The Victor Soccer Club hosted a National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) Level 4 coaching diploma course in June, made possible by a grant from the NSCAA Foundation’s Doug May Fund.

The course, directed by NSCAA coaching staff member Amy Rossi, was attended by coaches from around the region. The primary focus of the 12-hour diploma course is to assist coaches in their teaching technique related to the game. The course included instruction in designing a lesson plan, participating in practical field work, and observing a model session. The Level 4 course concluded with the presentation of small-sided game activities, during which participating coaches were called upon to identify specific coaching points as they occurred.

The NSCAA Foundation granted the Victor Soccer Club $1,000 to host the coaching course. The Doug May Fund was established to assist in sponsoring a coach training or licensing course for soccer clubs and coaches interested in enhancing their soccer knowledge.

“On behalf of the entire Victor Soccer Club, I would like to thank both the Doug May Memorial Foundation and the NSCAA Foundation for affording our coaches the opportunity to receive such an outstanding coaching education opportunity,” said Shawn Griffin, Victor director of coaching and Hobart College head coach. “As a former friend and coaching adversary of the late Doug May, I’m proud to know that his legacy will continue to live on through the sport of soccer and more specifically the area of coaching education.”

May, who died at the age of 54 of congestive heart failure, coached the men’s soccer team at Nazareth College from 1996-2003, leading the Golden Flyers to a co-championship of the Empire Conference in his final season. He also coached at RIT for 16 seasons before that, positioning the RIT Tigers as a perennial contender for the national championship. His career record was 251-120-38 in 24 seasons.

About the NSCAA

Founded in 1941 and based in Kansas City, Kan., the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) is a non-profit organization with a mission to educate coaches, encourage excellence and serve the soccer community.

The NSCAA is the world’s largest soccer coaches’ organization with members at every level of the game. The membership is primarily made up of coaches, but also includes administrators, referees and others in the soccer industry. The NSCAA provides its members ways to enhance the game of soccer by providing a national education program, interaction and networking opportunities, and membership benefits.

For more information about the National Soccer Coaches Association of America, visit NSCAA.com.

About NSCAA Foundation

The NSCAA Foundation’s mission is to provide soccer coaching educational opportunities to underserved socioeconomic communities, geographic areas, and ethnic groups throughout the United States.”

The Foundation firmly believes in the broader societal benefits of soccer as a recreational activity, an avenue for health and fitness, a means of building leadership skills, and a competitive sport.

The Foundation’s primary program activity is direct financial support through grants and through scholarships for coaching education programs.

Find out more at www.nscaafoundation.org

About Doug May Memorial Fund

The Doug May Memorial Foundation was founded in 2004 to honor the memory of Douglas J. May, the former Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT) and Nazareth  College soccer coach who passed away suddenly in 2004. Throughout his life Coach May touched many lives, influenced and inspired many people and made significant contributions to the Rochester and national soccer coaching communities. Doug, an original member of the NSCAA National Coaching Staff, was committed to developing the game and young players, and to coaching education.

Find out more at www.dougmaymemorial.org

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