Coaches Convention 2020.

This past week, I attended the United Soccer Coaches Convention in Baltimore. This was my first time attending the event and so there is certainly plenty to say about my experience. When I was mapping out my schedule, there were several different tracks that I could have focused on-Futsal, Technology, Finishing and Goalkeeping, etc- or I could have gone and experienced a little bit of everything without earning a diploma. In order to earn a diploma, there are a minimum number of sessions you have to attend from all the sessions offered for specific tracks. Knowing myself, I decided to spend the majority of my time listening to speakers talk about Sports Performance which included topics such as programming, energy systems, periodization, strength training, and movement preparation (or as some might call “warm ups”). What was unique about this diploma was that it was the first time being offered at the convention and it was also a small taste to what US Soccer would like to be a larger weekend course that is offered in 2020.

After sitting in the sessions, I can see why. The information was incredibly dense and certainly challenged me as a coach. However, I loved every second of it and ended up substituting some of my other sessions I had planned in different areas so that I could spend more time with the absolutely outstanding speakers in this track.

My biggest takeaway from the convention was this: Coaches need to do more. I am in no way excluded from this statement, so let me just make that perfectly clear. But sitting in the audience, I realized there are so many questions that need to be asked while planning sessions and seasons. I’ll give one small example: the neutral player. I never considered the mechanical load of a neutral player and how that differs from the rest of their teammates. What does this mean? It means the neutral players will typically position themselves in the middle of the field and will have less changes of direction than their teammates. Their heart rate will still be high because they are always turned on, but their movement will not be the same. This position is good for return to play players. Understand that there is a purpose and a reason behind every decision we make as coaches. Or how about this. How often are we training players in the positions they will be playing on the field? When we set up a 4v4 activity, are players just “playing anywhere” or is there intention and purpose behind how we divide up the teams (specific players, specific positions) and who plays where? If each position has different demands, do we recognize and understand how we load athletes and are we are giving them the appropriate workload so that when it comes game time, they are ready?

Of course, we all can get that, right? We get we can always do more. So, what do I do? I confessed to one of the speakers that I felt overwhelmed by all the information. As someone without an exercise background and is still learning about all of the aforementioned points, and also as someone who is not the head coach does not make the final call, what do I do with the information given to me? Their advice was to take just one thing away that I'd be willing to learn more about and implement. Take one thing I’d be willing to bite my lip on and say, “we’re doing this,” and then every year add one more thing that you’d be willing to try and fight for. They also recommended I keep studying, keep asking questions, keep reading the literature that is out there. I know I am going to make a lot of mistakes, but the important piece is to continue moving forward. I’ve always believed the small things I do every day will contribute to something bigger than I could’ve ever imagined 10 years down the road. What we do each day matters.