The Eastern Pennsylvania Youth Soccer Association (EPYSA) and the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) have announced an agreement that will provide a tool to improve coaching at EPYSA’s grassroots level through the NSCAA Online Academy, a basic coaching education program offered via the Internet.

EPYSA becomes the second youth soccer association to formally recognize the Online Academy diploma. The Maryland State Youth Soccer Association announced earlier this week that it also would accept the program's certification for its youth coaches.

“The NSCAA is pleased to collaborate with the EPYSA to improve youth coaching through its distance learning program,” said NSCAA President Steve Malone. “Quite often the first coach an American soccer player has is a parent who has volunteered his or her time and may not have a formal background in coaching. This partnership will provide another resource to help EPYSA’s coaches grasp the fundamentals of running a practice session for young players.”

“It is important that coaches understand the fundamentals of the game before passing them on to younger players,” said NSCAA Director of Coaching Development Jeff Tipping. “While the NSCAA educational philosophy is best when experienced in a live setting, distance learning is another excellent way to obtain the knowledge necessary to become a better coach. It is especially important for the coaches of younger players and those coaching at the recreational level. We are pleased to be able to offer this resource to the EPYSA.”

“EPYSA prides itself in the number of coaching schools and clinics it offers throughout the state every year,” said EPYSA Director of Coaching Mike Barr. “This partnership with NSCAA will provide an opportunity to new coaches within Eastern Pennsylvania to gain a basic foundation in working with youth players and provide a sense of confidence during training sessions. Hopefully, it also will encourage those coaches to move forward and attend coaching schools in order to enhance their knowledge of the game and the development of young players.”

The NSCAA’s Distance Learning program is accessible through the association’s website, www.NSCAA.com. The program is accessed through the “Online Learning” link on the NSCAA homepage. It is designed to give coaches a grasp of the fundamentals of soccer coaching, from a review of Laws of the Game to an explanation of the 5 v. 5 teaching model. Photos, diagrams, animations and video clips accentuate the information available throughout the course.

EPYSA is the recognized governing body for youth soccer in Eastern Pennsylvania and is affiliated with US Youth Soccer and US Soccer. Its membership includes more than 175 leagues and hundreds of clubs, 120,000 players and 15,000 coaches and administrators. Its purpose is to promote, foster and perpetuate the game of soccer on the youth level and to foster the physical, mental and emotional growth of Eastern Pennsylvania youth through the game of soccer. Its commitment to coaching education includes state level licenses, clinics, youth modules and now the NSCAA Distance Learning Program.

Based in Mission, Kan, the NSCAA is the largest coaches’ organization in the United States. Since its founding in 1941, it has grown to more than 20,000 members who coach both genders at all levels of the sport. In addition to a national rankings program for colleges and high school, 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 4,000 soccer coaches each year.

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