Coaching Course Descriptions
Coaching Education Overview
Vermont Youth Soccer Association, as the US Soccer state governing body, is responsible for providing coaching education opportunities to coaches at all levels of play across the state. Coach education opportunities are available via the US Soccer Coaching Education Pathway as well as the United Soccer Coaches Pathway. Together, with US Soccer and United Soccer Coaches, Vermont Soccer Association is committed to empowering coaches with the knowledge, skills, and practices to create a positive, engaging, and enjoyable learning environment for their players.
US Soccer Coaching Education Pathway
US Soccer national and state-level coaching education pathways and courses are designed to positively impact the development of grassroots coaches across the country by making education more accessible and developmentally appropriate for grassroots coaches.
Coaching Courses
U.S. Soccer has announced some new and exciting changes that went into effect in 2018. The changes include a new introduction into the pathway, referred to as the “grassroots” path, which will focus on helping novice coaches. These changes will be implemented across the country and offered in Soccer Maine starting in February 2018. With the creation of the Grassroots path, the current F and E license will no longer be taught or be a part of the U.S. Soccer Coaching Education curriculum. For current holders of these licenses, U.S. Soccer and Soccer Maine will continue to recognize both as national licenses that meet all prerequisites and or coaching license standards.
The U.S. Soccer Grassroots courses formats are as follows:
- 4 v 4 – U6, U8
- 7 v 7 – U9, U10
- 9 v 9 – U11, U12
- 11 v 11 U13+
The Grassroots path has been introduced as part of the overall U.S. Soccer Coaching Education structure to permit easy access and entry points. The new structure will allow a coach to enter the pathway in one of two separate ways:
- the candidate may take the Online (OL) course or
- take the In-Person (IP) course
The online and in-person courses will be treated as two separate licenses. Ex. 4v4 License online OR 4v4 License in-person.
The new in-person licenses to be offered by Vermont Soccer are four (4) hours in length. Each IP course contains two hours in the classroom and two hours on the field. The highlight of the IP course is that it offers coaches the ability to have hands-on experience learning with an instructor and players in a realistic environment and promote best practices in coaching education.
1. Click here to access the USSF Learning Center
2. Sign up (free of charge) or log-in to your LC profile.
3. Under “Available Courses”, select “Begin Course” to launch the introductory module.
4. Complete U.S. Soccer’s Introduction to Grassroots Coaching.
If the current course schedules do not already accommodate the coaches needs in your community, you may request to host a course by contacting VSA Director of Coaching John Curtis at doc@vermontsoccer.org.
** Indicates virtual and in-person field sessions. MUST attend both.
| Course | Location | Date(s) | Cost | Registration Link | Status |
| Introduction to GR Coaching | Virtual | Ongoing | Free | U.S. Soccer Learning Center (ussoccer.com) | Open |
Introductory to Grassroots Coaching
Course Info
The free introductory course, which represents the first step in the newly revised coaching license pathway, is now the general starting point and is the required prerequisite to undergo any of U.S. Soccer’s Grassroots Licensing Courses. Coaches who complete the module will also be provided with four complimentary Play-Practice-Play training sessions.
The module takes approximately 20 minutes to complete.
https://learning.ussoccer.com/coach/courses/available/16/details/1546
Grassroots Courses
Goals
- To create game-like training sessions that encourage players’ ownership (decision-making)
- To create a game day environment that encourages players’ ownership (decision-making)
Eligibility – Grassroots Courses
Complete the free Introduction to Grassroots Coaching module via the Learning Center
Learning Objectives
- To observe the game, recognize moments and basic player actions
- To demonstrate a basic understanding of Play-Practice-Play methodology (P-P-P)
- To execute and reflect on a P-P-P training session
- To create a player centered environment
Course Experience
4 hours in-person (2 hours virtual classroom/2 hours field)
REGISTRATION
- Cost: $85
D Course
Goals
- To create game-like training sessions that encourage players’ ownership (decision-making)
- To create a game day environment that encourages players’ ownership (decision-making)
Eligibility – D Course
To register for the U.S. Soccer D Course, candidates must meet the following prerequisites:
· Introduction to Grassroots Coaching
· Two (2) Grassroots In-Person (4v4, 7v7, 9v9 or 11v11)
· One (1) Grassroots Online (4v4, 7v7, 9v9, or 11v11)
or
· Introduction to Grassroots Coaching
· Previously Earned USSF E License
or
· Introduction to Grassroots Coaching
· Previously Earned USSF F License
· Two (2) Grassroots In-Person (4v4, 7v7, 9v9 or 11v11)
Learning Objectives
- To observe the game, recognize formations and all player actions
- To create a safe, fun, inclusive and organized game-day environment
- To further develop a comprehensive understanding P-P-P methodology
- To demonstrate an understanding of how to structure one activity/exercise
- To plan, create, organize, facilitate and reflect on 1 P-P-P training session based on the same goal in 1 week
- To demonstrate an understanding of developmental stages & age characteristics
- To implement a plan for child safety and risk management.
- To demonstrate an understanding of how to inform, involve and inspire parents
- Identify individual learning needs in order to create a player-centered environment
Course Experience
12 Weeks Minimum/24 weeks Maximum
2 Weekends (2 day in-person meetings each weekend)
- Two (2) in-person meeting
- Virtual meetings
- Independent learning and development periods
- 1 on 1 meeting with instructor
REGISTRATION
- Cost: $375
C Course
Goals
- To create a series of progressive game-like training sessions that encourage players’ ownership (decision-making)
- To create a game day environment linked to training session goals
Eligibility – C Course
Holds a U.S. Soccer D license for at least six months
Learning Objectives
- To observe the game, recognize formations and systems with players’ roles and responsibilities
- To observe and analyze one team – identify trends in the game
- To create a game plan and coach players based on training session goal(s)
- To create a safe, fun, inclusive game-day environment
- To demonstrate an understanding of how to structure the training session
- To demonstrate an understanding of Orientation-Learning-Implementation methodology (O-L-I)
- To plan, organize, execute and reflect on four (4) training sessions based on two (2) different goals over 2-weeks
- To demonstrate an understanding of the influence of developmental stages & age characteristics on player development
- To create a team development process
- To define and implement a child safety and risk management plan within the team
- To apply a parent engagement process
- To develop an understanding and process of self-assessment
Course Experience
4 months – scheduled throughout the year
- Two (2) in-person meetings
- Virtual meetings
- Independent learning and development periods
- 1 on 1 and 1 on 2 meetings with instructor
REGISTRATION
- Cost: TBD