Inaugural MLS Youth Affiliate Coaches Summit Brings Expanded League Presence to United Soccer Coaches Convention
Published on January 14, 2020 under Major League Soccer (MLS) News Release
NEW YORK - Major League Soccer continues its commitment to coaching education by today announcing - in conjunction with United Soccer Coaches - five days of MLS-led programming at the United Soccer Coaches Convention at the Baltimore Convention Center from Jan. 14-18. MLS will see an enhanced presence at the United Soccer Coaches Convention with the inaugural Youth Affiliate Coaches Summit, offering elite player development and talent identification seminars to participating coaches.
The Youth Affiliate Coaches Summit is the marquee education platform of the MLS Youth Affiliate Network, launched in September 2019 in partnership with adidas, and is dedicated to improving athlete identification and development. Additionally, MLS and adidas are committed to creating a path to higher levels of soccer for youth players through increased education and competition such as Generation adidas Cup.
Technical staff leaders from MLS and six MLS clubs will guide Youth Affiliate Network coaches in a variety of courses ranging from sport psychology and talent identification to on-field goalkeeping coaching activities on Jan. 14-15. In addition to rigorous coursework and on-field sessions, Youth Affiliate Network coaches will learn best practices in using their club affiliations with professional MLS staff to better serve athletes.
The marquee event of both the Youth Affiliate Coaches Summit and the United Soccer Coaches Convention will see a keynote presentation by reigning MLS Cup champion Seattle Sounders FC General Manager Garth Lagerwey. The three-time MLS Cup winner and reigning MLS Sporting Executive of the Year will discuss the Sounders FC player development pyramid and the alliance with adidas as part of the Youth Affiliate Network.
Among other notable MLS sessions will be a presentation on "Application of a Principle of Play in an MLS Youth Academy Environment", led by D.C. United academy director Dave Sanford and Technical Director Gus Teren, both of whom have participated in the Elite Coaching Formation License through MLS' groundbreaking partnership with the French Football Federation.
Outside of MLS programming, the Professional Referee Organization continues its ongoing education of the Video Review process by once again welcoming United Soccer Coaches Convention attendees to step into the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) simulator from Jan. 16-18. The VAR simulator provides real-time video of potentially reviewable incidents with PRO officials on hand to explain the decision-making process for penalty kicks, red cards, and goals.
Below is a complete listing of notable MLS-related programming at the United Soccer Coaches Convention.
*Note: Schedule subject to change. All times are Eastern.
**Events on Jan. 14-15 are open only to Youth Affiliate Coaches
Tuesday, January 14
10:30 a.m.
Health & Performance: Insights from Building a Youth Program & Working in Two Different MLS Academies
James Wagenschutz, Colorado Rapids Academy Performance Coach and Applied Sport Scientist
11:45 a.m.
MLS Goalkeeper Methodology
Danny Cepero, New York City FC Academy Goalkeeper Coach
Jeremy Proud, New York Red Bulls Academy Goalkeeper Coach
Jack Stefanowski, D.C. United Academy Goalkeeper Coach
1:15 p.m.
Shot Stopping & Angle Play (On-field session)
Danny Cepero, New York City FC Academy Goalkeeper Coach
Jeremy Proud, New York Red Bulls Academy Goalkeeper Coach
Jack Stefanowski, D.C. United Academy Goalkeeper Coach
2:30 p.m.
Sport Psychology for the Grassroots Coach
Cristina Fink, Philadelphia Union Sports Psychologist
3:45 p.m.
How to Communicate Well with Players and Parents
Positive Coaching Alliance
5 p.m.
Talent Identification for PreFormation
Alecko Eskandarian, MLS Senior Manager of Player Relations and Competition
6:15 p.m.
MLS Club Relationship - Affiliate Workshop
Brandon Turton, MLS Manager of Youth Development
Wednesday, January 15
10 a.m.
Brand & Sports Marketing Insight
adidas
10:45 a.m.
Atlanta United Academy Methodology
Matt Lawrey, Atlanta United Academy Manager
11:45 a.m.
Attacking Principles of Play - the D.C. Way (On-field session)
Gus Teren, D.C. United Technical Director
Dave Sanford, D.C. United Academy Director
1:30 p.m.
Anticipate to Intervene (On-field session)
Matt Lawrey, Atlanta United Academy Manager
2:30 p.m.
Attacking Principles of Play - the D.C. Way (On-field session)
Gus Teren, D.C. United Technical Director
Dave Sanford, D.C. United Academy Director
3:15 p.m.
Building Your Club Culture
Cristina Fink, Philadelphia Union Sports Psychologist
4:15 p.m.
From Youth Soccer to the Pros - Leadership Panel
Alecko Eskandarian, MLS Senior Manager of Player Relations and Competition
Lori Lindsey, Former NWSL & U.S. Women's National Team Player
Santino Quaranta, Former D.C. United & U.S. Men's National Team Player
KJ Spisak, Former NWSL and U.S. U-23 Women's National Team Player
5:15 p.m.
MLS Relationship - Affiliate Workshop
Brandon Turton, MLS Manager of Youth Development
Thursday, January 16
9:30 a.m.
Red Bulls Youth Programs: Youth Pathway to Pro
Simon Barrow, New York Red Bulls Senior Manager of Player Development
11 a.m.
Insight and Development of MLS Academy Goalkeeper
Danny Cepero, New York City FC Academy Goalkeeper Coach
Jeremy Proud, New York Red Bulls Academy Goalkeeper Coach
Jack Stefanowski, D.C. United Academy Goalkeeper Coach
12 p.m.
Seattle Sounders FC: Youth Development Pyramid and the adidas Alliance
Garth Lagerwey, Seattle Sounders FC General Manager
1 p.m.
Sports Performance Course Introduction
Mateus Manoel, Inter Miami CF Sports Performance Manager and Fitness Coach
James Wagenschutz, Colorado Rapids Academy Performance Coach and Applied Sport Scientist
2:30 p.m.
Red Bulls Youth Programs: Combination Play to Create Scoring Chances
Abigail Katz, New York Red Bulls Senior Manager of Youth Coaches
2:30 p.m..
United Soccer Coaches Hall of Fame Panel
Schellas Hyndman, Former FC Dallas Head Coach
Dean Linke, Announcer and Former MLS PR Professional
Jay Martin, Ohio Wesleyan Head Coach
2:30 p.m.
Shot Stopping & Angle Play (On-field session)
Danny Cepero, New York City FC Academy Goalkeeper Coach
Jeremy Proud, New York Red Bulls Academy Goalkeeper Coach
Jack Stefanowski, D.C. United Academy Goalkeeper Coach
Friday, January 17
9:15 a.m.
Qualities of Good Finishers
Nolan Sheldon, D.C. United Assistant Coach
9:15 a.m.
Integrating Strength and Power in a Field Session (On-field session)
James Wagenschutz, Colorado Rapids Academy Performance Coach and Applied Sport Scientist
11 a.m.
Red Bulls Youth Programs: Finding Runners In-Behind the Back Line (On-field session)
Richard Scott, New York Red Bulls Coach Education Manager
12 p.m.
Challenges in the U.S. Landscape and How We Can Provide Solutions - Panel
MLS Player Development Department
Patricia Gonzalez, Women's Football Technical Development Manager at FIFA
April Heinrichs, Former U.S. Women's National Team Head Coach & Technical Director
Bill Taylor, President, Idaho Youth Soccer (USYS)
1:30 p.m.
Application of a Principle of Play in an MLS Youth Academy Environment (On-field session)
Gus Teren, D.C. United Technical Director
Dave Sanford, D.C. United Academy Director
Saturday, January 18
9 a.m.
Red Bulls Youth Programs: Combination Play to Create Scoring Chances (On-field session)
Abigail Katz, New York Red Bulls Senior Manager of Youth Coaches
9 a.m.
Periodization 101: Physical Planning for Optimal Performance
James Wagenschutz, Colorado Rapids Academy Performance Coach and Applied Sport Scientist
Mateus Manoel, Inter Miami CF Sports Performance Manager and Fitness Coach
1:30 p.m.
Destabilizing the Opponent: Combination Play to Unbalance an Organized Low Block Defense (On-field session)
Gus Teren, D.C. United Technical Director
Dave Sanford, D.C. United Academy Director
3:30 p.m.
Developing Strength and Power for Soccer
James Wagenschutz, Colorado Rapids Academy Performance Coach and Applied Sport Scientist
Major League Soccer Stories from January 14, 2020
- Sounders FC Signs Defender Shane O'Neill - Seattle Sounders FC
- Real Salt Lake Announces Extended Partnership with America First Credit Union - Real Salt Lake
- Ezequiel Barco, Franco Escobar, Eric Remedi Become U.S. Permanent Residents, No Longer Occupy International Roster Spots - Atlanta United FC
- Impact Acquires Canadian Central Defender Joel Waterman - Club de Foot Montreal
- Chicago Fire FC and Defender Marcelo Mutually Agree to Part Ways - Chicago Fire FC
- Nashville SC Announces Full 2020 Preseason Schedule - Nashville SC
- FC Cincinnati Announce Opponents for 2020 Preseason Schedule - FC Cincinnati
- BBVA Stadium Selects ParkMobile as Official Parking Partner - Houston Dynamo FC
- Toronto FC Announce 2020 Preseason Plans - Toronto FC
- D.C. United Acquire Peruvian National Team Midfielder Edison Flores - D.C. United
- New York Red Bulls Sign Academy Product John Tolkin - New York Red Bulls
- Toronto FC Acquires Allocation Money from Colorado - Toronto FC
- Chicago Fire FC Names Frank Klopas Assistant Coach - Chicago Fire FC
- Inaugural MLS Youth Affiliate Coaches Summit Brings Expanded League Presence to United Soccer Coaches Convention - MLS
- 28 Players Will Take Part in the 2020 Montreal Impact Training Camp - Club de Foot Montreal
- Columbus Crew SC Signs Crew SC Academy Product Aidan Morris - Columbus Crew SC
- Czech Republic and Greece Selected as Rivals for Mexican National Team's 2020 U.S. Tour March Games in Charlotte and Dallas - FC Dallas
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