KSC Coaches Participate in the United Soccer Coaches Convention
Kensington Soccer Club Coaches participated in the United Soccer Coaches Convention which was hosted in Philadelphia this year. Some of the attendees from our organization include Director of Travel and Recreational Programming Tim Summiel, Director of OST Programming Ian Larimer, Program Director Carlos Acosta, as well as coaches River Mason, Kelvin Rankin, Marvin Saint-Jour and Cherif Kamara. According to Tim, “The soccer community is small but large. It is a connected group, and the success and failures of soccer in the united states all get to come together for a week of learning, networking, and fun. I saw former college teammates, former coaches I played for and against, friends, and colleagues from all over the united states. Many of our partner organizations were represented; Philadelphia Parks & Rec, Eastern Pennsylvania Youth Soccer, US Soccer Foundation, The JT Dorsey Foundation, etc. The convention is a time to reconnect with old friends in the game, and learn the newest up-to-date strategies, techniques, and systems.”
Tim attended sessions led by Thomas Durkin: one of the top educators in U.S. Soccer; Kai Edwards a coach at Southern Utah University and member of the United Soccer Coaches Black Coaches Group; and Keith Tozar who is a national men’s futsal team head coach. He was as impressed by their content as the methods they used to demonstrate the material. For example Durkin’s on-the-field session was quote, “Wonderful…Tom had a great command of the players and presentation and bought out the topic of the session wonderfully through his designed games and coaching points. Tom is recognized as one of the top educators in US Soccer, he is an instructor for the USSF A license, and watching him was a pleasure.”
Additionally, Tim was moved by Kai Edwards discussion of the struggles, successes, setbacks - and ways forward was quote, “relevant, insightful and informative”. He “notably…presented on the times he was at his lowest, and his current rise through the coaching ranks to leading a Division 1 Soccer Program to a winning season.”
Following the convention, our coaches were excited to share some of their reflections.
What were some notable sessions you attended?
Ian L.: I attended Strategies for building a best-in-class Grassroots program & player pipeline; Adopting sustainable inclusion strategies in Soccer; Ajax DNA translate into Club Philosophy; Futsal technical training; How Tech helps Grassroots Organizations thrive and Building a culture, Build a Team; Methods to create sustainability as an organization.
Kelvin R: I attended: Modern Attacking Trends & Futsal technical training
River: I attended Molly Grisham’s presentation on “Team Building & Best Practices”. Molly's main emphasis focused on group activities to create a stronger connection with a team. Her focus was primarily on group check-ins and how these connections can tell more of a story to get to know your players and how they feel about one another. A favorite and impactful session of mine was getting to hear the breakdown of how Haley, the former Assistant Coach of the Afghanistan Women's National Football Team went to the press to address the abuse/sexual assault of players from former President Keramuddin Keram after no investigation from FIFA occurred and he was promoted to President. As well as, the details of the takeover of the Taliban and the operation of getting her team out of Kabul to Australia. Finally, I was inspired by the session on “Coaches Mental Health.” This session had coaches express their experiences addressing personal stories on their mental health as either a player or coach and discussing some of the adversity that players and coaches of color can face.
Tim S.: Keith Tozar did an on-the-field presentation about technical skills needed for Futsal. The way he informed players was great. Players easily were able to implement what he was coaching them to do. The session started with players in a rondo, he went into the first touch and how to receive the ball, then worked on player movement with their first touch (Taking the ball into space). Next, he had the team complete passing lines in which it wasn't just your typical passing the ball back and forth but asking the players to receive the ball and play in certain spaces, additionally where teammates should move and why depending on where players took their first touch. Very relevant exercises and information to give to our players considering the amount of time we play indoors and in small-sided settings.
What did you learn from the sessions you attended?
Ian was struck by the insights he received regarding grassroots soccer programs and the role of technology. He found, “Technology can be utilized as an instrumental tool in augmenting the efficacy and reach of grassroots soccer organizations by facilitating communication, streamlining record-keeping and financial management, optimizing event and game scheduling, sharing resources, recruiting new members, and enabling data-driven performance evaluations and training.” Here is what others learned during their time at the convention:
Kelvin R: I learned a more efficient way to vocalize technical requirements for players. Using the full pitch and playing the ball into space. I also learned to make sure players are scanning the pitch to enhance field awareness. Keep all attacking drills directional and intentional. Attacking players are wide in positioning and forcing defenders wide to better utilize the middle of the pitch.
Ian L: Creating a best-in-class grassroots soccer program and player pipeline necessitates a multifaceted approach that encompasses clear goal-setting, recruitment of a skilled coaching staff, implementation of a comprehensive player development plan, cultivation of a culture of excellence, utilization of technology and data analysis, establishment of partnerships and collaborations, provision of clear progression pathways, and prioritization of player welfare.
Soccer coaching is not independent of the larger political, social and economic context that players operate within. This was evident to River as they were sitting in Haley Carter’s presentation. In the face of adversity, it is vital to utilize all the resources and connections you possibly have to help combat whatever oppression is being faced. Every community has its own struggles and one person or a group of people alone can come together and change the trajectory of a person's life. Specifically, River found, “Something that Haley Carter said that was inciteful to me was her acknowledgment of the privilege she had to be able to get her team members as well as some of their family members out of Kabul simply because she had their names on a list.” River was especially moved by. Haley’s question to herself during this ordeal: "Who am I to have that say?"
What are some takeaways that you will use in your work at KSC?
According to Tim, “coaching education is always relevant being able to utilize some of the techniques and topics that I learned with the players.” Our coaches also had great takeaways that they will use in their work at KSC:
Kelvin: As a coach should never expect the player to know it all. Every human being is continuously growing and learning. We can all learn from each other. Give positive reinforcement, praise the positive actions and develop the negative ones!
Ian L: Dr. Timothy Baghurst, Director of Florida State Universities Interdisciplinary Center for Athletic Coaching, offered great insight into buildiing an organizations culture and how to sustain it. Dr. Baghurst used the phrase, "Culture is taught, not caught". This means that you must continually and consistently promote your chosen culture, reward those who embrace it. Address the behaviours that are not appropriate immediately and without exception. No action suggests that you are condoning the activity. Walk the talk.
River: Check-ins are a great way to really get more of a read on your team and them discover new things they didn't know about one another. The group activities she shared give you a clearer consensus. You got to see who trusts each other, who the team feel is the leader in the group, who maybe needs to work on some connections, and so on.
Our coaches had an incredible time at the Convention thanks to the support of the J.T. Dorsey Foundation who sponsored passes for several of our coaches to attend a day of programming.