ECNL Coaching Symposium announced for 2018 in San Diego

RICHMOND, VA (Via ECNL) – The Elite Clubs National League will hold its 2018 Coaching Symposium in San Diego, CA, from January 26-28, 2018, featuring three of the top coaching and coaching methodology educators in the world.

Todd Beane, founder of TOVO Academy Barcelona and co-founder of the Cruyff Institute, Ian Barker, Director of Coaching Education for United Soccer Coaches (formerly NSCAA), and Doug Lemov, teaching educator and best-selling author of the books “Teach Like a Champion” and “Practice Perfect” will each present at the 2018 ECNL Coaching Symposium.

The 2018 ECNL Coaching Symposium is part of the league’s coach and club development platform, a key component of the league’s mission to Raise the Game in all standards and areas. The event is hosted by the ECNL and is open to coaches of both male and female youth soccer players.

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“Our goal is to provide unparalleled educational resources, from diverse viewpoints, to coaches across the league in order to challenge them, provoke new ideas and thoughts, and constantly raise the quality of coaching, training, and development in the league,” said ECNL President Christian Lavers. “With this line-up of presenters, the 2018 ECNL Coaching Symposium will be one of the best learning opportunities of the year in this country.”

• Todd Beane: Todd Beane is the founder of TOVO Training and TOVO Academy Barcelona. He also worked with legendary coach Johan Cruyff to create the Cruyff Institute for Sport Studies. Beane has conducted coaching education and development workshops for some of the biggest clubs and organizations in the soccer world, including Barcelona, Ajax, the KNVB and more. 
• Ian Barker: Ian Barker is the Director of Coaching Education for United Soccer Coaches. Barker serves on the national instructional staff for United Soccer Coaches, U.S. Soccer and US Youth Soccer, with formal coaching qualifications from United Soccer Coaches, US Soccer, US Youth Soccer, the English FA and the German DFB. As a coach and coach educator, Barker has traveled extensively in Europe, south and central America, and Africa teaching courses for coaches of all levels.
• Doug Lemov: Doug Lemov is a Managing Director at Uncommon Schools and an author of books about teaching. He is best known for “Teach Like a Champion”(now revised in the ‘2.0’ edition), which describes the practices of high performing teachers and uses ‘game tape’ to study and learn from them.  He’s also the co-author of “Practice Perfect,” a reflection on ‘rules’ for making practice more productive, efficient and effective. Lemov has worked with New Zealand Rugby, several major league baseball franchises, and the US Soccer Federation, among other organizations, to help coaches improve their results.

Since 2012, the ECNL has hosted nearly a dozen coaching education events across the country to share knowledge and best practices in youth development from all over the world. The inaugural ECNL Coaching Symposium was held in February 2017 featuring instructors from Spain teaching the US Club Soccer LaLiga Formation Methodology Level 3 Course. In December of this year, the ECNL will be hosting its first International Coaching Program in Valencia, Spain, powered by World Football Academy.

Held in conjunction with the ECNL Coaching Symposium, the ECNL Winter Meeting for both Girls ECNL and Boys ECNL Member Clubs will take place Friday, January 26, 2018.