Lessons and Advice as a Young Soccer Coach

By Frank Carrozza, King's College (Pa.) Women's Coach

Carrozza is an NSCAA member and also a coach starting out in the profession. Here are a few of his thoughts as a budding soccer coach and transitioning from being a player.

What was the epiphany moment that helped you make the decision to become a soccer coach?

My epiphany moment that helped make the decision to become a soccer coach was probably the reality of my collegiate playing days coming to an end. I was a sport management major getting ready to graduate college and had a love for athletics, specifically soccer. I did not have a job lined up for after graduation and really was unsure where I was going to seek out a position that I would truly enjoy every day. I just knew I wanted to be tied into sports and if I was lucky enough it was going to be soccer. To keep myself involved in the game that brought me so much joy, friendships, and experiences, I started throwing around the idea of coaching.

[+] Read Carrozza's other advice to fellow young coaches

Previous Career Articles:

How to Get a Foothold in Soccer Coaching

Putting Your Best Foot Forward During the Interview

Advice from One Young Coach to Others

Professionalism in the Digital Age

Rising Through the Ranks (Video): Part One  |  Part Two

Need job hunting help? The NSCAA job listings page features positions at all levels of the game, from youth clubs to high school and college positions.

The NSCAA provides top-tier education for all levels of the game. Each level offers distinct challenges and selecting your first course is the first one.

To better assist you in where to start, take the survey below and then check out our Coaching Course Menu for details and the Master Course Schedule to find a course near you.

Have questions about what to expect out of our courses? Find your answer at our Course Information FAQ.

Not ready to take a course? Use some of our online tools:

Online Resource Library (members-only access)
NSCAA Interactive Presentations
Instructional Materials
Fundamentals of Coaching Soccer (high school coaches)
Tactical Soccer Situations Test

Nowadays, networking is just as crucial to landing a job as is knowing the game. You may hear people say something like "it's not always what you know, but also who you know."

The NSCAA has several opportunities for you to grow your network. From events to committee involvement, here are just a few ways for you to get your name out there.

Events

Committees

We invite every member to further develop their experience as a NSCAA member through one of our committees. Each committee focuses on specific issues that affect the NSCAA and contribute to the continued growth of soccer in the U.S.

• Women's Committee
• Latin American Soccer Coaches Committee
• Black Coaches Committee
• Native American Soccer Coaches Committee
• Ranking Committees
• Awards Committees

To reinforce our members knowledge about the soccer coaching profession, the NSCAA peroidically hosts live video chats on a variety of topics and interviews coaches in the profession.

The NSCAA made a visit to Sporting KC's training facility to ask head coach and Hall of Famer Peter Vermes about the profession. Here are his responses:

Here is one of the many live chat recordings previously hosted by the NSCAA. This particular chat featured a panel of young coaches discussing the profession so far in their budding careers.

To watch more recordings, or to see when the next live chat, visit NSCAA.com/live.

As you are gaining traction in your career, many lessons can be taken from those who have been where you are now. Here are a few young coaches making strides in the soccer coaching profession and their advice as a fledgling leader.

Troy Lesesne College of Charleston [+] Read his story	Jessica Smith University of Kansas [+] Read her story	Brian Barnett Bradley University [+] Read his story	Casey Brown Boston University [+] Read her story

There are many reasons to be a part of a professional organization…

• Membership in a professional organization is an investment in your professional credibility.
• It’s an investment in personal development and growth.
• Membership is a way to stay connected to fellow coaches who are going somewhere, and don’t mind sharing knowledge on the journey.

As a professional in your chosen field, you need to keep informed as to what is happening in all areas of soccer coaching.

But really, what’s the main reason to join?

An NSCAA membership can help you succeed.

No matter what kind of coach you are or what type of coach you want to be, you need to belong to a strong professional organization. There are tangible member benefits such as NSCAA.com and your personalized myNSCAA, free access to basic educational resources, discounts on courses and events, among others. Additionally, the NSCAA offers a full-time national office staff, volunteer committees and others involved in the game to provide support for your career development.

Read more about what the NSCAA has to offer you to help you along in your career, or...