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REQUIREMENTS: To host a State, Regional, Advanced Regional, High School Coaches or Director of Coaching Diploma, the host club must have one full-size field (75 x 120 yards), a classroom for lecture sessions and an indoor facility which can be used during inclement weather.
NOTE: As of Jan. 1, 2006, any non-member who takes a non-residential course will receive a complimentary one-year NSCAA membership. This applies to NEW members only.
* Additional fees may be added to some courses to cover facility rental costs.
Parent Coach Diploma
The Parent Coach Diploma is a 2 ½-hour course for coaches of players 5-8 years of age. The course deals with coaching young players who are playing the game for the first time. The course content includes philosophy of coaching youth, risk management strategies, organization of practice sessions and activities appropriate to players of this age. There is no testing in the Parent Coach Diploma. All candidates must be at least 14 years of age at the time of application. If a candidate is under 18 years of age, an adult must accompany him or her for the duration of the course.
Course Fee: $30 per candidate | 15-person minimum | Upcoming Courses
State Diploma
The State Diploma is a five-hour course directed toward the person newly involved in coaching soccer. It is designed to help coaches working with players in the 5- to 10-year age range. Special emphasis is placed on understanding the physiological and psychological differences of coaching children.
The course is designed to emphasize that the game itself essentially is the teacher and the focus of the coach at this level clearly is as facilitator. The curriculum focuses on the organization of a practice session, using small-sided games to enhance knowledge and fun, basic understanding of the Laws of the Game and information about the care and prevention of injuries. There is no testing in the State Diploma. All candidates must be at least 14 years of age at the time of application. If a candidate is under 18 years of age, an adult must accompany him or her for the duration of the course.
Course Fee: $35 per candidate | 15-person minimum | Upcoming Courses
Regional Diploma
The Regional Diploma is a 13-hour course designed for the coach working players 11 to 18 years of age. An emphasis is placed on learning to work with the developing player within both an individual and team concept.
The curriculum outlines how technical and tactical concepts can be applied in the development of players. The focus is placed on the basic methods of coaching, teaching proper technique, the theory and application of offensive and defensive tactics and understanding team management. There is no testing in the Regional Diploma. All candidates must be at least 16 years of age at the time of application. If a candidate is under 18 years of age, an adult must accompany him or her for the duration of the course.
Course Fee: $60 per candidate | 15-person minimum | Upcoming Courses
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| Candidates from the Advanced Regional Course in Alexandria, Va., pose for a photo. The course was instructed by Dave Edwards and held June 25-27, 2004. |
Advanced Regional Diploma
The Advanced Regional Diploma is a 21-hour course designed as a supplement to the Regional Diploma, adding eight hours devoted to technical and tactical uses of small-sided games, the study of systems of play and a practice teaching component.
Participants are given an opportunity to conduct a training session on an assigned topic and are assessed by the course instructor. All candidates must be at least 16 years of age at the time of application. If a candidate is under 18 years of age, an adult must accompany him or her for the duration of the course.
Course Fee: $90 per candidate | 15-person minimum | Upcoming Courses
An eight-hour option is available for groups who have taken the Regional Diploma and are interested in the additional hours provided in this course. The course is an excellent preparatory course for the National Diploma.
Supplement Fee: $45 per candidate | 15-person minimum | Upcoming Courses
Special Topic Courses and Clinics
The Academy Committee will conduct special topic courses periodically in different parts of the country, as well as special clinics at various events, including the annual NSCAA Convention. Some examples of Special Topics Courses include Zonal Defending, Sports Psychology, Striker Play, Management of Soccer Programs, etc. For further information, contact the NSCAA National Office. All candidates must be at least 16 years of age at the time of application. If a candidate is under 18 years of age, an adult must accompany him or her for the duration of the course.
Course Fee: $55 per candidate | 30-person minimum | Upcoming Courses
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| Haruki Kashihara (center), who traveled all the way from Japan for the National Youth Diploma course held in Shawnee Mission, Kan., in February 2005, is flanked by (from left) NSCAA National Staff coach Peter Broadley and NSCAA Associate Staff coaches Brian Kelly, Rob Herringer and Quentin McDowell. |
National Youth Diploma
The National Youth Diploma is designed for the youth coach working with players age 5-12. The overall objective of the course is to help coaches create the optimal learning environment for players at this developmental age. Emphasis is placed on the basic methods of coaching youth and understanding the physiological and psychological differences of coaching children. The course emphasizes the game of soccer as the teacher and the coach as the facilitator. The curriculum focuses on the organization of a practice session, teaching proper technique, team management, basic concepts of attack and defense, small-sided games and understanding the Laws of the Game. Information about safety, prevention and care of injuries also is provided.
The National Youth Diploma is a 21-hour course held over three days, featuring both classroom lectures (theory) and on field instruction (practical). The course utilizes appropriate age group demonstrators for most field sessions. There is no testing involved in the course, although coaches are allowed an opportunity to conduct a training session with feedback from the staff. Each person completing the course is awarded the National Youth Diploma certificate.
All candidates must be at least 14 years of age at the time of application. If a candidate is under 18 years of age, an adult must accompany him or her for the duration of the course. Previous coaching certification, such as the NSCAA State or Regional Diploma, and/or the USSF "E" or "F" license, is strongly suggested. A waiver of previous coaching certifications will be considered on an individual basis if the applicant has been coaching for a number of years.
Course Fee: $180 per candidate (NSCAA member); $230 per candidate (non-member) | 15-person minimum | Upcoming Courses
Youth Diploma
The Youth Diploma is designed for the youth coach working with players in age groups U-6 through U-8. The overall objective of the course is to help coaches create the optimal learning environment for players at this developmental stage. Emphasis is placed on the basic methods of coaching youth and understanding the physiological and psychological differences between coaching young children and coaching adolescents or adults. The course teaches coaches how to utilize the game of soccer itself as the teacher and encourages the coach to fulfill the role of facilitator of players' growth and development. The curriculum also focuses on the organization of a practice session, teaching proper technique through activities and games appropriate for U-6 and U-8 players, working with parents, helping players develop ball mastery, dribbling and striking the ball skills, and using small-sided games as teaching exercises and vehicles for player development.
The Youth Diploma is a 13 hour course held over two days, featuring both classroom presentations (theory) and on-field instruction (praxis). The course utilizes demonstrators in the targeted age groups for most field sessions. There is no testing involved in the course, through coaches are afforded an opportunity to be assessed on a practical demonstration and receive feedback from a staff coach. Each person completing the course is awarded the Youth Diploma.
All candidates must be at least 14 years of age at the time of application. Candidates under 18 years of age, must be accompanied by an adult for the duration of the course. no prerequisite for this course is required, though candidates will find previous coursework, such as the NSCAA Parent-Coach and State Diplomas and/or the USSF "F" and "E" licenses, to be helpful in processing the contents of this course
Course Fee: TBA / 20 person minimum
Advanced Youth Diploma
The Advanced Youth Diploma is designed for the youth coach working with players in age groups U-9 through U-12. The overall objective of the course is to help coaches create the optimal learning environment for players at this developmental stage. Emphasis is placed on the basic methods of coaching youth and understanding the physiological and psychological differences between coaching children and coaching adolescents or adults. The curriculum focuses on numerous important aspects of coaching the targeted age groups: assisting participants in the development of a coaching philosophy; introducing the progressive teaching method and the coaching in the game teaching method; reviewing the organization of a practice session; teaching essential components of the techniques of dribbling, passing, receiving, tackling, goalkeeping, heading, and shooting/finishing; reviewing important safety issues; providing instruction in the principles of attack and defense and addressing the application of those principles in on-field tactical coaching; and providing structured discussion time to address contemporary coaching issues such as that of developing a soccer culture.
The Youth Diploma is a 21 hour course held over two and a half days (customarily beginning early Friday evening and concluding late Sunday afternoon), featuring both classroom presentations (theory) and on-field instruction (praxis). The course utilizes demonstrators in the targeted age groups for most field sessions. There is no testing involved in this course. Each participant receives an opportunity to conduct a practical field demonstration and receive feedback from a staff coach on that session. Each person completing the course is awarded the Advanced Youth Diploma.
All candidates must be at least 14 years of age at the time of application. Candidates under 18 years of age, must be accompanied by an adult for the duration of the course. no prerequisite for this course is required, though candidates will find previous coursework, such as the NSCAA Parent-Coach and State Diplomas and/or the USSF "F" and "E" licenses, to be helpful in processing the contents of this course.
The NSCAA youth Diploma addresses the coaching of U-6 through U-8 players and therefore completing that course is not a requirement to take the Advanced Youth Diploma. Coaches who have taken the Youth Diploma will find that course and the Advanced Youth Diploma to be mutually complementary.
Course Fee: TBA / 20 person minimum
High School Diploma
The High School Coaches Diploma is a 21-hour course dealing with managerial issues and practice and game strategies specific to coaches of boys and girls high school teams. The course is designed to address the many issues and responsibilities unique to high school coaches in this country. The course curriculum examines the distinctive role high school coaches play in the personal development of young players.
Some of the issues the course will deal with are:
- Developing a coaching philosophy
- Team management (Pre-season training, team building, game day preparation issues, out of season play, ODP and club relationships, team rules, choosing team captains, parental issues etc.)
- Methods of coaching high school players
- Risk management for high school coaches
- College recruiting issues and helping high school players move to the next level
- Match analysis
- Practical field sessions
It is recommended that coaches attending the course should have an NSCAA Advanced Regional Diploma, but there is no testing. The recommended length of the course is Friday evening through Sunday afternoon, although the structure of the course is flexible. It is recommended that persons wishing to host a High School Coaches Diploma organize it in conjunction with a high school game or a club game featuring high school-age players. There is no testing in the High School Diploma.
Course Fee: $200 per candidate | 25-person minimum | Upcoming Courses
College Credit: The University of Colorado has agreed to offer either graduate (500 level) or undergraduate (400 level) college credit for the NSCAA High School Coaches Diploma. You can receive two semester hours of credit for $150 tuition cost. You must have a college degree to receive graduate level credit. If interested you need to read and complete the following:
Letter | Application Form | Request for Transcript | Course Evaluation
Director of Coaching Diploma
 The Director of Coaching Diploma is a 21-hour course designed to address the issues confronting the Director of an American club. The curriculum has been created in cooperation with US Club Soccer. It examines the technical, conceptual, leadership and administrative skills of future and current Directors of Coaching for youth soccer clubs for the purpose of developing the American soccer player. This is accomplished through a curriculum rich in application and theory and will focus on organizational structure, methods of coaching, leadership theory, evaluation and development of coaches and players and fiscal, legal and moral responsibility. Candidates will understand each of the individual units of the club as well as the interrelationship of those parts to achieve the specific goals and objectives of a youth soccer club.
Acceptance into the course requires:
- NSCAA National Diploma or USSF “C” license
- Letter of support from either:
- Club Board Member
- NSCAA State Technical Coordinator
- NSCAA Regional Technical Director
The letter must be submitted with the application form.
Course Fee: $275 per candidate | 25-person minimum | Upcoming Courses |
