The essence of educational development is the ability to break down a topic into smaller sections. Educational development is also the ability to practice, master, reproduce and rebuild into a superior function of their original form. Some in the world of sports psychology and education may class this as "chunking."

This, I believe, is what the NSCAA has achieved with their new diploma courses, specifically Levels 4, 5 and 6.

Texas was afforded the opportunity to run all three of these courses this spring. In the past, we ran very few of the former Junior Level IV and V, but a lot of VIs. With the new curriculum and teaching guide, we proceeded to build the presentations, session plans, course study guides and lesson plans. Our mission was to build a complete instructional package for each new diploma. It was from this initial administrational activity one could see the flow and the beneficial connectivity of the new technical tactical / tactical technical approach.

Running the new Level 4 diploma was a great learning experience for the instructor, as well as an educational experience for the candidates. The course offered a lot more technical field sessions and hands on exposure to "coaching craft" for coaches to visualize and conceptualize ideas, from theory to the field. For new coaches being bought in at this technical tactical level, the course produced assets of confidence and experience when they returned for their Levels 5 and 6. The new planning phase of the Level 4 created great verbal and visual feedback from coaches. This planning phase of the new curriculums, I believe, is a major cognitive step forward in the development of the coach and ultimately, benefitting the player.

Running the Level 5 with coaches whom had taken the Level 4 was a breeze. The Level 5 progressively built on the Level 4 through a tactical-technical basis. The planning phase again was a major impact to this course, as was the introduction of teaching tactics and functional play, for the first time on a non-residential basis. These concepts were hard for some to pick up with little or no formative coaching experience. However, the course functioned correctly in continually building the foundational tactical topics through different teaching mediums. It was clear, when demo players were used they had to be technically proficient, or tactical teaching practices broke down and educational momentum was lost.

The Level 6 diploma as a compound overview course was well worth the extended time and investment. Those coach candidates whom attended the Level 4 or 5 or both found this course to be exponentially beneficial. They picked up on concepts and progressions, which had been broken down for them in the past. The newly added pressure of assessment made their planning and product real. Many of the coaches whom entered our non-residential program at this level found the depth to the course a little challenging, especially differentiating the coaching methodologies and their applications to the tactical or technical progressions.

The new courses I believe, as discussed at the Convention, will really prepare the coach on their journey to creating better players and greater games. Many coaches, who took the Level 6 on a stand-alone basis, expressed their wish to return and take the Level 4 and 5 to complete their coaching experience prior to moving forward.

Diplomas taken as a one-off can improve and educate the new coach, but when taken in a progression compliment the total coaching educational experience.

Here is a list of upcoming Level 4, 5 and 6 courses. If there isn’t a course you need in your area, contact your State Director about hosting a course to bring the NSCAA to your community.

[+] See Master Course Schedule

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