US Club Soccer announces LaLiga Formation Methodology Course in Madrid

The ongoing youth soccer partnership between US Club Soccer and LaLiga has produced 17 coaching development courses, while educating about 1,500 coaches from 400 clubs and impacting thousands more players.

Those courses have all progressed to the next step: the first-ever LaLiga Formation Methodology Level 1-Spain course, which will be held Feb. 2-11, 2020 in Madrid.

This continues the progression of the LaLiga Formation Methodology series, which features Level 3 (introductory), Level 2 (advanced), Level 1-U.S. (expert, part one) and Level 1-Spain (expert, part two) opportunities. Nearly 50 coaches have completed Levels 3, 2 and 1-U.S. and are eligible to attend this Level 1-Spain course. They received invitations yesterday.

“When we began our Players First partnership with LaLiga four years ago, they asked us what they could do to best impact soccer in the U.S.,” said US Club Soccer CEO Kevin Payne. “We believe better coaches develop better players, so we asked them to provide a comprehensive coaching development series. LaLiga Formation Methodology is just that, and it’s exceeded our expectations. This Level 1-Spain course is exactly what we envisioned four years ago. To be able to put our members in intimate learning environments with one of the best leagues in the world will surely lead to better coaches and better players.”

The LaLiga Formation Methodology Level 1-Spain course features numerous educational sessions, including classroom lectures on management, methodology, performance and scouting; tours of various LaLiga academy clubs; visits to Real Madrid and Atlético de Madrid; and attendance at LaLiga youth academy games and one professional match.

LaLiga methodology experts Hugo Blanco, Carlos Casal and academy directors from FC Barcelona, Athletic Club Bilbao, Celta de Vigo and RCD Mallorca will lead this Level 1-Spain course. The delegation will also visit the youth academies of Real Valladolid C.F., A.D. Alcorón, C.D. Leganés and more. More information about the course, including bios of the clinicians and a detailed schedule can be found on the course web page.

“We welcome US Club Soccer and its coaches to this unique learning experience in Spain,” said Blanco, LaLiga’s Sports Projects Manager. “This is a 360-degree view of LaLiga. Participants of this course will learn from the best professionals in our clubs, visit their grassroots training and attend their youth and professional matches.”

LaLiga Formation Methodology is a staple of the US Club Soccer/LaLiga partnership, which stems from US Club Soccer’s Players First initiative.