US Club Soccer Debuts LaLiga at 2016 NSCAA Convention
How can US Youth Soccer Improve? Suggestions from across the Atlantic were presented by LaLiga experts at the NSCAA – US Club Soccer shared LaLiga in front of thousands of American soccer coaches at the 2016 NSCAA Convention – The “World’s Largest Annual Gathering of Soccer Coaches” which just met in Baltimore from January 13th -16th.
US Club Soccer and La Liga held a field session, panel discussion, autograph session plus a classroom session to provide information on player development.
Known for his aggressive playing style during his professional career in Spain, Míchel Salgado didn’t mince words during the US Club Soccer/LaLiga panel discussion at last week’s NSCAA Convention.
Miguel Ángel “Míchel” Salgado is a famous Spanish professional soccer who played as a right back for Real Madrid and Spain’s National Team. Over his 15-year career in Spain, Salgado appeared in 343 La Liga games and played in the 2006 FIFA World Cup.
“LaLiga is much more than just Real Madrid and FC Barcelona,” Salgado said. And, anyone who trailed Salgado and the three other LaLiga officials in attendance, Jan. 13-16 in Baltimore, Md., can attest to that.
US Club Soccer hosted a field session, panel discussion, autograph session and classroom session with LaLiga ambassadors and methodology experts. The series of sessions proved LaLiga’s dedication to further coaching education and player development resources in America.
Specifically, US Club Soccer and LaLiga introduced attendees to LaLiga Formation Methodology courses, which will begin this spring, to help provide new, advanced coaching education opportunities.
Starting with the field session Thursday afternoon, LaLiga methodology clinicians Gari Fullaondo and Hugo Blanco led a group of players through several activities, which encouraged tactical play, rather than a hyper-physical style. “To pass the ball well, you must have good control of the game,” Fullaondo said to hundreds of coaches observing the session.
A couple hours later, Salgado (LaLiga ambassador) joined Fernando Sanz (LaLiga international projects director) on stage for a panel discussion titled “A Career in LaLiga and Bringing the Experience to the U.S.” The former Real Madrid players both shared insight about their personal development and how LaLiga is helping to advance the game globally.
When the NSCAA Convention exhibit hall opened, Salgado and Sanz were both at the US Club Soccer booth for an autograph and photo opportunity with fans. US Club Soccer officially launched Players First in August at Nike World Headquarters, where it also signed a long-term technical partnership with LaLiga. The Players First program emphasizes the development of each individual soccer player to his or her full potential, and provides tools to help youth soccer clubs and coaches succeed in helping players reach their goals.
Friday afternoon, Fullaondo and Blanco presented a classroom session called “Youth Development in Spain LaLiga Methods and Philosophy.”
“We are going to show you how to create methodology and how to be better coaches,” Fullaondo said. Fullaondo shared some of the complex sessions that LaLiga clubs use to help develop some of the world’s best players. These same techniques, and the software that organizes it all – Kimet Sport, will be available during LaLiga Formation Methodology courses.
Blanco added that a team’s failings are not typically due to a lack of player strength, speed or endurance. A team fails because it didn’t create a proper tactical environment.
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. US Club Soccer is sponsored by Nike.
