Source: US Club Soccer
LaLiga Principles Introduced in College Station, Texas
(CHARLESTON, S.C.) – US Club Soccer – a prominent member of the U.S. Soccer Federation and the leading organization developing soccer clubs across America – hosted the first ever LaLiga Formation Methodology coaching education course March 11-13, 2016 at Texas A&M University in College Station, Texas. The course, with more than 100 coaches in attendance, 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
- 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 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.
The course was well received by attendees, as many took to Twitter to post their experiences, including: Texans SC, Lonestar SC San Antonio, Albion Hurricanes FC and FC Indios. More responses can be seen by searching for the Players First-designated hashtag #P1soccer.
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.
To join the conversation on social media, tag @USClubSoccer and use #P1soccer.
More information: usclubsoccer.org, 843.614.4140.
About US Club Soccer
A National Association member of the U.S. Soccer Federation, US Club Soccer is an organization committed to the development and support of soccer clubs in the United States.
US Club Soccer offers youth and adult registration, league and cup-based competition platforms at the recreational and competitive levels, as well as a variety of other programming, including the Olympic Development Program-sanctioned id² Program and Player Development Programs.
Through US Club Soccer, all of a club's programs – recreational, competitive and adult – are able to unite under one organizational umbrella, creating a "members for life" culture within each club.
