Website Manager

DC Stoddert Soccer

Coaching Education


#ThisCoachCares

DC Stoddert Soccer values the importance of having top coaches!  Great coaches care about their players and want...

- their players to learn the game, develop as people and have fun, and
- to help their players achieve their soccer-related goals while having fun and connecting with the players as only coaches do

Successful coaches care about their players and want to create a positive environment that fosters personal growth.  For some this comes naturally, while others may need a bit of help.  We can help with that!

Below in Coaching Education Opportunities you'll find info about Onsite help available at your practice sessions, In-Person coach education courses and Online courses as well.  All are free for DC Stoddert Soccer volunteers and offer some scheduling flexibility to make learning better coaching techniques easy and convenient.

Curriculum & Best Practices


> DC Stoddert Rec Soccer Curriculum
        - Pre-K / Kindergarten set 1 --- Pre-K / Kindergarten set 2
        - 1st Grade set 1 --- 1st Grade set 2
        - 2nd Grade set 1 --- 2nd grade set 2
        - 3rd / 4th Grade set 1 --- 3rd  / 4th Grade set 2
        - 5th - 8th Grade set 1 --- 5th - 8th Grade set 2
        - High School set 1 --- High School set 2


> DC Stoddert Soccer Coaching Best Practices - Use this simple list of best practices to optimize your impact at every training session for your team.

> Do *you* have a go-to best practice, a tool or trick of the trade that work for you when coaching kids?  Let us know!  We'd love to learn from you, too.

Coaching Education Opportunities


COACHING EDUCATION SCHEDULE - FALL 2019 
** Scroll down to review all of the opportunities **

When coaches educate themselves about effective coaching, you know that #ThisCoachCares

Multiple opportunities are listed below!  Please check them all out and participate in as many as you can in order to increase your effectiveness as and enjoyment of serving as a coach.

Three sections follow below: ONSITE COACHING EDUCATION | ONLINE EDUCATION OPPORTUNITIES (5 options) | IN-PERSON EDUCATION OPPORTUNITIES (5 options)

> NEWONSITE COACHING EDUCATION via the GUEST COACH program!  Need help with your training session?  Want to pick up some coaching tips?  DC Stoddert Soccer’s Recreational Program Director, Justin Wilt, and professional staff coaches can come run a practice with your team!


This is a great way for volunteer coaches to learn effective coaching techniques, and players will enjoy training with a Guest Coach. Your players will have fun in a productive practice session, and you will gain information that will help you get more out of serving as a coach.  To request help with a training session, email Justin ([email protected]), and tell him your team’s name and age group, and the time & location of your practices.

Either Justin or one of the staff coaches will respond and coordinate further.  We may not be able to service every request, so please submit your request early and ideally provide some lead time between the request and the actual practice session date.  Also, the team’s coach(es) *must be present* when this service is provided, since the focus of this program is coaching education.

We love to work with our Rec teams and players, so please take advantage & learn how to improve your coaching in a most convenient setting!


ONLINE OPPORTUNITIESTake courses when convenient to you, at the pace you choose 

Courtesy of DC Stoddert’s Member Club standing with United Soccer Coaches (formerly the NSCAA):

1 - Foundations of Coaching – United Soccer Coaches has developed the Foundations of Coaching online course as the perfect introduction to coaching youth soccer for the first time, and as a helpful refresher for those coaches coming back to the youth game. Focusing on improving coaching instruction in order to progressively improve player development, the Foundations of Coaching provides insight into targeted training activities and age-appropriate instruction for beginning to advanced players. The course is free for DC Stoddert coaches!

Contact DC Stoddert’s Recreational Program Director for access to the Foundations course

2 - Small Sided Games –The short and long-term effects of the U.S. Soccer Federation Player Development initiatives are far reaching, impacting all youth clubs and coaches. As a way to prepare you for some of these initiatives, United Soccer Coaches has developed the Small Sided Games: 4v4, 7v7 and 9v9 Special Topics Diploma. This series is dedicated to preparing players, teams and clubs to address the tactical, technical and logistical opportunities presented in this new era in youth soccer.  The course is free for DC Stoddert coaches!

Available after taking the Foundations of Coaching course…Contact DC Stoddert’s Recreational Program Director for access to the SSG course

3 - Get aHead Safely in Soccer Online Diploma Course - United Soccer Coaches has launched Get aHEAD Safely in Soccer™, the first interactive online course developed to educate coaches on how to teach safer heading techniques for players ages 11-13. This 30-minute course is available to anyone and everyone interested in heading safety.  The course is free for DC Stoddert coaches!

Available to all coaches via this link.  Strongly suggested for coaches of players in grades 6 & above.


Courtesy of U.S. Soccer, via their Learning Center:

4 - Introduction to Grassroots Coaching - This free introductory module from U.S. Soccer, which represents the first step in the newly revised coaching license pathway, is now the general starting point of the pathway and is the required prerequisite to undergo any of U.S. Soccer's Grassroots Licensing Courses. Coaches who complete the module will also be provided with four complimentary Play-Practice-Play training sessions.

The module takes approximately 20 minutes to complete.

For a list of frequently asked questions, please visit: https://supportersclub.desk.com/?b_id=7309To register, please go here.


Courtesy of the Center for Disease Control and Prevention:

5 - HEADS UP to Youth Sports course.  This important and helpful course examines & illustrates various aspects of concussion prevention, awareness and management.  The course is free for DC Stoddert coaches!

This course will help you:

  • Understand a concussion and the potential consequences of this injury,
  • Recognize concussion signs and symptoms and how to respond,
  • Learn about steps for returning to activity (play and school) after a concussion, and
  • Focus on prevention and preparedness to help keep athletes safe season-to-season.

Free for all coaches & parents.  Takes about 30 minutes to complete.  Access the course here.


IN-PERSON OPPORTUNITIES
– 
Learn with other coaches how to improve your coaching skills

1 - US Soccer 4v4 Grassroots In Person Course -- Ideal for Pre-K, Kindergarten and 1st grade coaches and suitable for coaches of grade 2 as well

The 4v4 In-Person Course is a four-hour course that builds on the principles covered in U.S. Soccer’s Introduction to Grassroots Coaching Module. Specifically, candidates will learn more about U.S. Soccer’s Grassroots Coaching Education Philosophy, Play-Practice-Play Methodology, the Six Tasks of a Coach, and the characteristics of players aged 6-8. The course will also ask each candidate to reflect on their experiences to develop action steps for personal growth.

Date: Saturday, August 24, 2019 • Time: 9am-1pm • Location: Jelleff Rec Center.  Please contact [email protected] with any questions about the course content.  TO REGISTER:  Go to US Soccer's Learning Center, create a free account, and take the pre-requisite course.  Once that is done, contact the Recreational Program Director to get a registration code and then you can sign up for the 4v4 course (listed under Grassroots Courses).


2 - US Soccer 9v9 Grassroots In Person Course -- Ideal for coaches of players in 5th grade and older.  Many topics applicable for coaches of players in grades 3 & 4

The 9v9 In-Person Course is a four-hour course that builds on the principles covered in U.S. Soccer’s Introduction to Grassroots Coaching Module. Specifically, candidates will learn more about U.S. Soccer’s Grassroots Coaching Education Philosophy, Play-Practice-Play Methodology, the Six Tasks of a Coach, and the characteristics of players aged 11-12. The course will also ask each candidate to reflect on their experiences to develop action steps for personal growth.

Date: Saturday, August 24, 2019 • Time: 2pm-6pm • Location: Jelleff Recreation Center.  Please contact [email protected] with any questions about the course content.  TO REGISTER:  Go to US Soccer's Learning Center, create a free account, and take the pre-requisite course.  Once that is done, contact the Recreational Program Director to get a registration code and then you can sign up for the 9v9 course (listed under Grassroots Courses).


3 - Kindergarten Coaches Course - Monday, September 9, 6:30pm, at Hardy Rec Center - or - Ft. Reno, site TBD

So you are the coach for a Kindergarten team, perhaps a completely new group, and you want to know how it all works in Stoddert?  This is the place to be!

- Course duration: 1 hour
- Age groups:  Kindergarten (others welcome, especially Pre-K and 1st grade)
- Covers player management, parent management & gameday activities (practices & games)
- Special focus will be applied to the Continuous Play model used in 4 v 4 play
- Learn how to provide the best environment for kids & parents to enjoy soccer and learn the beautiful game!

 
Sign Up!


4 - Coaching Impact Optimization Course - Thursday, September 12, 6:30pm, at Hardy Rec Center - or - Ft. Reno, site TBD

With so little time for practices, can you improve the efficiency & impact of your practice sessions & increase the levels of learning *and* fun in your practices?  YES YOU CAN!

- Course duration:  1 hour
- Age groups: Coaches from ALL age groups are encouraged to attend
- Covers player management, practice and gameday operations, and more.  Some simple, small adjustments can result in significant impacts.
- Special focus will be applied to the DC Stoddert Soccer Coaching Best Practices techniques
- Learn how to provide a more complete development environment that yields happier, better players!

Sign Up!


Contact Us

DC Stoddert Soccer
4620 Wisconsin Avenue NW, Suite A
Washington, District of Columbia 20016

Phone: 202-338-1910
Email: [email protected]