MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. (Oct. 19, 2005) – US Club Soccer in conjunction with the National Soccer Coaches of America Association (NSCAA) conducted the inaugural Director of Coaching Course Oct. 14-16 in Omaha, Neb.  A maximum sized class of attendees discussed a number of topics regarding the technical, conceptual, leadership and administrative skills required of American youth soccer club leaders and earned Director of Coaching Diplomas.

Among the addressed issues were developing a positive relationship with parents; hiring, developing and evaluating staff; developing a club culture; an overview of the development of club soccer on the national level; ethical and legal issues; business aspects of club management; a club’s tactical development and the management of a club building into a competition.

“This course provided a desperately needed forum for coaches from across the country to gather and examine the issues that face them every day,” said US Club Soccer Executive Director Bill Sage.  “A lot of positive energy and fresh ideas were generated from this course which the coaches will take home to enhance their respective clubs and to further instigate the development of their players.  US Club Soccer is gratified to have had a hand in stimulating this growth.”

Attendees to the course were encouraged to know their club’s purpose in order to ascertain they are striving to meet their organization’s mission statement.  Instructors stressed that every decision a Director of Coaching makes as the head of a club should be based on the reaching the stated goals of the club.  The club’s purpose should be the central focus of a Director of Coaching.

This predominant theme was delivered by a number of instructors including Phil Neddo, the Director of Coaching at US Club Soccer member Honolulu Bulls.  Other presenters included Richard Butler, the Director of Coaching for the Williamsburg Soccer Club and Danny Beamer, the NSCAA Region VI Technical Director.  Also on hand to share their expertise were Dr. Matt Robinson, Director of the Sports Management Department at the University of Delaware; and Dr. Darren Treasure, a sports psychologist and the former Director of Sports Psychology at the University of Arizona.

Creighton University, located in Omaha, Neb., served as the host for the Director of Coaching Course.  Included in the course was a collegiate game between Bradley and Creighton University Saturday evening at Creighton’s Morrison Stadium, which opened in 2004 and is regarded as one of the nation’s best college soccer venues.

Due to a high interest level, evidenced by a lengthy waitlist, a second NSCAA/US Club Soccer Director of Coaching Diploma course, tentatively scheduled to take place in Richmond, Va. in the spring of 2006, will be officially announced shortly.

About NSCAA
Based in Mission, Kan., the NSCAA is the largest coaches' organization in the United States. Since its founding in 1941, it has grown to include more than 19,000 members who coach both genders at all levels of the sport. In addition to a national rankings program for colleges and high schools, the NSCAA offers an extensive recognition program that presents nearly 10,000 individual awards every year. It fulfills its mission of coaching education through a nationwide program of clinics and week-long courses, teaching more than 3,000 soccer coaches each year.  For more information, visit http://www.nscaa.com.

About US Club Soccer
US Club Soccer is a non-profit organization whose mission is to develop competitive club soccer in the United States. It has been a member of the United States Soccer Federation since July 2001, and has grown to over 1,200 member clubs and league teams in 47 states. In addition to sanctioning tournaments, leagues, and other competitions and conducting a range of programs for its members, it annually conducts the US Club Soccer National Cup, for member teams for boys and girls’ U12 to U17.  US Club Soccer also began its own player identification and development program in the summer of 2004, termed id2.  In 2006, US Club Soccer, in conjunction with Disney’s Wide World of Sports, will launch the inaugural Champions League Cup to determine the nation’s top boy and girl’s clubs.  For more information, visit www.usclubsoccer.org.