Summer 2024 Coach Education

A NOTE ON COACH EDUCATION FROM CHIEF TECHNICAL DIRECTOR ZAC CRAWFORD

Since my arrival from U.S. Soccer in January, I have been serving as the Chief Technical Director charged with developing both our technical belief system that will help us create better player-centered environments as well as the educational system to help spread those beliefs across the entire club ecosystem of roughly 12,000 players and 2,000 coaches.

After several months of collecting data through observing, discussing, assessing, and hosting staff workshops, we have begun the steps of co-creating key aspects of our technical identity with various staff across different club programs. I now have a better understanding of our players’ and coaches’ needs and we have formulated a plan for some exciting coach development opportunities this summer.  I am thrilled to apply the skills and thought systems I’ve developed throughout my time at U.S. Soccer and as the Alabama state technical director to help achieve our club’s purpose of the “Heart Behind the Crest” and our niche to “Develop Remarkable Coaches.”

I love to learn and help others learn. I am an educator and have been for over 20 years, with my main experiences coming in soccer coach education for players from 3 years old to national team players. I have also taught high school and college students at various points in my career, and I have also been a snowboard instructor and a yoga teacher. I believe that teaching is learning twice! It’s my desire to create environments and provide support to help others maximize their own potential so they can be the best for their players. Just as players go to practice to learn, coaches must also seek development opportunities. 

In learning and development, self-regulation can be described as the extent to which individuals are proactive participants in their learning process by determining goals and taking action to move toward them. This includes regulating both thoughts and emotions during the self-regulated learning process: to self-assess, create goals and a plan, implement the plan, self-monitor it, and then reflect and assess the implementation of the plan. Reflecting on one’s learning process is a critical ability in practicing self-regulation. With time and effort, one can use a cyclical process to plan a task, monitor performance, and reflect on the outcome to create more autonomous learning. Consistent practice of reflective skills will lead to consistent learning.

This summer we will offer opportunities for coaches to have experiences they can reflect on to turn into learning. We believe in the power of a shared learning experience. We are in this together, and it truly takes a village to raise our children! I hope that you will be able to join us for the different offerings that we have prepared for you this summer, including both in-house workshops featuring Colorado Rapids First Team coaching staff as well as formal licensing through U.S. Soccer. Registration will be limited for some events, but we hope to provide several opportunities this summer that will meet the needs of the coaches who serve players all across our club. These summer offerings are just the beginning as we look to host more in-region workshops and courses later in the fall and winter.

IN-HOUSE EDUCATION

Coach Development Summer Series

• July 16-20 at Regis University
  • CRYSC Technical Plan Workshops: Game Model development, CRYSC Player Key Qualities, session planning, match analysis, etc.
    • July 16 Times TBD (morning session and evening session)
    • July 17 Times TBD (morning session and evening session)
    • July 18 Times TBD (morning session and evening session)
    • Registration coming soon
  • Colorado Rapids Coaching Staff Workshops:
    • July 19 from 5:00-8:00 PM: Possession to Advance (Building With a Purpose) led by Colorado Rapids Assistant Coach Chris Little
      • Registration coming soon
    • July 20 at 10:00 AM – 1:00 PM: Goalkeeping Symposium led by first-team GK coach Chris Sharpe and the CRYSC goalkeeping staff
      • Registration coming soon

FORMAL EDUCATION – U.S. SOCCER COURSES

• 11v11 – June 24 & 25
  • Virtual Meeting: Monday, June 24, 6:00-8:00 PM MT
  • In-person Field Session: Tuesday June 25, 6:00-8:00 PM MT
  • Lowry Sports Complex 8200 East Sports Blvd, Denver, CO, 80230 US
  • CLICK HERE TO REGISTER
  • Cost: $85
  • Course Description: The 11v11 In-Person Course is a four-hour course that builds on the principles covered in U.S. Soccer’s Introduction to Grassroots Coaching Module. Specifically, coaches will learn more about U.S. Soccer’s Grassroots Coaching Education Philosophy, Play-Practice-Play Methodology, the Six Tasks of a Coach, and the characteristics of players aged 13-19. The course will also ask each coach to reflect on their experiences to develop action steps for personal growth in the Six Tasks (Coaching Games, Coaching Training Sessions, Leading the Team, Leading the Player, Managing the Performance Environment, and Leadership).​ Coaches will be asked to participate in discussions so each person should have access to a web-camera/live video capabilities. Coaches may be asked to participate in the field component as either coaches or players, so please come prepared to actively learn.

• 7v7 – July 11 & 13
  • Virtual Classroom: Thursday, July 11, 7:00-9:00 PM MT
  • In-Person On-Field: Saturday, July 13, 9:00 AM – 11:00 AM MT
  • Gates South Fields – 15099 East Fremont Drive, Aurora, CO, 80016 US
  • CLICK HERE TO REGISTER
  • Cost $85
  • Course Description: The 7v7 In-Person Course is a four-hour course that builds on the principles covered in U.S. Soccer’s Introduction to Grassroots Coaching Module. Specifically, coaches will learn more about U.S. Soccer’s Grassroots Coaching Education Philosophy, Play-Practice-Play Methodology, the Six Tasks of a Coach, and the characteristics of players aged 9-10. The course will also ask each coach to reflect on their experiences to develop action steps for personal growth in the Six Tasks (Coaching Games, Coaching Training Sessions, Leading the Team, Leading the Player, Managing the Performance Environment, and Leadership).​ Coaches will be asked to participate in discussions so each person should have access to a web-camera/live video capabilities. Coaches may be asked to participate in the field component as either coaches or players, so please come prepared to actively learn.

• 11v11 – July 12 & 13
  • Virtual Meeting: Friday, July 12, 6:00-8:00 PM MT
  • In-person Field Session: Saturday, July 13, 1:00-3:00 PM MT
  • Gates South Fields – 15099 East Fremont Drive, Aurora, CO, 80016 US
  • CLICK HERE TO REGISTER
  • Cost $85
  • Course Description: The 11v11 In-Person Course is a four-hour course that builds on the principles covered in U.S. Soccer’s Introduction to Grassroots Coaching Module. Specifically, coaches will learn more about U.S. Soccer’s Grassroots Coaching Education Philosophy, Play-Practice-Play Methodology, the Six Tasks of a Coach, and the characteristics of players aged 13-19. The course will also ask each coach to reflect on their experiences to develop action steps for personal growth in the Six Tasks (Coaching Games, Coaching Training Sessions, Leading the Team, Leading the Player, Managing the Performance Environment, and Leadership).​ Coaches will be asked to participate in discussions so each person should have access to a web-camera/live video capabilities. Coaches may be asked to participate in the field component as either coaches or players, so please come prepared to actively learn.

• 9v9 – July 21
  • Sunday, July 21, 9:00 AM – 1:00 PM MT
  • The Eddy – 111 Havana St., Havana St., CO, 80010 US
  • CLICK HERE TO REGISTER
  • Cost $85
  • Course Description: The 9v9 In-Person Course is a four-hour course that builds on the principles covered in U.S. Soccer’s Introduction to Grassroots Coaching Module. Specifically, coaches will learn more about U.S. Soccer’s Grassroots Coaching Education Philosophy, Play-Practice-Play Methodology, the Six Tasks of a Coach, and the characteristics of players aged 11-12. The course will also ask each coach to reflect on their experiences to develop action steps for personal growth in the Six Tasks (Coaching Games, Coaching Training Sessions, Leading the Team, Leading the Player, Managing the Performance Environment, and Leadership).​ Coaches will be asked to participate in discussions so each person should have access to a web-camera/live video capabilities. Coaches may be asked to participate in the field component as either coaches or players, so please come prepared to actively learn.

• D Course – September & October
  • Sunday, July 21, 9:00 AM – 1:00 PM MT
  • Nine (9) weeks of virtual learning (Mondays September 9, 16, 23, 30, October 7, 14, 21, 28) with four (4) in-person days (October 5, 6, 26, 27 from 9:00 AM – 6:00 PM).
  • Cost $450
  • Registration coming soon
  • Course Experience: Coaches who register for this course can expect weekly learning opportunities that will feature a mixture of independent learning using online modules, live virtual meetings, and a 4- day in-person meeting led by a licensed U.S. Soccer Educator. Coaches will be asked 2 to participate in discussions so each person should have access to the internet and a laptop/device with web-camera/live video capabilities. The virtual meetings will take place on agreed-upon days and times (see below). Coaches may be asked to participate in the in-person field component as either coaches or players, so please come prepared to actively learn.
  • Eligibility Requirements: To register for the U.S. Soccer D course, all candidates must meet the following prerequisites:
    • • At least 18 years of age
      • Completed Introduction to Grassroots Coaching module
      • Completed Two (2) Grassroots In-Person (4v4, 7v7, 9v9 or11v11)
      • Completed One (1) Grassroots Online (4v4, 7v7, 9v9, or11v11)
    • OR
      • Completed Introduction to Grassroots Coaching
      • Previously Earned U.S. Soccer E License or
      • Completed Introduction to Grassroots Coaching
      • Previously Earned U.S. Soccer F License
      • Completed Two (2) Grassroots In-Person (4v4, 7v7, 9v9 or11v11)
    • AND
      • Student Coaches must have access to a team (U7-U12)for the duration of the course