Coaching Licenses

[TennSoccer]

I don't understand the different coaching licenses. I have a very basic understanding of the significance of the USSF letter designations (e.g. C license), but what does a license mean from the National Soccer Coaches Association of America? How do the following diplomas translate into the alphabet of licenses issued by USSF?:

Regional Diploma
Advanced Regional Diploma
National Diploma

Also, if a coach claims to have a license, how do you verify that he or she actually has the license claimed? Finally, what are the requirements to obtain the various levels of licenses? What is a C-licensed coach supposed to bring to the table that the holder of a lower level license can't give you?

[BigGuy]

[quote=TennSoccer;12770234]I don't understand the different coaching licenses. I have a very basic understanding of the significance of the USSF letter designations (e.g. C license), but what does a license mean from the National Soccer Coaches Association of America? How do the following diplomas translate into the alphabet of licenses issued by USSF?:

Regional Diploma
Advanced Regional Diploma
National Diploma


NSCAA --------------------------- USSF

Premier ---------------------------- A
Advanced National ----------------------------- B
National ---------------------------- C
Advanced Regional ------------------------------ D
Regional ----------------------------- E
State ---------------------------- F

[goru_no_ura]

Also, if a coach claims to have a license, how do you verify that he or she actually has the license claimed? Finally, what are the requirements to obtain the various levels of licenses? What is a C-licensed coach supposed to bring to the table that the holder of a lower level license can't give you?

The local association is usually notified by the National organization, and a pass and a certificate are given to teh graduate coach.

The holder of a C license has survived a full week of training under one ro more very experienced coaches.

However, one of the best coaches in my state had NO license until last sumemr. Now he has an "E" and he is much more capable of many who hold the "C."

Ergo: do not judge a coach by his/her license.

[BigGuy]

The local association is usually notified by the National organization, and a pass and a certificate are given to teh graduate coach.

The holder of a C license has survived a full week of training under one ro more very experienced coaches.

However, one of the best coaches in my state had NO license until last sumemr. Now he has an "E" and he is much more capable of many who hold the "C."

Ergo: do not judge a coach by his/her license.

A little more detail on the C license

The C is about teaching principles of play and technique in a small sided environment.

It is not that there is no coverage of anything bigger than 4v4 (5v5 inc keepers), it is that the testing is not done on anything bigger than 4v4.

You have a technical and a tactical topic for field sessions that you are evaluated on.

There are a couple of 9v9 sessions included, purely meant to be instructional, and how this sort of training applies to the full system is covered as well. There is also a very brief discussion of systems of play, not enough. I understand why they want to stop at 4v4 for the evaluation of candidates. One can adequately show knowledge of the game and how to teach both principles of play and technique in the 4v4 environment - there are enough players to do it, and it should be relatively easy for those with a good understanding. When you add more players, they are essentially distracters, and more variables to confuse the situation.

There are enough who struggle in the D and C in the 4v4 environment that I have seen to make me believe that it would be unfair to ask many of them to try to prove themselves in a game any larger and more complicated than absolutely necessary. In other words, if you can teach the pressuring defender in an 8v8-11v11 game, then surely you can identify the points to make in a 4v4 game, right? Extend the same logic to the B, and the 9v9 functional training that they are looking for, and the logic makes sense.

It assumes that testing is the most important part of the course, rather than teaching. Sure, they do try to teach. However, with the time and monetary investment of all the candidates, the instructors are sensitive (rightly so) to the desire of everyone to pass, so they spend too much time teaching how to pass.

[TennSoccer]

The replies are helpful, thanks.

I don't judge a coach by his license, but D1 requires a C licensed coach. I am unimpressed by my son's new coach who supposedly holds a National Diploma. After we lost a coach last spring, the club interviewed only coaches with a C level license or higher. We now have to pay the licensed coach much more than we paid our D licensed coach in the past, he is harsh with the players, singles players out for criticism in post-game discussions, and (judging from performance on the field as well as comments from my son) not doing a very good job of communicating tactics.

In contrast, one of the most successful coaches in the state had to give up his team when it reached D1 because he did not have the proper license even though his team (which is very well coached and a delight to watch) had won the state championship three years running.

[BigGuy]

The replies are helpful, thanks.

I don't judge a coach by his license, but D1 requires a C licensed coach. I am unimpressed by my son's new coach who supposedly holds a National Diploma. After we lost a coach last spring, the club interviewed only coaches with a C level license or higher. We now have to pay the licensed coach much more than we paid our D licensed coach in the past, he is harsh with the players, singles players out for criticism in post-game discussions, and (judging from performance on the field as well as comments from my son) not doing a very good job of communicating tactics.

In contrast, one of the most successful coaches in the state had to give up his team when it reached D1 because he did not have the proper license even though his team (which is very well coached and a delight to watch) had won the state championship three years running.

How old is your son 14?

[BigGuy]

B Licence

USSF "B" The biggest thing is they no longer use playing ability as one of it's components.

Before they would grade you on a scale of 1 to 5 and it would go into your average for their 3.2 rule.

That is no longer the case know they give you a note for "game awareness" it can be either satisfactory or needs improvement and it doesn't go into the average for the 3.2 rule. That seemed to be the biggest gripe about the USSF, well its not more.

Some topics covered tacticly;

training the playmaker, switching the point of attack, training your
outside backs to overlap in the attack, training the two forward to
defend, training 3 forwards to attack

Mostly tactical functional stuff covering every position on the field
plus some technical functional sessions

All my coaching is mostly functional and dual theme practices like they do in UEFA B

[TennSoccer]

My son is 13. He's on the young end of the U-14 year.

[Val1]

NSCAA --------------------------- USSF

Premier ---------------------------- A
Advanced National ----------------------------- B
National ---------------------------- C
Advanced Regional ------------------------------ D
Regional ----------------------------- E
State ---------------------------- F
The advanced regional and regional are pretty much the same in content and difficulty, the advanced diploma just gives you 8 more hours of content. I would consider both regional diplomas as equivalent to the E because there is no graded exam, which means all you have to do is show up.

[Kevin8833]

What is the first licence that you get? And does anybody know if there are any clinics for it in the Ft. Myers, Naples, Florida area? Even Tampa or Miami would be ok. Do you have to be 18 to get it or can you be 17? I turn 18 in February.

[Val1]

You can go straight to the D in most states, and I wouldn't think there are any problems with your age if you're not cutting school. Same with the National Diploma.

[Kevin8833]

You can go straight to the D in most states, and I wouldn't think there are any problems with your age if you're not cutting school. Same with the National Diploma.
Thanks do you know of any clinices to get my D licence around the Naples/Ft Myers, Florida area? Or a site I could look for or anything? Thanks.

[Twenty26Six]

Thanks do you know of any clinices to get my D licence around the Naples/Ft Myers, Florida area? Or a site I could look for or anything? Thanks.

You'll want to contact your local state association.

Florida Youth Soccer Association (http://www.fysa.com/coaching/77796.html)

D LICENSE (the highest state course and the prerequisite for the National "C" course)

The content of the "D" course builds upon the "E" course curriculum and places a strong emphasis on practical coaching by the coaches attending the course. This course has a series of exams. Coaches who pass will receive either a "D (r)" or "D" designation, depending on their grades. A "D (r)" license is required to attend any National C license after a one year wait

There is a requirement of an E certificate before you may take a D license course. The minimum age to attend the D course is 16 years.

Waivers: The FYSA Director of Coaching may waive the E certificate requirement only if the candidate has two years of Division I college playing experience or higher and two years of experience coaching players U14 or older. A coaching resume must be submitted and approved before the candidate may be waived to take the course. Waiver requests should be emailed to.

[Kevin8833]

You'll want to contact your local state association.

Florida Youth Soccer Association (http://www.fysa.com/coaching/77796.html)Cool thanks!