Resourceful, confident knowledgeable coaches are vital to the development of young soccer players and to the advancement of the sport. Whether you are a novice coach with no background in soccer or an experienced coach who seeks further education, the MSYSA has a program to help you.
We stress the same ideals in our coaching courses as with players: enjoyment, positive spirits, enthusiasm, and creativity. If you want to improve your grasp of the elements of the game and learn about organization and coaching methodology at practice and during games, consider one of these MSYSA coaching courses.
Please take a few moments to consider which course will be most appropriate for you. The Youth Module courses are intended for coaches of younger players, the E and D for coaches of older, more experienced teams. You may begin with the concise YM course or the full weekend of the E. The E course is a prerequisite for the D course.
The Youth Module courses are “introductions” -- elementary presentations for first time coaches or those with little experience. Our intention in these module courses is to help you become a more resourceful and confident “activity leader” – to combine your enthusiasm and commitment to children with the basic theory and many practical exercises which we’ll provide.
The E course is for those coaches who want to learn more about the techniques and tactics of the game and more about leading experienced youth teams. This course provides activities and topics for coaches interested in acquiring more advanced strategies and activities and/or advancing within the coaching ranks. A coach must possess an E license to enroll in the D course, so the E license is an integral component of the process.
The D course is for coaches who want to refine their understanding of advanced techniques and tactics and their effectiveness as a trainer of youth players. Our aim here is to help you to prepare yourself to dynamically improve both individual and team performances. Any head coach of a team participating in the Michigan State Premier Soccer Program must have a minimum of a State D license.
The YM, E and D courses may be offered in four-hour blocks in the evening. If they are scheduled as eight-hour days, the course day begins at 9:00 AM and ends at 5:00 PM with time for a lunch break midday.
You may attend (space permitting) a “refresher” course at the level you have attained to review your coaching craft, at no cost. For example, a year or two after you take the E course; you may want to go through the E again, for free. If you wish to attend, please contact Joel Dragan at jdragan@michiganyouthsoccer.org prior to attending. We encourage your attendance and participation; however, you will not receive any materials.
All these courses lead to one another coherently and prepare coaches for US Soccer’s National C, B and A license courses.
DETAILS ABOUT THE COURSES
The Youth Module I course
Duration: 4 Hours
Age Groups: U6, U8
Materials given to the coach: US Youth Soccer Coaching Manual as well as numerous pamphlets that will be very helpful.
Cost: $25
For whom: Novice coaches, or coaches with little experience of U6, U8, U10 and U12 players.
Course Content: Ideas about how to organize practices and game days, lots of practical activities and simulating game for practices, brief demonstration of basic techniques.
The Youth Module II course
Duration: 4 Hours
Age Groups: U10, U12
Materials given to the coach: US Youth Soccer Coaching Manual as well as numerous
pamphlets that will be very helpful.
Cost: $25
For whom: Novice coaches, or coaches with little experience of U6, U8, U10 and
U12 players.
Course Content: Ideas about how to organize practices and game days, lots of
practical activities and simulating game for practices, brief demonstration of
basic techniques.
The Youth Module III course
Duration: 8 Hours
Age Groups: U6, U8, U10, U12
Materials given to the coach: US Youth Soccer Coaching Manual as well as numerous
pamphlets that will be very helpful.
Cost: $50
For whom: Novice coaches, or coaches with little experience of U6, U8, U10 and
U12 players.
Course Content: Ideas about how to organize practices and game days, lots of
practical activities and simulating game for practices, brief demonstration of
basic techniques.
The E Course
Duration: 16 Hours
Materials given to the coach: USSF E Coaching Manual, and FIFA Laws of the Game
Cost: $100
For whom: Coaches, with some experience, of U10, U12 and U14 teams.
Course Content: Systems of play, laws and restarts, more games and exercises for practices, more tactical ideas, including the tactics of 2 versus 1 situations, and goalkeeping.
During the course, each participant may have the opportunity to lead a short coaching session, with constructive reaction by the instructor.
There are not performance tests involved in the Youth Module or the E courses. The E course has a written test. Neither of these two courses is particularly rigorous physically; participation in the practical, active sessions (about half of each course) is strongly encouraged but not required.
The D Course
Duration: 36 Hours – to be taken after completing the 16-hour E course, which is a prerequisite for the D course.
Materials given to the coach: USSF D Coaching Manual, and FIFA Laws of the Game
Cost: $150
For whom: the experienced coach of U12, U14, or U16 club or town teams, or of high school teams.
Course Content: Coaching methodology, fitness, goalkeeping, technical sessions on dribbling, receiving, and shooting, coaching demonstrations, economical coaching methods for technical and tactical topics and for making corrections, and a “take home” test on the laws of the game and on injuries.
4 hours at the “Pre-D Session” Prior to the beginning of the D course, there is a four-hour “Pre-D Session” during the session, the major themes and approaches of the course will be presented and explained, expectations of the coaches will be clarified, and the materials for the course will be distributed.
24 hours of practical and theoretical instruction and activity.
8 hours of testing (During the last 8 hours of the D Course, each coach takes a one-hour written examination and presents a 20-30 minute practical coaching session which is graded.)
The D course is a rigorous course: it is intended for coaches with at least three or four years of coaching older players (U12, minimum) and, preferably, playing experience.
We hope that coaches will consider carefully their situation before they sign up for the D course. The themes, approaches, and methods covered in the D course are not appropriate for players below, at the earliest, U12. Coaches of U10 or even U12 players who want to advance should consider taking a “refresher” E course, at no charge, or some of the MSYSA Specialty Clinics.
SPECIALTY CLINICS
In addition to the Youth Modules, E and D courses, we also offer a variety of Specialty Clinics. These are intensive, three-hour sessions, which focus on a particular theme:
• U6 Specialty
• U8 Specialty
• U10 Specialty
• U12 Specialty
• Passing & Possession
• Passing & Receiving
• Goalkeeping
• Technical Skills
• Shooting & Attacking The Goal
• Finishing & Attacking
• Defending
• Dribbling & Feinting
• Zonal Defending 1
• Zonal Defending 2
• Combination Play
• Building Out Of The Back
• Team Building (Sports Psych 13-18)
• Basic Tactical Situations
• Match Analysis/Scouting
• Art Of Coaching (Team/Player Management)
These clinics combine theory, demonstration, active participation, and practical activities to take back to your players. They are intended to be comprehensive: they will cover elementary techniques and tactical points and advance to more refined and ambitious technical and tactical ideas and activities. So, a novice coach of U10 players will gain plenty of fundamental knowledge and get a glimpse of more advanced elements; an experience coach of U16 players will get a solid review of basics and take away a lot of more refined points and advanced activities.
Materials given to the coach: A brief outline of theory and activities
Cost: $25
For whom: Everyone! No prerequisites! For novice coaches who want to learn the basics, for coaches who have take the Youth Module courses and want to learn more about a particular topic or two, for those preparing for the E and D courses, for coaches who need more advanced knowledge and activities to say ahead of their best players, etc.
HIGH SCHOOL COURSE
An ambitious course for coaches of high school teams, featuring many technical and tactical ideas, about 40 games and activities for your practices, and the opportunity to ask questions and share ideas.
Cost: $40 if you are affiliated with MSYSA. If you are not affiliated, there is an additional $30 fee to become a member for a seasonal year.
COACH DAY
In one day, a combination of:
• Youth Module Course
• A Model Training Session (a “minute to minute” hour and a quarter practice session involving a youth team of U8 or U10 players, led by one MSYSA Staff Coach and scripted by another MSYSA Staff Coach).
Cost: $50 for the whole day; or $25 for the Model Training Session; or $25 for the Youth Module course
COACH NIGHT
An evening with a MSYSA Staff Coach that can be customized to suit the attendees’ needs. A typical session would start with a one hour presentation by a MSYSA Staff Coach on a topic such as “Games to Improve Shooting,” “Zonal Defending,” or “Goalkeeping for Young Players.”
Or we can plan any other topics requested in advance by coaches planning to attend.
The second hour will be used for informal questions and answers on anything the attendees want to talk about.
It’s free! We will be doing two per month at the MSYSA office in April and from August to October. One will be for coaching U8’s and 10’s, the other for coaching older players.
MEDIA NIGHT
This will be a 90-minute session covering all sorts of training aids, including books and tapes. There is no charge for this and will be held at the MSYSA Office.
KEEPER DAYS
An age-specific program for goalkeepers. Sessions will last two hours, and you may wish to schedule younger keepers from, for example, 1-3 PM and older ones from 3-5 PM. MSYSA will bring a Staff Coach to you for training. The cost is $10 per goalkeeper.
MODEL TRAINING SESSIONS
Two Staff Coaches will come to you to present Our Model Training Session. You will provide a team of U6, U8, or U10’s to us to be trained. One coach will train the team as the other staff coach scripts the training session. We require a minimum of 15 coaches and the cost is $25 per person.
MSYSA STAFF
The MSYSA Instructional Staff is a diverse group of men and women who are dedicated to high ideals in sports and to the development of excellent coaches. Most are teachers, many are college and club coaches; all have a wide experience in soccer. Most of the staff coaches have US Soccer A or B licenses.
MSYSA believes “The Game is the greatest teacher” and that children get better at soccer by playing, playing, playing and more playing. We also believe that well-trained, resourceful coaches enhance a child’s enjoyment of this beautiful sport, and we encourage you to take advantage of one of our programs.
IMPORTANT COURSE INFORMATION
It is MSYSA’s desire to provide each participant in our coaching courses with an excellent, educational soccer experience.
There are minimum and maximum numbers of participants for each course. If there are too few participants, the instructor cannot provide a realistic practice situation. If there are too many, the instructor cannot maintain the excellent educational environment, and the facility may be too crowded. We ask that you conform strictly to these guidelines. MSYSA will be responsible for the registration of all courses.
Course Minimum Maximum Facility
Youth Module 15 50 Gym or Soccer Field
E Course 20 50 Gym or Soccer Field
D Course 16 32 Full size Gym or Soccer Field and lecture area
Specialty Clinics 15 50 Gym or Soccer Field
Model Training 15 50 Gym or Soccer Field
Goalkeeper Days 10 25 Gym or Soccer Field
Coach Days 15 50 Gym or Soccer Field
Specialty Clinics:
U6 ---A fun clinic and discussion that will include activities for 6 year-olds that facilitate social and motor development, as well as promote soccer skills and smiles. Discussion will cover management of a team and age appropriate concerns.
U8 ---This clinic and discussion will include activities for 8 year-olds that facilitate development of basic dribbling and passing skills and encourage paired play. Discussion will cover age appropriate concerns as different from U6.
U10 ---All technical skills and a basic understanding of tactics will be covered in this clinic and discussion focusing on 10 year-olds. Discussion will cover mental and physical capabilities and variations seen commonly among typical 10 year-olds.
U12 ---This model practice and lecture will include activities for 12 year-olds that focus on all technical skills, combination play, and basic defensive understanding. Discussion will cover reasonable expectations for 12 year-olds and the unique challenges faced during these pre-teen years.
Technical Skills —The instructor will cover a variety of activities that addresses each and every technical specialty including dribbling, passing, receiving, shooting, and heading. Will not be as detailed as the more specific technical clinics but will cover the full breadth of topics.
Passing and Possession ---This session will cover a model practice for teaching a team how to maintain possession. Of course, part of this will be the execution of passes, but the instructor will focus more on movement off the ball and support positions as part of teaching a team to possess.
Shooting & Attacking the Goal ---Every team needs a goal scorer or goal scorers. This session will cover topics for the individual goal scorer and cover basic team strategy to increase the likelihood of scoring. This session will stress technique and basic attacking options.
Goalkeeping ---The instructor will go over basic goalkeeper technique and positioning as well as teach activities that allow a coach to work a GK into a team practice. This is often a forgotten position of youth coaches and a little education goes a long way.
Defending ---There is a technique to defending (when to tackle vs. when to contain, where to take risks on the field, etc). This session will cover those concerns and discuss variations of defensive styles.
Dribbling & Feinting ---When a player masters the ball, he/she becomes a constant threat to opponents. The instructor will go over activities to encourage creative dribbling and to teach players to recognize when and how to dribble.
Passing and Receiving ---This session will go over every detail of passing and receiving. Passing with all sides of the foot and receiving with all parts of the body will be covered. A must for those coaching 8-12 year-olds.
Speed of Play ---For the more competitive player, speed of play becomes a major determinant of who succeeds. But how do we teach our teams to play faster and make quicker decisions? We will show you how to do this and to get teams to be efficient with their ball touches.
Counterattack ---As tactics become more of a factor in the game (age 13-18) the tactics of organizing a counterattack are extremely important. This session will cover arrangement of players, cues to releasing players and reading the correct times and where to counterattack.
Zonal Defending I--- The game is advancing to where all high level teams are playing a zonal defense. This session will cover why this is so and go over the first steps of installing a zonal defense including roles and organization of the 1 st, 2 nd, and 3 rd defender.
Zonal Defending II ---Part 2 of this topic will include the 4 th defender and team organizational issues. In which direction do you force players, when do you mark, what is your line of confrontation?
Pressing ---It is easier to score if you win the ball in the attacking third of the field. This session will teach you how to organize your team to do this and at what moments to press in order to be successful. A team cannot press all game, but choosing moments and pressing effectively can be overwhelming and too much for another team to handle.
Building out of the Back ---Other than punting the ball out, how do we get the ball up the field? The instructor will go over methods of building out of our own defensive third from the GK or from defenders into the flow of play. Technique and tactics will be discussed in regards to accomplishing this task.
Combination Play ---A true art form. A team that knows how to do 1-2's, takeovers, and overlaps is not only fun to watch but is a devastating attacking team. A must for all developing teams.
Match Analysis/Scouting ---When preparing for an important match or even trying to evaluate what is going on during a game there are methods to use in order to make this an easy task. We will teach you the primary things to look for and how to go about scouting in a way that will give you the most useful information with which to coach your team.
Finishing & Attacking ---Shooting is one part of finishing. How do individual players and team as a whole maximize their chance of scoring and attack in areas that are most dangerous? How do you teach this?
Art of Coaching (Team/Player Mgmt) --- For a beginning coach there are many simple tricks of the trade to make the job easier. Whether it is parent communication, organizing a practice or dealing with difficult players, there are some proven techniques to make the experience simple and fun.
Basic Tactical Situations ---What situations are coming out of your formation? What are you hoping to accomplish with your team and how do you create success? Teaching the players simple tricks and decisions can help us all achieve our goals more easily.
Team Building (Sports Psych 12-18) --- This field and classroom session will go over activities to help build team cohesion and understanding of roles, as well as encourage competitive mentality. In the classroom we will also discuss goal setting and styles of communication with various types of players and in different situations.
