From the U.S. Soccer Communications Center:
U.S. SOCCER INTRODUCES GOALKEEPING LICENSE COURSE FOR COACHES
CHICAGO, Ill. (Friday, September 30, 2005) - While the U.S. has successful goalkeepers at international and top club levels around the world, there is still more work to be done developing the talent at this position at the youth levels. With this in mind, the U.S. Soccer Coaching Education Department has worked with goalkeeping coaches from around the nation to create the federation’s first-ever U.S. Soccer National Goalkeeping License Course for coaches.
The U.S. Soccer National Goalkeeping License is intended for the more experienced team coach who has never played the goalkeeper position. The license will develop their goalkeeping knowledge, which is useful at the youth, collegiate, senior and professional levels. It will cover the principles and components that go into developing goalkeepers, and it will encourage the team coach to prepare and plan for the goalkeepers development needs - not just daily - but over an entire season.
“We are excited that we can continue to increase the educational opportunities for our coaches,” said U.S. Soccer Director of Coaching Education and Youth Development Bob Jenkins, who also serves as the USA’s Under-18 Men's National Team head coach. “There has been a list of coaches who have put countless hours into developing this license, and this will benefit both players and coaches as we continue to improve the development of our athletes."
The course will instruct coaches on how to plan and manage their goalkeeper’s development over the course of the season. It features in-depth coverage of the technical, tactical, psychological and fitness components of the goalkeeper position. Similar to other U.S. Soccer Coaching Courses, the Goalkeeping License course will offer an interactive learning experience featuring field sessions, audio and video, and traditional lectures.
Designed as a compliment to the U.S. Soccer “A”, “B” & “C” License courses, the six-day school includes field and classroom sessions and concludes with intensive testing on theoretical and practical applications of the game. The course also includes valuable instruction in coaching methodology, team management and fitness.
The inaugural school will be held at the U.S. Olympic Training Center in Chula Vista, Calif. from January 5 – 10, 2006. Registration for this course will open October 3 at ussoccer.com, and course registration will be limited.
For the inaugural Goalkeeping License course, applicants must possess one of the following prerequisites:
1. USSF “A” License or,
2. NSCAA Premier Diploma or,
3. USSF “B” License or,
4. NSCAA Advanced National Diploma and a Goalkeeper Level I Diploma or,
5. USSF “C” License or,
6. NSCAA National Diploma and a Goalkeeper Level II Diploma.
(As the Goalkeeping License develops, US Soccer may revisit the prerequisites required for participation.)
Upon successful completion of the U.S. Soccer Goalkeeping License, attendees to this school with an “A“ License will receive eight Continuing Education credits - the entire compliment needed to keep their license current.
Click here to apply, or contact the U.S. Soccer Coaching Department at coaches@ussoccer.org or 312.808.1300 for more information.