When it comes to soccer events around the world, 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. The Convention is known for its high level coaching education sessions, exhibit hall, and awards functions. There are numerous unique events that take place each year during the Convention that help make it the can’t-miss event for coaches.

MLS SuperDraft
For the ninth consecutive year, the NSCAA Convention will serve as the host of the MLS SuperDraft. This year’s version will take place Thursday, Jan. 12, at noon ET in the Kansas City Convention Center.  The event is free to the public and always brings a high level of excitement to the Convention as supporter groups march the halls and the next potential MLS stars are selected. Once again, the event will be televised on ESPN2. The SuperDraft was first instituted in 2000 as a combination of the MLS College Draft and the MLS Supplemental Draft.  MLS has decided to make a change to the draft, going from three to two rounds for 38 overall selections. The order in which teams draft is determined by a combination of the teams’ playoff and regular season positions, with the last-place team receiving a higher overall pick.  Any expansion club automatically gets the first pick in the draft; this year, that honor will go to the Montreal Impact.  For more information on the MLS SuperDraft and college players entering the draft, visit MLSsoccer.com.

FOX Soccer Live Show:  “Center Circle: State of Soccer in the U.S.”
FOX Soccer again will televise a live broadcast from the NSCAA Convention. This year brings a new twist as the broadcast has been moved out of the exhibit hall and onto the demonstration fields. This year’s show will take place on Wednesday evening, Jan. 11, in Hall E from 7-9 p.m. CT immediately following the opening session of the 2012 Convention. It will feature a panel discussion on the state of soccer in the U.S. featuring some of the top names from the leading organizations in soccer. Questions taken from the live audience and through social media are sure to cover the hot topics in the game today.

Comets Retro Game
The annual Retro Game is normally held at the Independence (Mo.) Events Center, but this year the historic contest will be played the magnificent Sprint Center in downtown Kansas City. The game honors the indoor soccer history of Kansas City as players from the past are invited back to help celebrate the memories they have made. This year takes on added significance as they celebrate the 30th anniversary of professional indoor soccer in Kansas City. The players will be wearing jerseys inspired by the Comets jerseys from the 1980s and 90s. Fans who attend will have the opportunity to purchase the uniforms in an auction held on the field prior to the end of the match. Proceeds will benefit one of several charities that the Comets organization supports. The game will be played at 7:35 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 14.  For more information on tickets, check out Comets Indoor Soccer.

adidas/ Walt Chyzowych 4-A-Side Tournament
The annual adidas/Walt Chyzowych 4-A-Side Tournament starts at 6 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 14, in the Kansas City Convention Center’s Exhibit Hall D. Always a highly competitive, fan-friendly event, the 4-A-Side Tournament will take place on one of the demonstration pitches at the Convention Center. Registration can be done at the Elite Tournaments booth in the Exhibit Hall beginning Thursday evening and will remain open until all spots are filled. This year’s tournament again will feature both a men’s and women’s bracket. The tournament is named in memory of Walt Chyzowych, who helped shape soccer in America. He served as coach of the U.S. National Team, U.S. Olympic Team and was Director of Coaching for U.S. Soccer, to name just a few of the positions he held. All registration fees go to the Walt Chyzowych Memorial Fund, which now is part of the NSCAA Foundation. The fund was created to support programs and people who are committed to the betterment of soccer. The donations aid in financial assistance, grants and scholarships for players and coaches serving in academics and soccer education.

NSCAA Cup presented by Blue Sombrero
Blue Sombrero is sponsoring the first annual NSCAA Cup soccer tennis tournament at the 2012 NSCAA Convention. The tournament format includes games lasting four minutes or until the first team reaches 15 points. The top two teams will play against the ‘Pro’s’ in a four-team round-robin Saturday evening after the preliminary rounds conclude. The winning team will be presented a trophy and all participants will be given a T-shirt provided by Blue Sombrero and other sponsors.  Blue Sombrero will also be providing a free $5,000 website to a charity of the winning team’s choice. The tournament will be held Saturday, Jan. 14, in the Exhibit Hall. For more information and to register for the tournament, check out Blue Sombrero.

Tomorrow is your last chance to register early and save $100 on the 2012 NSCAA Convention in Kansas City. Early registration closes on midnight PT on Sunday, Dec. 18. Take advantage of Early Registration and sign up today.

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