EL PASO, Texas – Over the last two weeks, El Paso Locomotive FC Youth Soccer, in conjunction South Texas Soccer Association, provided 16 local coaches (nine of which were Locomotive coaches) the opportunity to take the U.S. Soccer Federation D License Coaching Course, a course designed for experienced grassroots coaches looking to take the next step in the U.S. Coaching License Pathway.
“We were extremely excited and proud to have offered the D license course to coaches in our facilities,” Director of Youth Soccer and Programs Colin Herlinger said. “Our coaches are gaining a better understanding of the importance of continued education and how much it can benefit soccer development in our region. We aim to make this learning contagious and will work towards providing more opportunities for our coaches to further their coaching education.”
Per the U.S. Soccer Learning Center, the D course aims to support coaches in developing competencies (knowledge, skills, attitude, and personal traits) necessary to encourage player participation in inclusive environments. Learning objectives for the D course include:
- Creating a positive and safe environment that encourages respect, inclusivity and belonging.
- Planning and designing a training session.
- Implementing activities and facilitating player learning.
- Organizing the game day environment
The nine coaches that participated in Locomotive FC Youth Soccer’s D Course spent the first week learning U.S. Soccer coaching methodology at Southwest University Park then the following week at the senior team’s training grounds at the Westside Soccer Complex putting to practice the various lessons and sessions they learned.
For coaches like Julio Cardona, who began coaching with Locomotive Youth Soccer in 2022, the D license course provides the opportunity to learn new skills and methodologies that can be carried wherever they coach.
"This course has opened the door for me to continue my coaching education to help soccer grow in El Paso and one day, I hope to bring what I’ve learned to my home in Puerto Rico,” Cardona said.
Participants like Cardona will find out the results of their D course participation on Dec. 2. After 6-9 months of holding a D license (time is dependent on their individual D course results), coaches would then become eligible to take the C course, which opens entry to the pro coaching pathway.
Though exact dates are still being planned out, El Paso Locomotive FC Youth Soccer will be offering D and C license courses next spring and fall, respectively.
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