Soccer certificate
UD joins major soccer associations to create professional development opportunity
4:11 p.m., Feb. 14, 2013--To meet the growing need for advanced soccer club management skills in the U.S. and internationally, the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA), U.S. Club Soccer and the University of Delaware have joined together to launch the NSCAA Advanced Director of Coaching Certificate.
This professional development certificate provides soccer club leaders with a practical program oriented toward increasing proficiency in the technical, theoretical, conceptual, managerial and ethical aspects of soccer club management and soccer player development.
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The program is designed to serve directors of clubs or state associations, soccer club leaders and those responsible for player development within their club or state.
This one-of-a-kind certificate combines a June 2013 one-week residency at the world-class St. George’s Park National Football Centre in England, online learning, and workshops and participant presentations at the NSCAA annual conference in Philadelphia in January 2014.
“The Alfred Lerner College of Business and Economics at the University of Delaware is pleased to partner with the NSCAA to offer the Advanced Director of Coaching Certificate program,” said Bruce Weber, dean of the college. “The program is designed to be engaging and flexible, and draw on the knowledge base and experience of the participants. The certificate program will prepare participants for the challenges and opportunities facing leading soccer clubs and organizations and ultimately make a positive contribution to the growth of soccer in the U.S.”
Also partnering in the certificate at UD is the Division of Professional and Continuing Studies. "Programs like this exemplify the role of Professional and Continuing Studies in providing timely learning solutions to meet the needs of organizations and professions," according to James K. Broomall, associate provost.
NSCAA CEO Joe Cummings added, “The NSCAA strives to enhance the game of soccer by equipping coaches and administrators with quality information and educational opportunities. The partnership with the University of Delaware, U.S. Club Soccer and the NSCAA to develop this Advanced Director of Coaching certificate is another building block toward our goal to take United States soccer to the next level.”
Through the certificate, participants learn to analyze their soccer club's operations to become a more professionally managed club, embrace evidence-based management principles to better manage staff and communicate with constituents, and discover the latest trends in player development theory and sport sciences that will enable players to achieve their full potential.
The certificate consists of three modules scheduled over a seven-month period, and includes implementation of a personal project focused on enhancing player development or the management and organization of a club and/or state soccer association. The credential awarded is a noncredit certificate issued jointly by UD and the NSCAA.
Matthew Robinson, UD faculty member and director of its sport management program, will serve as academic director for the certificate. Robinson worked with NSCAA to launch a three-day Director of Coaching Diploma course that has been offered since 2007. Approximately 1,200 have taken the course since its inception.
Robinson said, “Having been involved with the creation of the director of coaching course for the NSCAA several years ago, I am excited to see the development of an advanced course. This will enable us to offer a more comprehensive and in-depth program for those who are leading our clubs or who desire to attain those positions. This course is critical to the advancement of soccer within the United States, for it is the clubs which are charged with developing soccer players at all levels of competition, including the elite players who may one day represent the U.S. in international competition.”
Admission into the program is by application. Applications will be evaluated for admission as they are received until the deadline of April 1, 2013. Only 25 participants will be accepted.
More information is available at this website or by calling 302-831-6680.
About the NSCAA
Founded in 1941 and based in Kansas City, Kan., the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) is a nonprofit organization with a mission to educate coaches, encourage excellence and serve the soccer community.
The NSCAA is the world’s largest soccer coaches’ organization with members at every level of the game. The membership is primarily made up of coaches, but also includes administrators, referees and others in the soccer industry. The NSCAA provides its members ways to enhance the game of soccer by providing a national education program, interaction and networking opportunities, and membership benefits.