U.S. Soccer announces application window for ‘A’ and ‘B’ coaching courses

CHICAGO – U.S. Soccer has announced the next application window for A-Senior and B License coaching education courses will open on Sept. 16 at 12:00 p.m. and run through Oct. 3. Course start dates, in-person meeting dates and locations will be made available on Sept. 16.

While coaching courses and in-person education continue, additional information will be provided regarding in-person safety protocols and requirements. As always, U.S. Soccer’s top priority is the health and safety of its players, coaches and staff. The Federation is committed to following the health practices outlined by the Centers for Disease Control and the U.S. Soccer Return to Play protocols.

As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, there is a new reality in how U.S. Soccer approaches education. While the Federation has made shifts to integrate online and blended learning opportunities over the past few years, current circumstances have offered an opportunity to reimagine how coaching education could operate in the future.

In-person interaction, an important standard of education, will now be supported with greater remote interaction during the development periods between in-person meetings. An increase in virtual education allows for greater retention of course material, additional time to incorporate and test concepts in candidates’ own environments, more intentional field work during in-person meetings and fewer in-person days required.

“While we know that in-person education is vital for the development process, we are pleased with how the courses have progressed over the past months and know that we can integrate some best practices as we move ahead,” said Didier Chambaron, Director of Coaching Education. “Education will be different in the future, and we believe that’s for the better. As education evolves, we need to continue to evolve,”

The A-Senior course will have three in-person meetings over a 10-month period, while B courses will be held over a six-month period with two in-person meetings. In-person meetings will be reduced to three nights and class sizes will also be smaller than prior years in accordance with safety recommendations.

In addition to in-person meetings, virtual interaction and learning will take place on a weekly basis. Students will take part in large group, small group and individual webinars.

“We believe these modifications provide our students greater flexibility in the near-term with our primary focus on the safety and well-being of our educators, students and staff,” said Chambaron. “We’re reducing the class size and the number of nights away from families, clubs and players while incorporating virtual learning for a better course experience and ultimately better learning.”

Female coaches accepted to the A-Senior and B License courses can have 50 percent of tuition covered by theJill Ellis Scholarship Fund, established to boost the number of elite female coaches in the United States. Candidates will also have the opportunity to participate in the SheChampions Coaching Mentorship Program, currently in the midst of its first year providing aspiring coaches with experienced mentors to guide them on their educational journey.

The application window will run from Sept. 16 to Oct. 3. Interested applicants should review the course details and pre-application checklist in the bullet points below. All applications must be submitted through the U.S. Soccer Learning Center.

Participants in U.S. Soccer Coaching Education courses will have the opportunity to earn a nationally-recognized license from U.S. Soccer, a FIFA national association member and the governing body of soccer in all its forms in the United States.

The next round of B courses will begin in July 2022 and the next round of A-Youth courses will begin in Aug. 2022, with the application window opening next spring. For details on other U.S. Soccer Coaching Education courses please visit the Learning Center and review the information under Available Courses or check out theFAQ page.