Coaching Education: You Owe it to Your Players and Yourself

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Mike Freitag | July 28, 2020

Dear Coach, 

I have been coaching for over 40 years and I still at times feel like a beginner. The game of soccer is a simple game, but forever changing. Coaching methods and tactics are forever being created and renewed. You as a coach owe it to yourself to continue to grow as a coach. Your players deserve the best coach you can be. 

The US Soccer Coaching Pathway offers you an avenue in which to grow. The current Grassroots (GR) Coaching Curriculum was revamped a couple of years ago and it is a game changer. I know I have become a better coach by taking the course and teaching it. The lessons learned in the course will make the game more enjoyable for you and especially your players. 

The Grassroots Coaching Curriculum is offered to you at the level in which you coach (4v4, 7v7, 9v9, 11v11). You can take the course either online or in-person. I would suggest the in-person format to get the most for your development. 

The following is a list of a few reasons you should register for one of the US Soccer GR In-Person Modules: 

· Learn New Methodology (Play-Practice Play) 

· Learn New Philosophy 

· Learn Modern teaching Theories 

· Fun for your player 

· Coaching simplified 

· Age Specific Training Sessions 

· Detailed Curriculum 

· Learn Age Group Characteristics 

· On Field experience 

· Meet new coaching peers 

· Six Tasks of a Coach Explored 

· Self-Reflection 

To get started I suggest you take the free 20 minutes Introduction to Grassroots Coaching Module -https://learning.ussoccer.com/coach/courses/available/16/details/1546. 

After taking the Intro you can sign up for an In-Peron (IP) Module by going to the CSA website - https://www.coloradosoccer.org/grassroots-modules and registering for the course that fits your needs. In response to Corvid-19 Crisis the courses are now offered in a blended format to ensure your safety. Candidates will partake in a two-hour webinar in place of a face to face classroom situation. This will then be followed by a two-hour on field session where social distancing will be adhered to. 

Courses are currently being scheduled with the new format. CSA will be listing the courses on the CSA website once they are confirmed. 

I look forward to meeting you in an upcoming course. 

Michael Freitag CSA Director of Coaching