KANSAS CITY, Mo. (Jan. 31, 2019) – United Soccer Coaches is excited to announce a new initiative in collaboration with KIDS in the GAME and Target Corporation’s Youth Soccer Grant Initiative. The United Soccer Coaches Foundation has been awarded over $90,000 in grants for coaching education for the deployment of Urban Soccer Initiative’s across the country.
Beginning in the first quarter of 2019, the Foundation will begin to execute Urban Soccer Diplomas, as well as other developmental courses, in the following 15 cities and their surrounding metro areas:
| Kansas City, Mo. | Hartford, Conn. | Oakland, Calif. |
| Kansas City, Kan. | Denver, Colo. | Berkeley, Calif. |
| New York City, N.Y. | Indianapolis, Ind. | Providence, R.I. |
| Atlanta, Ga. | Detroit, Mich. | Seattle, Wash. |
| Cincinnati, Ohio | San Francisco, Calif. | Boston, Mass. |
“Target’s investment in quality coaching education will have a multiplier effect,” said Lynn Berling-Manuel, United Soccer Coaches CEO. “Hundreds of improved coaches could impact tens of thousands of young players. We look forward to one day seeing many of those players honored as youth, high school and college United Soccer Coaches All-America award winners!”
Coaches who attend the Urban Soccer Diploma will learn best practices in youth development and soccer with a special emphasis on training in non-traditional settings. Each coach who attends these Target-funded courses will have the opportunity to support United Soccer Coaches’ Commitment to Culture, an initiative by coaches for coaches to build a unique, positive soccer playing culture in America.
For questions regarding the Urban Soccer Initiative, please contact Development Officer, Amanda Mitchell, at amitchell@unitedsoccercoaches.org.
For information on hosting a course in one of these metro areas contact Education Program Coordinator, Robyn Lavis, at rlavis@unitedsoccercoaches.org.
About United Soccer Coaches
Founded in 1941 and headquartered in Kansas City, Mo., United Soccer Coaches is the trusted and unifying voice, advocate and partner for coaches at all levels of the game. The largest community for soccer coaches in the world, we unite coaches of all levels around the love of the game and we elevate the game through advocacy, education and service. United Soccer Coaches is the selecting body for the largest All-America program in the country, awarding honors at the youth, high school and college levels.