“Completing my USSF A coaching license was the next step in my soccer education. This course was a very interesting experience and much different from any other soccer educational courses I have been part of," says Matlak.

The A-Senior License requires a comprehensive application from all interested candidates who must have held the B License for at least six months, and have experiences and access to a team of senior players in a high-performance, result driven environment. The course consists of four meetings separated by three development periods and takes approximately six to nine months to complete. The course focuses on a wide range of topics such as player psychology and performance analysis as well as specific skill building and coaching techniques. Stan enrolled in June 2016 and made a total of 3 trips to Kansas City, each one encompassing a five-day block of classroom sessions, field sessions and assessments. Stan completed his final assessment in May, 2017 in Parsippany, NJ.

Stan acknowledges the importance of this course to further his education and development.

“The course has challenged me as a coach in key areas including game analysis, periodization, systems of play and self-reflection to name a few. The caliber of the other candidates taking the course, such as Carlos Bocanegra and Mike Petke, has also helped expand my soccer knowledge."

Al Zalewski, former President of the Parsippany Soccer Club adds, “The Senior A License is a great accomplishment for Stan and for the club, and it is part of the Coaching Education pathway we have in place for all of our coaches. We look forward to more of our coaches achieving higher coaching levels in the upcoming year.”