Kansas City is the site for the 65th annual NSCAA Convention. The event, dubbed "Soccer Christmas" kicked off with a bang as NSCAA President, Paul Payne, and CEO and Executive Director, Joe Cummings, welcomed coaches, players and soccer fans alike. 

Wednesday typically serves a travel day for many attendees and some of our guests took to planes, trains and automobiles to get to Kansas City.

@footydan Daniel Andrews:  “Somewhere in the middle of Missouri on my way to the #nscaaconvention can't wait to get there!”

@KorrioSports Korrio: “10 hrs of travel and we're in KC, ready to transform youth sports!  #nscaaconvention”

@jeilers55 Jon Eilers: “And its on! Ready to watch Doug Williamson discuss attacking in the midfield with 5! #nscaaconvention”

Wednesday's big event is the Convention's first field session. Doug Williamson, NSCAA Assistant Director of Education, accompanied by the Sporting Kansas City Juniors U-18 team, led the first session entitled “Phase of Play: Teaching Attacking with Five in the Midfield.” The session demonstrated how to attack in a 5 v.4 situation, Players utilized swinging the ball in a curve and pushing the flank deep in an attempt to capitalize on a goal.  Williamson’s goal of the session was to get players to recognize the principles of attack, having the ability to move and change positions during the attack and thinking of going to goal.

soccer_barton Robert Barton: “Epiphany moment at #nscaaconvention. Overtly reward players for taking worthwhile risks even if not successful.”

After the session, FOX Soccer held a special Soccer Night in America - "Soccer in the U.S: Next Steps." to open up discussion on issues facing the game in the United States. The two-hour live broadcast covered a variety of topics relevant in today’s soccer culture, ranging from American youth development to the improvement of WPS and MLS and more. 

Four of the major points discussed were: the coaching of youth athletes and the emphasis that many club teams have placed on winning instead of the love of the game, the gender disparity that plagues US soccer and soccer as a whole, and high school versus club play and whether or not it is fair to make the player choose one or the other. Finally, the broadcast covered the relevance of the college game on the athletes and on the professional game.  The program allowed for open debate amongst the panel members as well as members of the audience. 

One of the biggest treats for soccer fans was the question session between the show and current USMNT Head Coach, Juergen Klinsmann, who talked about the state of the U.S. Men's National Team and U.S. Soccer. Klinsmann stated "..at the end of the day it’s a players game” and that he wants the players get better and feel they are in the right direction. Overall, the event opened the channels of opinions on soccer in America.

The event closed with an appearance from CEO and Executive Director Joe Cummings, who talked about the NSCAA and the future of the Convention 

Some thoughts via Twitter.

FlashSoccerCEO Clent Alexander: “Only way coaches are going to have "more money" for players is when we all #GrowTheGame of #Soccer to status of other sports #SoccerInTheUS”

duresport Beau Dure: “Can't help wondering if people are afraid to argue against high school soccer at NSCAA with hundreds of HS coaches there. #SoccerInTheUS”

dallascup Dallas Cup XXXIII: “Will there be compensation standards when players from non-MLS academies moves to MLS academies? @ussoccer @foxsoccer #SoccerInTheUS”

The night concluded with the invite-only NSCAA President's Reception.  President Payne awarded immediate past-president, Marcia McDerrmott, with a gift of the Presidential Ring. Also at the event, Payne was given a check for $500 from the NSCAA in support of Red Card Cancer a non-profit organization that Payne started to help promote awareness of cancer in the soccer community. 

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