The NSCAA conducted a very successful two weekend National Diploma course at the Center Grove Soccer Complex in Bargersville, IN, just outside of Indianapolis on Nov. 18-20 and 25-27. This was the first time a National Diploma has been held in Indianapolis since the National, Advanced National and Premier Diplomas were run at Butler University in 2005. 

Thirty-one candidates participated, which was well above the typical 26 candidate maximum.  The candidates were pleased with the course and one person even stated in his evaluation, "This is the best course I have been to to date!"

View photos from the course.

The staff for this course was lead by NSCAA Assistant Director of Coaching Education, Doug Williamson.  Jason Pendleton and Vince Ganzberg from the NSCAA Associate National Staff were also instructors.  Pendleton coaches at a high school in Overland Park, KS, and Ganzberg, who recently resigned his position as Director of Coaching for Indiana Youth Soccer, is now a high school coach at Bishop Chatard High School in Indiana.

Matt Stelmaszek, a graduate of Indiana University and candidate on the course, said:

The National course in Indy met and exceeded all of my expectations, from the instructors, to the coaches and to the hosting club. We had some long, rainy days but when you're with such a dedicated group it just doesn't seem to bother anyone. There isn't an opportunity like it where you get to spend a large amount of time with people who have the passion and dedication for the game. By the time that last Sunday rolled around everyone exchanged emails and talked about when we would see each other again, some were even setting up friendlies for the spring. It was an experience unlike any other and I can't wait to see who I'm going to meet at the next course.

The National Diploma, a 50-hour course, aims to acquaint the coach with the needs of the American soccer player and provide an organized and progressive methodology of coaching those needs. Basic technical and tactical knowledge is the central theme of the course in a 6 v. 6 model. The course includes sessions on the teaching process, psychological skills training and ethics.  There is testing in the National Diploma which includes oral, written and practical (coaching) evaluations.

This course has traditionally been run in a residential, weeklong format.  There are still those who believe that is the best environment to take the course, but for the coaches who can't give up a full week for the course, we now offer the National Diploma in a two weekend format.  The two weekend courses are held on Friday afternoon, Saturday and Sunday each weekend, typically consecutively.  The course curriculum and topics are the same for either the two weekend or residential course format.

All of the residential course sites and dates are predetermined.  There is flexibility with when and where the two weekend courses can be held, so if you are interested in hosting a course, please discuss the options with your State Director.  

Click here for a full list of all National Diploma courses currently scheduled.

Spaces are still available for National, Advanced National and Advanced National Goalkeeping courses in Ft. Lauderdale, FL, from January 2-8, 2012.  Click here and select the course of your choice for more information.

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