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Background Information on Coaching
Certification in the USA
Please read the outline of coach certification options below and follow the links for other course offerings and locations. If
coaches need financial assistance, please contact the office in advance
of registering for a course and we can discuss support.
USSF vs NSCAA
There are two main coaching certification
organizations in the United States, the NSCAA (National Soccer Coaches
Association of America) and USSF (US Soccer Federation). Both are highly
respected organizations. The biggest difference between the two is that USSF
candidates are asked to participate in the courses as a player.
NSCAA
courses may have you participate as a coach, using players for
demonstration. For an interesting background article on the history of
the difference between
the two organizations and their respective approaches to coaching
education,
read this article: http://www.klikfc.com/article/89795:7992/nscaa-vs-ussf-the-final-word
USSF Coaching Courses
Lower level USSF courses (the D, E, G licenses and the Youth Module
Certificates) are taught though the state
organizations, so in our case they are taught through NH Soccer
Association by
Mark Ruest, the NH Director of Coaching. The G is a Rec license, the
Youth Module Certificates replace the old F license and are for U6-U12
players, the E license is for U13-U14s, and the D license is for U15 and
up.
The
higher level USSF A, B and C licenses are taught by US Soccer teaching
staff at diverse sights around the country throughout the year. To find
out more about the USSF
National Coaching School in general, each license level in particular,
and to see answers to FAQ’s go to: http://www.ussoccer.com/Coaches/Licenses.aspx
NSCAA Coaching Courses
Unlike the USSF courses, all NSCAA courses are taught at various sites
around
the country by NSCAA coaches and have nothing to do with the state
organizations. The NSCAA courses are slightly different than the USSF
courses in terms of length of course, topics covered, age groups
addressed, etc. NSCAA starts with Youth Levels I-IV, which cover ages
5-12 years. Following that is Junior Level V and VI, which cover ages
11-18 years. Then they offer a High School Diploma, a National Diploma,
an Advanced National Diploma, and a Premier Diploma, all for U15 and up.
To find out more about the National Soccer Coaches Association
of America and to see all their course offerings around the country, go to: http://www.nscaa.com/ National Coaching Symposiums
Often national coaching symposiums offer coaching
licenses during their 2-3 day events. You can attend workshops by nationally
recognized coaches and also earn your certificate, which you can complete by
the end of the long weekend, often for no additional cost. This is a very
economic and efficient way of getting it done. There is one such symposia
coming up at the end of February in CT, The Soccer Champions Coaches’ Clinic,
led by Tony DiCicco and Ray Reid, at which you can earn your E license for no
additional cost: http://www.soccerchampionsclinic.com/mohegan/index.php
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