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Virginia Youth Soccer Association

Virginia Youth Soccer Association

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Coaching Education

Development. Support. Dedication. Inspiration. Passion for learning.

State Office Contacts

  • Gordon Miller, Technical Director | gordon@vysa.com
  • Paul Shaw, Assistant Technical Director | paul@vysa.com
  • Jessica Cottet, Director, Technical Department Operations | jessica@vysa.com

Host a Course

Clubs or Leagues interested in hosting a US Soccer Coaching License course should complete the registration form below.

register here!

Lesson Plans

In order for players to continue to progress, coaches have to be better prepared with the practice topic, the age appropriate progressions and the key points related to each. These plans will help you to stay organized and help you to further your own growth as well. Enjoy!

lesson plans

Thanks to Gary Stephenson and Eastern Pennsylvania Youth Soccer for allowing Virginia Youth Soccer Association to have access to these age-appropriate lesson plans!

Coach For Community

The Coach for Community (C4C) is a free two hour course (one hr on the field and one hr in the class) that provides coaching education and age appropriate resources for grassroots coaches.

The C4C is intended to help educate entry level coaches and is designed to increase player participation and retain players and coaches. The objective is to share best practices for player development in games and training sessions and share member benefits for the host organization.

host a course

U.S. Soccer Grassroots Licenses

Coaching License Pathway

U.S. Soccer is committed to providing all coaches, from beginner to advanced, with education tailored to their experiences and the needs of their players. The Coaching License Pathway consists of a series of courses designed to meet the specific needs of a coach at every step of the way. U.S. Soccer believes education is a journey, and our goal is to provide the necessary tools, guidance, and mentorship a coach requires.

Step 1: Create a profile in the US Soccer Learning Center
create my profile
Step 2: Complete the Introduction to Grassroots Coaching Module

This free introductory module, which represents the first step in the newly revised coaching license pathway, is now the general starting point of the pathway and is the required prerequisite to undergo any of US Soccer’s Grassroots Licensing Courses. Coaches who complete the module will also be provided with four complimentary Play-Practice-Play training sessions.

The module takes approximately 20 minutes to complete and can be accessed through your US Soccer Learning Center profile.

Step 3: Complete at least one of the four, age-appropriate grassroots courses

These courses specifically target the age-appropriate needs of players at the 4v4, 7v7, 9v9, and 11v11 levels.

See what Grassroots courses are available in your area by selecting a course below!

4v4 Courses
7v7 courses
9v9 courses
11v11 courses

D License

The purpose of this course is to prepare coaches to create environments that are inclusive, fun and safe for children, ages U6-U12, promoting their love for the game.
Eligibility

To register for the U.S. Soccer D Course, individuals must meet the following prerequisites: 

  • Is at least 16 years of age  
  • Complete Introduction to Grassroots Coaching module 
  • Earn Two (2) Different Grassroots In-Person Licenses (4v4, 7v7, 9v9 or 11v11) 
  • Earn One (1) Grassroots Online License (4v4, 7v7, 9v9, or 11v11) 

or 

  • Complete Introduction to Grassroots Coaching module
  • Previously Earned U.S. Soccer E License 

or 

  • Complete Introduction to Grassroots Coaching module
  • Previously Earned U.S. Soccer F License 
  • Earn Two (2) Different Grassroots In-Person Licenses (4v4, 7v7, 9v9 or 11v11) 

and 

  • Student Coaches must have access to a team (U7-U12) for the duration of the course 

Register for all courses through your Learning Center profile at learning.ussoccer.com/

National Coaching Licenses

National C License

The purpose of this course is to assess, organize, design, and implement strategies for player and team development in a participation environment.
Eligibility

To be register for the U.S. Soccer C Course, applicants must meet the following prerequisites: 

  • Is at least 18 years of age  
  • Holds a U.S. Soccer D license for at least six (6) months  
  • A waiver of the U.S. Soccer C License may be considered based on previous professional or national team playing experience or foreign licensure (https://ussf.my.site.com/lcsupport/s/article/Waiver-Process-FAQs)
  • Student Coaches must have access to a team playing 11v11 (U13+) for the duration of the course 

Register for all courses through your Learning Center profile at learning.ussoccer.com/

National B License

The purpose of this course is to prepare coaches to work with youth (U13+) or senior teams in a performance environment.
Eligibility

To register for the U.S. Soccer B Course, individuals must meet the following prerequisites:  

  • Is at least 18 years of age  
  • Hold a U.S. Soccer C license for at least one (1) year  
  • Have three (3) or more years of coaching experience (any level) 
  • A waiver of the U.S. Soccer C License may be considered based on previous professional or national team playing experience or foreign licensure. More information can be found here: https://ussf.my.site.com/lcsupport/s/article/Waiver-Process-FAQs
  • Student Coaches must have access to a team playing 11v11 (U13+) for the duration of the course 

Register for all courses through your Learning Center profile at learning.ussoccer.com/

Technical Leadership: Personal & Professional Development

Technical leadership interviews

Book List

Soccer, Leadership, and Culture

Start with Why: How Great Leaders Inspire Everyone to Take Action

Leaders Eat Last: Why Some Teams Pull Together and Others Don’t

The Infinite Game

The Barcelona Way: How to Create a Winning Team

Brave New World: Inside Pochettino’s Spurs

Quiet Leadership: Winning Hearts, Minds and Matches

Legacy: 15 Lessons in Leadership

Stillness and Speed

The Sports Gene: Inside the Science of Extraordinary Athletic Performance

My Turn: The Autobiography

Teaching

Peak: Secrets from the New Science of Expertise

Practice Perfect: 42 Rules for Getting Better at Getting Better

Teach Like a Champion 3.0: 63 Techniques that Put Students on the Path to College

Self-Improvement/Interesting Reads

Why We Sleep: Unlocking the Power of Sleep and Dreams

The Ride of a Lifetime: Lessons Learned from 15 Years as CEO of the Walt Disney Company

Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind

12 Rules for Life: An Antidote to Chaos

The Obstacle Is the Way: The Timeless Art of Turning Trials into Triumph

Mindset: The New Psychology of Success

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