Requirements | Cost | Application Process | Graduation Requirements | Professional Development Points

The NSCAA Master Coach program is designed to meet the needs of modern coaching and, more specifically, addresses the skills required by the coach of American players. The Master Coach program offers an opportunity to those who wish to develop a mastery of the profession of coaching over and above the 150 hours of field instruction presently available in the NSCAA National, Advanced National and Premier Diplomas.

The Master Coach program is certainly not for every NSCAA member. Ultimately, the Master Coach program is for those coaches who wish to have an influence on the American sports culture.

The Da Vinci Coach
The Da Vinci Coach is the name given by Andy Roxburgh of UEFA to coaches with a Renaissance type of soccer education and style.  It is particularly apt for American coaches who need far more than knowledge in field instruction to be fully effective.  

The NSCAA Master Coach program is designed with four major principles in mind:

• The evolution of the game of soccer in the US has made it necessary for the role of the American coach to expand beyond simply field instruction. It has now become necessary for coaches to have a firm grasp in topics such as leadership, management, promotion and other areas of personal development. As American coaches face the challenges of soccer’s cultural disadvantages and competition with other countries increases, it is important to develop the coach as a “whole.”
  
  
• The American coach must be part of a support network. Other American sports have developed a system of constant input, advice, feedback and professional reinforcement from the culture as well as from the development of sophisticated staffing and professional networks. Master Coach graduates will become part of the NSCAA network, which provides lifelong professional growth opportunities, and advice and support from the Association. The combined energy of our Master Coaches, NSCAA Ambassadors, National Staff, State and Regional Technical Directors, Associate Staff and Goalkeeping Staff, together with our National and International partners, form an amazing network of support.
  
  
• Soccer coaches must continually grow and improve. The Master Coach program offers a challenging and energizing continuing education component which keeps its members on the cutting edge of professional development.
  
  
• The NSCAA recognizes that coaching education at the highest levels is dynamic and synergistic. The Master Coach program is oriented toward coaches who already have significant knowledge. The NSCAA believes that the ideas and programs which will emerge from the Master Coach participants will make a major contribution to our coaching community as their experiences and philosophies become shaped and refined.

The Master Coach program itself is roughly designed along the same lines as the UEFA "A" and Pro licenses. It is a year-long course beginning each summer at an academy and concluding more than a year later at the NSCAA Annual Convention, where graduates will be acknowledged (for example, candidates who begin in July 2007 will be acknowledged at the 2009 Convention). Participants will be assigned an NSCAA staff member who will act as a mentor and guide for the duration of the course. The course will include a certain number of core projects which all participants must complete. Master Coach projects include, but are not limited to the following:

1. Maintain a year-long Logbook
2. Visitation Weekends with select MLS or other international professional clubs
3. Participation in the NSCAA National Convention
4. Interviews with sporting and professional personalities
5. Promotion of a selected soccer event
6. Development of club and team charters as well as administrative guidelines
7. Development of support staff
8. Submission of practices to be reviewed/evaluated (via video)

The Master Coach participants also will be required to fulfill a certain number of hours in the following special topics: Management, Leadership, Game Promotion, Fitness and Nutrition, Self Development and Sports Psychology.

At the time of application, each coach will be required to select an area of focus for his or her coursework. Master Coaches can choose from the following divisions: Youth, Junior, High School, Director of Coaching and College. Master Coach participants and their mentors will work closely throughout the length of the course. Tasks and projects will be discussed in a series of conference calls and meetings on a monthly and quarterly basis.

Course Requirements
All coaches wishing to apply for the NSCAA Master Coach program must possess the NSCAA Premier Diploma with at least a “Good Pass” and be a current NSCAA member.  The NSCAA will accept a maximum of two coaches for each division.

Cost
The cost of the course is $1,750.  In addition to the course fee, candidates will also be responsible for the following:

• Transportation to and from the Bloomsburg Academy - July 6-12, 2008
• All costs associated with the 2009 Convention in St. Louis, MO. - Jan. 13-18, 2009, and the 2010 Convention in Philadelphia, PA. - Jan. 13-17, 2010 (transportation, registration, accommodation and meals)
• Attendance at an overseas trip in the spring organized by the NSCAA - approximately $1,750 (includes room, most meals and ground transportation). Airfare is also the responsibility of the candidate.
  OR
  All costs for an overseas trip as organized by the individual
  OR
  All costs for a professional team visit (NFL, NBA, NHL, MLB)
  The decision as to which trip is taken must be made by December 2008.
• All costs associated with an MLS visit

Application Process
A complete application includes:

1. Completed Application Form [you may type directly on the form]
2. Recent photo (head and shoulders)
3. Copies of certificates, soccer resume and other support material
4. Typed one-page paper specifying how the Master Coach Diploma will help you and how you intend to use the diploma to benefit the NSCAA and soccer in the United States.

No payment is due at the time of application.  All applications must be postmarked by April 30, 2008.  Late applications will not be considered.  The Director of Coaching Development will review all applications, select candidates and establish a priority waiting list.  All applicants will be notified in writing of their status after April 16, 2007. 

Upon acceptance, candidates will be required to pay a non-refundable non-transferable deposit of $250 by May 9.  A payment of $750 will be due by June 13, followed by a final payment of $750 due no later than Aug. 29, 2007.

Graduation Requirements
Graduation from the Master Coach Diploma requires the candidate to accomplish the following:

1. Complete all divisional projects to the satisfaction of the mentor and Director of Coaching Development
2. Obtain the NSCAA National Youth Diploma
3. Obtain the NSCAA National Goalkeeping Diploma
4. Obtain CPR certification
5. Complete an international trip/professional team visit and submit a report
6. Complete an MLS visit and submit a report
7. Video tape selected match preparation
8. Promote a soccer event
9. Host and/or instruct an NSCAA Non-Residential course
10. Complete the yearlong logbook
11. Participate in regular contact with mentor
12. Participate in all conference calls

Professional Development Points
Holders of the NSCAA Master Coach Diploma will be required to obtain 20 Professional Development Points every year in order to maintain the status of their Master Coach Diploma. Some examples of Professional Development Point opportunities are as follows:

1. Host and instruct an NSCAA non-residential course (5 pts)
2. Submit an approved article to the Soccer Journal (5 pts)
3. Presenting at the NSCAA National Convention (10 pts)
4. Participate in an overseas tour and submit a report (20 pts)
5. Successfully complete a USSF or UEFA coaching course (20 pts)