player
Developing and Achieving Goals
Taking Care of Yourself as Part of the Team
Leadership
Individual Training Plan
License Renewal Program
U.S. SOCCER COACHING EDUCATION ANNOUNCES CONTINUOUS PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT (CPD) AND LICENSE RENEWAL PROGRAM FOR PRO, A, B, AND C LICENSE COACHES
CHICAGO (March 14, 2023) – To further support the growing network of licensed coaches and coach educators, U.S. Soccer will launch a Continuous Professional Development (CPD) program, designed to provide regular opportunities to collaborate, learn, and develop. The CPD program is focused on providing ongoing learning opportunities on a variety of topics. Since the founding of U.S. Soccer’s Coaching Education department in the early 1970s, the Federation Soccer has licensed thousands of coaches and educators who continue to make a positive and lasting impact on the sport.
“Developing the competencies of a coach in different tasks is crucial to provide players meaningful learning experiences,” said Didier Chambaron, U.S. Soccer Director of Coaching Education. “As a Federation, we want to elevate standards and evolve the quality of the game. Knowledgeable coaches are at the center of achieving that.”
In addition to the CPD program, U.S. Soccer will also introduce a license renewal program for coaches. Coaches who earn or have earned a U.S. Soccer coaching license will be required to earn Continuing Education Units (CEUs) during a three-year period to maintain their status. The license renewal program will be supported by a yearly calendar of webinars, modules, in-person workshops, and other learning
“Continuous Professional Development is how individuals maintain, gain, and further develop their knowledge and skills related to their role within the soccer community,” said Chambaron. “CPD can include any relevant learning activity, whether formal, non-formal structured, or informal and self-directed. The key is that CPD exists to promote continued learning.”
Starting in 2023, a coach who meets the course competencies will earn a U.S. Soccer diploma and a coaching license. The license will remain active for a three-year period, while the diploma will not expire. Coaches will need to earn CEUs during this three-year period to maintain their license status. Coaches who have multiple coaching licenses will only need to renew the highest license achieved.
In the upcoming weeks, additional details will be shared about the CPD program, License Renewal Program, and how coaches can begin to track and verify their status in the U.S. Soccer Learning Center.
General FAQ
What is U.S. Soccer’s Continuous Professional Development Program (CPD)?
A program created by U.S. Soccer to provide new educational opportunities outside of our formal and supplemental pathway that engages learners in new and unique ways. Connected to the Professional Development Program is the license renewal process of acquiring Continuous Education Units (CEUs).
Why is CPD important?
Through CPD individuals maintain and develop their own knowledge and skills related to their professional lives. U.S. Soccer wants every learner to have access to education that helps them reach their individual potential. We believe in lifelong learning and will encourage and empower lifelong learners by providing opportunities for ongoing educational and professional development.
What are Continuing Education Units (CEUs)?
CEUs are credits awarded for meeting the requirements of a CPD opportunity. Not all CPD opportunities award CEUs for completion.
When does the CPD Program launch?
The program will launch in 2023.
When does the License Renewal Process take effect?
In 2023, all U.S. Soccer C license to Pro licenses will be active for three (3) calendar years. To maintain active status, coaches must complete the minimum number of CEUs to renew the license for a new cycle of three (3) calendar years.
What licenses require CEUs to renew an active status?
• U.S. Soccer Pro License
• U.S. Soccer A License (A Senior, A Youth, or A License)
• U.S. Soccer B License
• U.S. Soccer C License
What is the difference between a license and a diploma?
A diploma is obtained after successfully completing a U.S. Soccer course and maintained for life and is downloadable from the Learning Center (LC).
• A license is obtained after successfully completing a U.S. Soccer course and is active for three (3) years
• A license needs to be renewed every three (3) years and to renew, a certain number of CEUs must be acquired within the 3-year period (before the expiration date)
• A license cannot be downloaded but only verified on the user profile and on the public-facing Learning Center directory
What are the Concacaf Coaching Convention requirements regarding CPD?
Concacaf Convention Members must organize continuous professional development programs with the intent of providing opportunities for coaches to remain current with the trends of the game as well as the methods of coaching the game.
Registration and Learning Center
How can I register CEUs acquired through a CPD opportunity?
CEUs acquired through the U.S. Soccer Learning Center will be automatically added to the individual CEU bank in the LC. Every licensed Coach needs to have a Learning Center account in order to automatically add CEUs to their bank to renew their license. CEUs obtained through U.S. Soccer-approved Members will be passed along by the Member to U.S. Soccer. Any acquired CEU will be added to the user’s CEU bank in the Learning Center. Each approved member will be encouraged to organize the educational program through the LC in order to minimize administrative tasks. Repeating the same CEU opportunity multiple times, within the same cycle, will not issue additional credits. Only the initial registration and completion of the opportunity will reward CEUs.
What if I do not have an account on the Learning Center?
Coaches must create an account on the LC to engage in CPD opportunities and receive CEUs for completion. If you are unable to enroll in an opportunity, please contact U.S. Soccer at coaches@ussoccer.org to have the previously acquired license added to the profile so that you can register and earn CEUs for the purpose of renewing their license. The renewal cycle will begin on May 1, 2023, for all license issues prior to April 30, 2023. The 3- year cycle will conclude on May 31, 2026, and if the coach does not complete the necessary CEUs to renew the license, it will be marked as expired. A coach that does not create an account on the Learning Center will still be expected to complete the necessary CEUs to renew prior to the three-year renewal period ending in April of 2026.
Where can I find how many CEUs I must obtain to renew my licenses?
Coaches can find their CEU balance by navigating to their profile on the Learning Center website and selecting, “CEU Balance”. This can also be accessed through the Continuous Professional Development section of the Learning Center under ‘Available Courses’.
What will happen if, within the 3-year renewal period, I attend and complete a coaching course in the U.S. Soccer formal pathway?
During this three (3) year period, Coaches are required to earn Continuing Education Units (CEU) to have their current license renewed and extended for an additional three (3) year period. Coaches who have multiple U.S. Soccer coach licenses will need to renew the highest license. If a coach earns a higher-level U.S. Soccer license than the license currently held, a new active (3) year period will be applied to the newly achieved license. If the license is not achieved, the coach must complete the CEU required to renew their currently achieved license. All previously achieved course levels will revert to diplomas and the most recently achieved license will be displayed as active. A diploma will still be available to download and print. The United States Soccer Federation is the organization approved by FIFA and CONCACAF for the renewal of Coaching licenses in the US.
What kind of CPD opportunities will there be?
CPD opportunities will include virtual, blended, and in-person education opportunities. Across the Sporting Department at U.S. Soccer, many internal and external experts will contribute to developing different learning opportunities including Coaching, Referees, Mental Health, Sports Science, Talent Identification, SafeSport, Analytics, and many others to come.
To provide coaches with on-demand learning, the LC website will be accessible at anytime and anywhere. We plan to release new and exciting learning opportunities organized across these specific areas each year starting with a limited menu of options in 2023 and increasing these opportunities year after year.
The goal is to create an entire ecosystem of CPD opportunities through research and innovation that will develop knowledge and competencies to benefit coaches, educators, educator developers, players, club leaders, parents, and our entire soccer community.
Expiration and Renewal
If I do not maintain an active license, what are the consequences?
If a coach does not renew their license in the three (3) year cycle assigned to the awarded license, the license will have an inactive status in the LC and the coach will be unable to apply for or take the next formal coaching pathway course until they have completed all necessary CEU requirements. The coach will always have access to download their U.S. Soccer diploma from their profile.
How do I find out when my license is valid when it expires and what license(s) I hold?
A coach’s personal details and education records are held on the U.S. Soccer LC website. This can be found by logging into the LC profile at learning.ussoccer.com and ensuring that all personal records and information are accurate and up to date. Whilst we want to assist and support in every way we can, it is ultimately each coach’s responsibility to keep their qualification(s) current and valid and personal records up to date.
My 3-year renewal period has lapsed, and I did not attend or complete any Continuous Professional Development opportunities that awarded CEU’s to renew my license(s). What are my options?
Coaches are provided with a 3-year time cycle to renew their licenses. If the license is not renewed, the coach CEU bank will be reduced to zero (0). Your license will be marked inactive, and you will be unable to participate in formal pathway courses or apply for formal pathway courses. The coach will have three (3) years to acquire the necessary CEUs to re-activate your license. The license will stay in an inactive state until it has been renewed. You can review your license expiration dates at any time on the Learning Center.
What if I am enrolled in a formal pathway course when my CEU 3-year cycle ends?
If you already enrolled in an active formal education course, your current license would maintain the appropriate status until the course has been completed and a course result status applied. If the course is passed and a new license is awarded, your new license status will be reflected appropriately with a new 3-year cycle. If you do not pass the course, your current license will be marked as expired, and you will be required to renew it.
If I do not maintain an active license, what are the consequences?
If a coach does not renew their license in the three (3) year cycle assigned to the awarded license, the license will have an inactive status in the LC and the coach will be unable to apply for or take the next formal coaching pathway course until they have completed all necessary CEU requirements. The coach will always have access to download their U.S. Soccer diploma from their profile.
Active License Questions
Will others be able to see if my license is active or not active?
Yes, all license statuses will be visible on the public-facing user directory of the LC. https://learning.ussoccer.com/directory
What are the benefits of an active license?
• Demonstrates maintaining and developing competencies
• The license will have an active status in the LC that can be verified
• Eligible to apply for a U.S. Soccer educational course in the formal or educator pathway
What if I obtain more than the required number of CEUs within a three (3) year period?
CEUs more than the minimum amount may not be rolled over into the next three-year cycle, as these must occur in the license’s respective period of validity. Coaches can participate in as many Continuous Professional Development opportunities as they wish to do so, but once the required number of CEUs is achieved you cannot earn any additional until the next active cycle begins.
What will happen if, within the 3-year renewal period, I attend and complete a coaching course in the U.S. Soccer formal pathway?
During this three (3) year period, Coaches are required to earn Continuing Education Units (CEU) to have their current license renewed and extended for an additional three (3) year period. Coaches who have multiple U.S. Soccer coach licenses will need to renew the highest license. If a coach earns a higher-level U.S. Soccer license than the license currently held, a new active (3) year period will be applied to the newly achieved license. If the license is not achieved, the coach must complete the CEU required to renew their currently achieved license. All previously achieved course levels will revert to diplomas and the most recently achieved license will be displayed as active. A diploma will still be available to download and print. The United States Soccer Federation is the organization approved by FIFA and CONCACAF for the renewal of Coaching licenses in the US.
Is it possible to acquire CEUs outside of U.S. Soccer? What kind of evidence do I need to provide to prove I have done CPD elsewhere?
Education providers that are listed as U.S. Soccer members can apply for a CEU accreditation for their educational program. The approved member is responsible to communicate the CEUs connected to the U.S. Soccer license renewal program to their participants. The approved member is also responsible for submitting the necessary information to U.S. Soccer after the educational program has finished for U.S. Soccer to add CEUs to the individual participants’ CEU bank in the Learning Center. Each participating member will be encouraged to organize the educational program through the LC in order to minimize administrative tasks.
Suspension/Blocked Account
If an account is blocked or suspended from the Learning Center, users are not able to access or complete CEUs. Users are not able to attend or earn Continuous Professional Development opportunities or U.S. Soccer Coaching Courses.
My 3-year renewal period has lapsed, and I did not attend or complete any Continuous Professional Development opportunities that awarded CEU’s to renew my license(s). What are my options?
Coaches are provided with a 3-year time cycle to renew their licenses.
If the license is not renewed, the coach CEU bank will be reduced to zero (0). Your license will be marked inactive, and you will be unable to participate in formal pathway courses or apply for formal pathway courses. The coach will have three (3) years to acquire the necessary CEUs to re-activate your license. The license will stay in an inactive state until it has been renewed.
You can review your license expiration dates at any time on the Learning Center
Example: My license expires in 2026. My CEU bank will reset to zero after my license expires if I do not complete the required renewal balance of CEUs. I am still able to renew my license, however, my CEU bank is set to zero at expiration in 2026 and if renewed in 2027 after completing all required CEUs, my license expiration date remains in 2029, it does not extend beyond the established three-year cycle.
How many CEU’s are required to renew my license?
| License | CEU Per 3-Year Cycle |
|---|---|
| C | 15 |
| B | 20 |
| A | 25 |
| PRO | 30 |
How many hours does it take to earn a CEU?
| No. of CEU | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Education Hours | 1-1.5 | 2-3 | 4-5 | 6-7 | 8-9 | 10-11 | 12-13 | 14+ |
Guide for Parent Coach Relations
Interaction during a Match/Training
“Parents not only influence children’s socialization into a sport but have a profound impact on the psychological consequences that occur.” (Jan. 2006)
Best Practices for a Parent in Youth Soccer
Lend a hand when asked, or even offer assistance, but be sure to respect the coach’s wishes.
During a match or a training, the coach and the activity should be the only thing on a player’s mind, find ways to avoid attempting to interact or interfere with the coach during these periods.
Express interest, encouragement, and support to your child and their teammates
Be sure to never shout instructions or criticisms from the sidelines, let the players play, the coaches coach and the referees control the environment.
We can not make abusive comments to; coaches, parents, players, or officials. This game is meant to be inclusive, shared, and safe- treat everyone with respect!
Youth Sports provide an educational medium for the development of desirable physical and psychological characteristics, as a parent you must recognize the many ways you can further benefit your child’s experience.
The coach, parent and player must work harmoniously to achieve best-case results for the player.
Coaches should do their best to keep an open line of communication between all players, parents and themselves.
Parents must be willing to trust their child with the coach. Coaches often take some of the admiration away from parents as they become role models and positive influences in the child’s life.
Coaches provide the keys to both physical and psychological growth in the educational environment of youth sports.
| Physical | Psychological |
|---|---|
| Health | Leadership Skills |
| Athleticism | Discipline |
| Technical Ability | Self Confidence |
| Coordination | Cooperation/Competitiveness |
How can I become more available to my child as a resource?
Learn about the game! Take a coaching education course, watch a match on television, read up on some players, find a way to interact with the game through learning or even playing. You may find yourself in a position to really help your child OUTSIDE of the trainings and matches.
Youth Sports are developmental, there are no expectations to be winning, only to be improving- some parents treat youth sports with the same mindset as professional sports. Professional sports are inherently commercial enterprises with little to no regard for anything but selling tickets and winning titles. The two ideas just do not align in any way.
Youth Soccer, and youth sports in general are for development, of physical, psychological, and social characteristics.
So, respect your coaches, officials, and other parents/players, encourage your child, get involved with the game in any way you can to have a positive effect on their experience.
