Georgia Soccer

HomeHost a Coaching Course

Note: It is incumbent upon you and your club to promote the courses that you are hosting and to get coaches to register for the courses, otherwise it will be cancelled. 

GRASSROOTS COACHING COURSES – INSTRUCTIONS FOR HOSTING

Georgia Soccer is currently only offering the 4v4, 7v7, 9v9, and 11v11 Grassroots courses.  And these courses are only offered in the Blended format.  The blended format means that the theoretical component is delivered via a 2-hour virtual online instructor-led session and the practical component is done in a 2-hour in-person field session.  Total course duration is 4 hours.  The National ‘D’ course is currently not offered as we wait for US Soccer to create and release the Blended version of the ‘D’ (the ‘D’ course should be ready by October 2020).

This document contains instructions for clubs applying to host Grassroots courses.  below you will find the following sections:

  1. Course description
  2. Protocols for requesting to host a virtual course
  3. Safety protocols for hosting/delivering coaching courses
     

COURSE DESCRIPTIONS

4v4, 7v7, 9v9, 11v11 Grassroots Blended Format Courses
(Virtual 2-hour class plus 2-hour in-person field component)

Course Fee:

Free to Georgia Soccer members and $70 for non-members.

Course Details:

The Grassroots Blended Courses are four-hours long and build on the principles covered in U.S. Soccer’s Introduction to Grassroots Coaching Module. Specifically, coaches will learn more about U.S. Soccer’s Grassroots Coaching Education Philosophy, Play-Practice-Play Methodology, the Six Tasks of a Coach, and the characteristics of players.

  • The 4v4 course will focus on coaching players 6-8 years old.
  • The 7v7 course will focus on coaching players 9-10 years old.
  • The 9v9 course will focus on coaching players 11-12 years old.
  • The 11v11 course will focus on coaching players 13+ years old.

The courses will also ask each coach to reflect on their experiences to develop action steps for personal growth in the Six Tasks (Coaching Games, Coaching Training Sessions, Leading the Team, Leading the Player, Managing the Performance Environment, and Leadership).​

Coaches will be asked to participate in discussions so each person should have access to a web-camera/live video capabilities.  Coaches may be asked to participate in the field component as either coaches or players, so please come prepared to actively learn.

Eligibility Requirements:

To qualify for the Grassroots Blended Courses, candidates must be at least 16 years old*, must create a coaches profile in the Learning Center in the US Soccer web site, and have completed U.S. Soccer’s Introduction to Grassroots Coaching module.

*Due to online privacy laws, individuals under the age of 16 cannot create Learning Center (LC) profiles, and thus are unable to take Grassroots Courses.

​Please contact Cristina Coca with any questions.

PROTOCOLS FOR REQUESTING TO HOST A BLENDED COURSE

The 4v4, 7v7, 9v9, and 11v11 Grassroots courses are the only ones being currently offered by Georgia Soccer.  The courses are delivered in the Blended format only.  The Blended format means a 2-hour virtual class followed by a 2-hour in-person field session.

The following requirements must be met by clubs who wish to host courses:

  1. The host club must provide the virtual class platform for the course (Zoom, or GoToMeeting or Microsoft Team, or any other similar platform) and be the ‘host’ for the course.  If the host club does not have a virtual class platform software, the course Instructor will use his/her software.
  2. The host club must provide an age appropriate field for the 2-hour field session.
  3. The host club does NOT have to provide players for the field session.  we will use the candidates as players in the field session.
  4. The host club should choose a course level and a weekend or weeknights you wish to host and contact Kostas Hatzikoutelis.
  5. We will assign an instructor and ask him/her to contact you to set the exact date and time for the 2-hour virtual class and the exact date, time, and location for the 2-hour field session.  The field session can be on a different day from the virtual class but no more than one week apart.
  6. To protect confidential material from unauthorized individuals, the host club must:
  1.  Send invitations to candidates to join the virtual class session.
  2.  Create a password for the candidates to use to join the virtual class.
  3.  Use a unique meeting ID number for the virtual class.
  4.  Only the host or instructor can share a screen.
  5.  Provide a notice on intent to record the meeting.
  6.  Have ejecting capabilities in case the host needs to deny access to anyone not part of the course.
  7.  Have Mute capacity.
  8.   Make sure the security software is undated.
  9.  Make sure the virtual meeting software is also up to date with any security bugs fixed.

7.  Host club must provide prior to course a written confirmation (by email) that they are able to meet the requirements listed above.

SAFETY PROTOCOLS FOR DELIVERING COACHING COURSES

This section outlines the safety protocols for delivering the US Soccer Grassroots coaching courses.  These recommendations are per the following guidelines of the CDC and US Soccer:

https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/prevent-getting-sick/prevention.html

https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/downloads/camp-planning-tool.pdf

https://www.ussoccer.com/playon/guides

https://static.ussdcc.com/users/227808/721775/return-to-educate-overview.pdf

SAFETY PROTOCOLS – HOST CLUB RESPONSIBILITIES

Prior to any planning of a course, ensure you have referenced and reviewed the most up to date COVID-19 guidelines and recommendations from your local public health, as well as state and federal guidelines.  If a gathering of over 10 people is not allowed, cancel the course.

Field preparations: 

  • Ensure the field size for the course is big enough for 13-15 persons to social distance the minimum 6 feet.
  • Prior to course, disinfect all equipment near or on the field.
  • Entryway for restrooms should be accessible without the need to handle doors (ability to prop open the doors).
  • If possible, an area for hand sanitizing upon arrival.

If you have any questions, please contact Kostas Hatzikoutelis.