Academy Soccer Coaching Staff Orientation

Contributed by Grant Findlay.
Regional Director of Education, USA Sport Group.

Thursday March 22, 2012 saw the arrival of 21 soccer coaches and a new Regional Director in myself, Grant Findlay. Since our arrival, we have undergone a rigorous orientation week led by the United Soccer Academy professionals at the company’s headquarters in Somerset County, New Jersey.

Less than 24 hours after our arrival at Philadelphia Airport, all coaches were put through their paces at the nearby Player Development Academy (PDA) in Somerset. Each coach was assigned a specific soccer topic for players ranging from 5-14 years. We were then given a short period to plan, design and deliver two innovative 30 minute coaching sessions relating to their chosen topic(s). During the delivery of our coaching sessions, the USA’s soccer professionals (Mark Wilson, Justin Marriott, Graham Jones and Terry Gradwell) evaluated our coaching performance and provided constructive feedback on both a group and individual basis. The coaching sessions were delivered to the highest of standards.

In addition, the orientation week also consisted of an array of detailed lectures ranging from current trends in soccer, planning and evaluation of sessions, team and individual player development, refereeing, health and safety, child protection and company core values.

As every coach has been individually selected from hundreds of applicants and met our coaching outline for qualifications and experience, United Soccer Academy firmly believes that the 2012 coaching staff is the best equipped thus far and is more than capable of meeting all six of our core values; Experience Excellence, Be Honest and Open, Recognize and Appreciate, Do More with Less, Drive Change and Develop, and Have Pride and Passion.

We further anticipate that our coaching staff will also continue to maintain the quality standards already bench-marked throughout the orientation week.

Finally, the United Soccer Academy family wants to take this opportunity to offer a warm welcome to our new group of 2012 coaches.