The NSCAA has made special arrangements for coaches to earn the NSCAA Youth Level II Diploma, Goalkeeping Level I Diploma, college credit and/or U.S. Soccer CEUs for their active participation at the 2012 NSCAA Convention.  

Youth Level II and and Goalkeeping Level I are included in the NSCAA Convention fee.  Any Convention attendees can participate in the CEU and college credit sessions, but U.S. Soccer and the University of Colorado-Colorado Springs each charge a fee for these credits. 

Each Convention attendee will receive a card in his or her welcome packet at registration that must be stamped at all sessions to demonstrate attendance.  Details about each of these opportunities are below.

NSCAA Youth Level II Diploma

Formerly known as the State Diploma, the Youth Level II Diploma is a five-hour course directed toward the person newly involved in coaching soccer. It is designed to help coaches working with players in the 5- to 10-year age range.

Special emphasis is placed on understanding the physiological and psychological differences of coaching children. The course is designed to emphasize that the game itself essentially is the teacher and the focus of the coach at this level clearly is as facilitator. The curriculum focuses on the organization of a practice session, using small-sided games to enhance knowledge and fun, basic understanding of the Laws of the Game and information about the care and prevention of injuries.

There is no testing in the Youth Level II Diploma. All candidates must be at least 14 years of age at the time of application. Candidates under 18 years of age must be accompanied by an adult for the duration of the course.

Part 1 of 4 - Introduction
Instructor: Douglas J. Williamson, Ph.D., NSCAA Assistant Director of Education and Coaching Development. 
Date: Saturday, January 14
Time: 12:45pm - 1:45pm 
Location: CC-2104 AB

Part 2 of 4 - Dribbling Games
Instructor: Vince Ganzberg, NSCAA Associate National Staff Coach. 
Date: Saturday, January 14
Time: 3:45pm - 4:45pm 
Location: CC-Exhibit Hall E

Part 3 of 4 - Striking a Ball
Instructor: Jason Pendleton, NSCAA Academy Associate National Staff Coach
Date: Sunday, January 15
Time: 9:30am - 10:30am 
Location: CC-Exhibit Hall E

Part 4 of 4 - Small-Sided Games
Instructor: Rob Herringer, NSCAA Academy National Staff
Date: Sunday, January 15
Time: 12:00pm - 1:00pm 
Location: CC-Exhibit Hall E

NSCAA Goalkeeping Level I Diploma

The overall objective of the Goalkeeping Level I Diploma is to explore some of the myths and mystiques surrounding the goalkeeping function.

The six-hour course is directed towards the team coach - not the specialist goalkeeper coach. The object is to empower the coach with knowledge and practice methods that will enable the coach to evaluate a goalkeeper in game situations and then design an appropriate practice program for goalkeepers in and outside of team practices. The course includes lecture (theory) and field (practical) sessions.

Part 1 of 4 - Introduction: Goalkeeper Positioning and Communication
Instructor: Tony DiCicco, Director, NSCAA Goalkeeping Academy.
Date: Saturday, January 14
Time: 9:30am - 10:30am
Location: CC-2102 AB

Part 2 of 4 - Coaching the Goalkeeper in Basic Handling and Hand Distribution
Instructor: Bill Steffen, NSCAA Goalkeeping Academy Coach
Date: Saturday, January 14
Time: 11:00am – 12:00pm
Location: CC-Exhibit Hall D

Part 3 of 4 - Angle Play and Foot Distribution
Instructor: Kat Mertz, NSCAA Goalkeeping Academy Coach
Date: Saturday, January 14
Time: 2:15pm - 3:15 pm
Location: CC-Exhibit Hall D

Part 4 of 4 - Coaching the Goalkeeper with Team Games: Closing
Date: Sunday, January 15
Instructor: Tony DiCicco, Director, NSCAA Goalkeeping Academy
Time: 10:45am - 11:45am 
Location: CC-Exhibit Hall E

CEUs

The NSCAA is proud to partner with U.S. Soccer to bring Convention participants CEUs. Sessions are currently TBA but will be announced shortly.

From U.S. Soccer: The purpose of the U.S. Soccer Continuing Education Program is to provide meaningful educational opportunities for coaches wishing to maintain their “A” license. It is important that coaches stay current with the latest national and international developments involving the growth of the game.

Click here for more information on the 2012 Convention.  Also, check out the Convention Schedule to customize your Convention.

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