In January, I attended the National Youth License Course in Houston. Thanks to Lisa, Lindsay, and Ellie who supported my attendance – a week away was not easy!
The National Youth License, a U.S. Soccer course, focuses upon the nature of children and the adjustments adults must make to coach them. The course curriculum covers the ages of 4-12 years old. Each day of the course focuses one of the major youth soccer age groups: U6, U8, U10 and U12. Children of the appropriate age group are brought to the course site for the candidates to work with them in real training sessions. The candidates are videotaped while coaching the kids and the video is reviewed with each candidate to aid in the education of the coach. The course combines both classroom (theory) and field (practical) sessions. The course concludes with written, oral and practical examinations. The National Youth License course is six days in length. It is ideal for anyone hoping to become a better and more effective coach.
Coach Ken with National Youth License instructors (l to r)
James Clarkson, Director of Youth Development – Houston Dynamo and formerly STYSA Director of coaching
Coach Ken
Luis Sabillion – Louisiana Director of Coaching
Sam Snow, Director of Coaching Education, US Youth Soccer
This was an exciting time for me for several reasons:
• We were all CHALLENGED by our instructors on our philosophy and on our coaching ability. I evolved my coaching philosophy tactically and mentally based on these discussions – we all really got to take a hard look at “what is this all about” for us individually
• We challenged some commonly held assumptions on how to create success in our players and the thoughts on positions, playing time, skill development, conditioning, and parent/coach interactions were all challenged
• It was held in an inner city neighborhood in Houston and we worked with kids from a Houston Soccer Start program who are in some cases underprivileged – but only in their economic background – as for their love of the game and talent, they are very “privileged”
• I was able to interface with coaches from all over South Texas as well as Mexico. I got to tell the Fusion story, talk about our wonderful players and parents and build some great relationships
• Our course was led by some great instructors, with strong, diverse backgrounds in the game
• I gained a lot of new things to try in order to help our players develop and grow as people and soccer players
• I had a great time!
• We have a broader group of coaches know who the San Antonio Fusion is and what we are about!!!
Attached below is a note from Sam Snow, which he posted in his blog on www.usyouthsoccer.com. USYS is trying to grow the presence of the web as a resource for all of us - - check it out sometime, there is a section dedicated to parents as well.
Sam's Blog - Jan. 8 (copied from www.usYouthSoccer.com)
Sam’s Blog will be a weekly addition to the US Youth Soccer Blog. Sam is the Director of Coaching Education for US Youth Soccer
I just finished teaching a “Y” License course in Houston, Texas and another course concludes tomorrow in Weston, Florida. The Texas course had two coaches from Mexico attending and the Florida course has a coach from the Czech Republic in attendance. In the past other coaches from other countries have attended the “Y” License coaching course.
The American way of coaching preteen players is making its way across the world as well as across our nation. The course will definitely change your outlook on how to coach children. The coaches in the course learn to shift their training perspective from a coach-centered environment to a player-centered one. They learn how to ask the players questions to help them learn rather than always telling them what to do.
The coaches learn how children learn and this impacts their coaching style tremendously. The results are players who not only grow technically and physically but also mentally and tactically. The long-term result is the development of a self-reliant and independent player who can make decisions for him/herself on the field. Because of these changes in the coaches we will produce some of the finest players in the world!
