UNITED SOCCER COACHES FOUNDATIONS DIPLOMAS
Educated coaches help to deliver a positive playing experience for young athletes and a more enjoyable experience for themselves. Our Coaching Development Courses reflect the current soccer landscape with a focus on small-sided games and allow all types of soccer organizations to deliver useful coaching education from novice to intermediate in an accommodating way.
Numbered Development Diplomas
A methodical approach to coaching soccer.
4v4 Foundations Diplomas
7v7/9v9 Foundations Diplomas
The 7v7/9v9 Diploma, for the next level of coaching, focuses on the 9-12 year old player. Content highlights player development, principles of play, technique, and tactics with small-sided games.
11v11/Pre-National Foundations Diplomas
Moving up the continuum of age levels to the 13 and above player, the 11v11/Pre-National Diploma is designed for an intermediate coach. It is focused on the 11v11 game with topics including the modern numbering system, formations and systems of play, player competencies and defensive and offensive tactics.
Foundations of Coaching
Module
1-hour, online prerequisite for all coaches new to United Soccer Coaches Academy. The course goals are to help coaches understand the motivations of children to play soccer and how to support these motivations; to recognize general cognitive, physical, and social-emotional developmental milestones; and to understand important guidelines for providing a safe environment for children to develop.
State Diploma
» The State Diploma is a 4-hour, in-person course. During this interactive course, coaches will learn why children play and stop playing along with Best Practices for coaches. Techniques covered will be dribbling, passing and receiving. Coaches will also learn how to design a training session while providing ideas for team activities and age-appropriate (8 and under) training activities around a 4v4 game structure.
Regional Diploma
» The Regional Diploma is a 6-hour, in-person course. Content highlights player development, principles of play, technique, and tactics within a 7v7/9v9 game. The course has both field and classroom sessions.
Advanced Regional
» The Advanced Regional Diploma is a 6-hour, in-person. This diploma is designed for an intermediate coach. The curriculum focuses on the 11v11 game with topics including the modern numbering system, formations and systems of play, player competencies, and defensive and offensive tactics. The course has both field and classroom sessions.
Goalkeeping Diplomas
Coaching education specific to goalkeeping.
Goalkeeping Level 1
The Goalkeeping Level 1 Diploma explores the myths and mystiques surrounding the goalkeeping function. This course aims to empower the coach with knowledge and practice methods that will enable the coach to evaluate a goalkeeper in game situations and then design an appropriate practice program for goalkeepers.
Goalkeeping Level 2
Geared towards the specialist goalkeeping coach and those looking for in-depth information on coaching goalkeepers, the Goalkeeping Level 2 Diploma offers coaches real-world solutions on how to create an optimal learning environment for this specialized position.
Goalkeeping Level 1 Diploma required. In-person only.
Goalkeeping Level 3
The Goalkeeping Level 3 Diploma offers a deep exploration into the tactical components of goalkeeping and the specifics of training and developing goalkeepers. The emphasis of this course falls on the tactical roles of the goalkeepers within the team framework.
Goalkeeping Level 1 & 2 Diplomas required.
