CHARLESTON, S.C. (March 16, 2016) – More than 100 coaches attended the first LaLiga Formation Methodology coaching education course, held March 11-13 at Texas A&M University in College Station, Texas. The course was hosted by United Soccer Clubs.
Thirty clubs spanning five states were represented:
| Albion Hurricanes FC | Eastbay Hotspurs | Legacy FC |
| Andromeda FC | Eclipse SC | Liverpool FC America |
| Austin Texans SC | Fair Oaks SC | Lonestar SC |
| Challenge SC | FC Dallas | Lonestar SC San Antonio |
| Chesterfield United | FC Forza | Michigan Performance Academy |
| Crush FC | FC Indios | St. Paul Athletico |
| Dallas International Stars FC | Fever United FC | Texans SC |
| Dallas Texans | Houston Express | Texas Rush FC |
| DC United SC | Houstonians FC | Union Sacramento FC |
| Dynamos SC | Juventus Sport Club | Yorktown Youth SC |
US Club Soccer signed LaLiga to a long-term technical partnership in August 2015 at the Players First launch event. LaLiga Formation Methodology is a staple of the partnership, as LaLiga methodology experts share curriculum used across its academies to train some of the world’s best players.
The 22-hour course in Texas is considered “Level 3” and serves as an introductory base to the comprehensive development strategies used by the top professional league in the world. Graduates of this course will now participate in webinars over the coming weeks before being eligible to advance to the intermediate Level 2 setting. Eventually, Level 1 courses will be offered in Spain as the top flight of LaLiga Formation Methodology. Level 1 and 2 courses will be available in 2017.
The full 2016 schedule is still in development, but the next two courses have been confirmed. Additional information, including registration details, will be released soon:
- LaLiga Formation Methodology Level 3 Course – Hosted by NorCal Premier Soccer
June 3-5; Location TBD
- LaLiga Formation Methodology Level 3 Course – Hosted by Virginia NPL
July 29-31; Location TBD
This past weekend in Texas included a sample base for future Level 3 courses. Activities included theory and practical sessions in the Texas A&M PEAP Building and on Ellis Field. Texans SC (Houston) – a member of the United Soccer Clubs – supplied demo players.
Topics included: 1) Methodological Foundations of Training, 2) Structure of Training, 3) Development of the Training Model, 4) Training Tactical Concepts, 5) Training Technique, 6) System Development and Strategy and 7) Player Specialization and Development.
Participants also received a one-year license to Kimet Sport – the software for design, control, evaluation and periodization of training sessions used as for the course and by LaLiga academies. The license is valid for one age group per year per attendee.
Gari Fullaondo (Technical and Methodological Advisor for LaLiga), Hugo Blanco (LaLiga Sports Projects Coordinator) and Zunbeltz Fullaondo (Methodology Director of Kimet Sport) were the LaLiga methodology experts who provided hands-on training. All are UEFO-PRO coaches and have extensive, accomplished resumes. Complete biographies of all three are available here.
Blanco and Gari Fullaondo were among the LaLiga staff in attendance at the 2016 NSCAA Convention, where US Club Soccer debuted the Spanish professional league and detailed the partnership. Blanco saw how the LaLiga Formation Methodology course in Texas is helping LaLiga establish itself internationally. “After the great success and appreciation of this first training course for coaches, LaLiga confirmed its growing presence in the United States with its international expansion strategy,” Blanco said.
Players First is a branded, holistic club soccer experience for parents and players, which emphasizes the development of each individual to his or her full potential, and helps parents make better choices about where their children should play. It is focused on five pillars: Club Development, Coaching Development, Player Development, Parent Engagement & Education and Player Health & Safety.
About US Club Soccer
A National Association member of the U.S. Soccer Federation, US Club Soccer fosters the growth and development of soccer clubs in order to create the best possible development environment for players of all ages.
US Club Soccer offers youth and adult registration, league- and cup-based competition platforms at the recreational and competitive levels, and a variety of other programming and services. Anchored by Players First, US Club Soccer supports all facets of youth soccer through the five pillars of Players First: Club Development, Coaching Development, Player Development, Parent Engagement & Education and Player Health & Safety. Other programming elements include National Premier Leagues, the id² Program and Player Development Program, and the National Cup.
US Club Soccer is sponsored by Nike and is supported by LaLiga through a technical partnership.
