This week saw the start of the NSCAA Master Coach Diploma / University of Delaware Master Coach Certificate which is the educational pinnacle of the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA). This program is designed for coaches and soccer organizational leaders (e.g. directors of coaching, club general managers, technical directors, academy directors, college coaches and executive directors) who work or aspire to work at the highest level of their profession.
The course is focused on evidence-based management principles and player development to prepare experienced coaches and soccer organizational leaders to achieve mastery in six key areas:
Developing the philosophy, vision, culture and strategy for the sport
Shaping environments
Building relationships
Structuring training and competition schedules
Preparing for competition, managing the game and analyzing performance
Learning and reflecting
The key focus of the program belongs to the design, delivery and evaluation of a work-based project which is then presented at the Annual NSCAA Convention for review and assessment by a panel of technical experts.
Candidates who successfully complete the requirements for the course will receive the NSCAA Master Coach Diploma, a non-credit certificate, and 9 continuing education credits from UD.
e.t.c were invited by the NSCAA to facilitate key learning in and around the concept of coach development. Across a number of sessions master coaches were supported to explore their role as coach developers. They were introduced to the concept of reflective practice to enhance their analysis of current coach development approaches in their own coaching work-space. They were also challenged to consider how they could use the adult learning principles to profile, plan for and support coach learning across a range of environments. The final session on mentoring allowed master coaches to consider how they could provide supported practice in the field to develop coaching expertise.
We look forward to supporting those master coaches whose project intends to focus on coach learning and development and will enjoy hearing about the other impact stories at the National convention in Philadelphia in January of 2018.
