US Club Soccer: Updates from United Soccer Coaches Convention

CHICAGO, Ill. (Via US Club Soccer) About 14,000 people are expected at the 2019 United Soccer Coaches Convention, and US Club Soccer continues to boast a strong presence, highlighted by a Players First-themed booth (#937) and informative classroom and field sessions with LaLiga.

The complete schedule for the convention is available here, and the Players First guide – featuring sessions by about 10 partners can be accessed here.

For quick reference, US Club Soccer’s and LaLiga’s sessions are as follows:

• Thursday, Jan. 10; 2:30-3:30 p.m. CT: Classroom session – “Developing Intelligence through Formative Player Projects” with LaLiga Formation Methodology experts Gari Fullaondo and Hugo Blanco (McCormick Place West Building Room W183C)
• Friday, Jan. 11; 5:15-6:15 p.m. CT: Field session – “Key Tactical Concepts in Three Game Structures: 7v7, 9v9 and 11v11” with Fullaondo and Blanco (Kwik Goal Demo Field 2; McCormick Place West Building Hall F1)

Thursday, Jan. 10:

Thursday morning will see the convention in full swing, marking the beginning of an action-packed weekend. US Club Soccer staff will gather bright and early at the Hyatt Regency for a comprehensive staff meeting, as the convention’s sessions and activities begin getting underway. ECNL President, Christian Lavers, is leading an education session titled,  “Helping the Best Get Better: Development at the Top of the Youth Game” in CC W185BC from 9:30-10:30 a.m.

At 5:15 p.m. CST, US Club Soccer and LaLiga will host their first session of the weekend, “Developing Intelligence through Formative Player Projects” in CC W183C. LaLiga Technical and Methodological Advisor, Gari Fullaondo, and Miguel Montoro, West Coast Delegate for LaLiga International Business Development, will lead the session on LaLiga’s philosophy on creating special projects and programs to ensure individual long-term player development and cumulative learning. The session will also include a sneak peek into LaLiga’s upcoming courses and events in collaboration with US Club Soccer, as well as a brief demonstration of Kimet Planning software.

US Club Soccer CEO Kevin Payne will stop by Podcast Row to record two interviews today. At 1:00 p.m. CT, he will join The Cooligans podcast (release date TBD), and then will be live on SiriusXM FC, with United States of Soccer host, Jason Davis, one hour later. Both segments will discuss Players First licensing.

The exhibit hall grand opening will then follow at 6:00 p.m., before a full day on Friday, featuring a field session from US Club Soccer/LaLiga, an ENPL/NPL General Meeting, and more sessions from Players First partners, such as Soccer Parenting Resource Center, Positive Coaching Alliance, Kimet Planning and World Football Academy.

Editor’s Note: The US Club Soccer/LaLiga classroom session start time has been updated from its originally scheduled time of 2:30. Please note the new 5:15 time.

Wednesday, Jan. 9:

Most US Club Soccer staff travels to the Windy City on Wednesday with busy itineraries over the next few days, filled with meetings, sessions and introductions.

And while the Exhibit Hall grand opening in McCormick Place takes place Thursday night, the 2019 United Soccer Coaches Convention technically opens Wednesday with select sessions. World Football Academy is hosting a full-day course on “Football Tactics” led by renowned periodization expert Raymond Verheijen from 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. Advance registration was required.