The 2009 Convention: January 14-18, St. Louis, Mo.
Plans are coming together for the 2009 edition of the NSCAA Convention, "The World's Largest Annual Gathering of Soccer Coaches." We'll gather in St. Louis, Mo., Jan. 14-18, when we'll present yet another impressive list of clinicians.
About the NSCAA Annual Coaches Convention
When it comes to soccer events in the United States, few can parallel the National Soccer Coaches Association of America’s Convention. No other event matches the fun, excitement and learning opportunities this annual gathering offers to soccer coaches at all levels of the game.
Whether it’s learning the basics of coaching goalkeepers or a high-level discussion of systems of play, every coach who attends will find something new to add to their soccer repertoire. And the coaching instruction is just the beginning – the four-day program is filled with a myriad of opportunities to mix and mingle with some of the most prominent names on the soccer landscape.
Steve McClaren, the former coach of the England National Team, was a Featured Clinician at the 2008 Convention. It was the first time he'd experienced the event; here's how he described it to ESPN's SoccerNet:
"It was a phenomenal event. The interest in it, the structure, the way the Americans put this event together and have built it up over the years was something that really got me enthused again about coaching and coaching in this country. Looking at that convention, I think that it is something that we should have over here (in England). There were so many sessions and lectures and exhibitions that you could go to at this event, that it was a real education for young coaches to go through which is something that I believe in greatly. I think we have to have something like that in our country and coach education has got to be at the forefront if we are ever going to develop our game or our English players."
The NSCAA Exhibit Hall – Soccer's Largest Trade Show
The Exhibit Hall at the NSCAA Convention is the nation’s largest soccer-specific trade show. With approximately 300 companies on hand, attendees can examine the latest soccer-related technology and equipment. Major League Soccer’s SuperDraft will be held in conjunction with the NSCAA Convention once again, creating a unique and exciting atmosphere as players take their game to a new level and MLS teams chart their future course.
Recognition Programs at the NSCAA Convention
The Convention also is the climax of the NSCAA’s extensive awards program. Nearly 800 players who have been named NSCAA/adidas All-America are invited to the Convention to be honored at a special luncheon. Coaches are recognized for their achievements at various meal functions and the National Coaches of the Year for youth, high school and college are announced at the annual Awards Banquet, a Friday night event where the biggest names in American soccer coaching gather to celebrate their successes.
Another Country's Take on the NSCAA Convention
Don't take our word on how remarkable the NSCAA Convention is - look what was written in the Spring 2002 issue of Insight, the F.A. Coaches Association Journal, England's counterpart to the NSCAA's Soccer Journal:
Over a very wintry weekend in January 2002, Philadelphia played host to the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) Annual Convention. The fact that this was the organization's 55th annual gathering is an impressive statistic in itself. A record number of coaches attended the event and appearance by such international soccer dignitaries as Aime Jacquet, Craig Brown and Juergen Klinnsmann, as well as home grown legends like Anson Dorrance (head coach of the women's soccer program at the University of North Carolina) and Greg Andrulis (head coach of the Columbus Crew franchise from the Major League Soccer), certainly support the notion that this event highlights another giant stride by the soccer authorities in the U.S. towards recognition as a major soccer force.
The NSCAA Convention also played host to one of the largest soccer trade shows in the world, and one need look no further than the A through Z of over 300 vendors who paid up to several thousand dollars for the privilege of holding booth space in the impressive Exhibit Hall to become aware that soccer in the U.S. is indeed undertaking somewhat of a revolution and now represents very big business. From the multinational sportswear and soccer equipment manufacturers, through to the local entrepreneurs, all are aware of the huge market that youth soccer provides.
NSCAA members receive a discount on the registration fee for both pre-convention and on-site registrations. Business meetings of all standing committees are open to members.
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