Inaugural MLS Youth Affiliate Coaches Summit brings expanded League presence to United Soccer Coaches Convention

MLS Communications

Inaugural MLS Youth Affiliate Coaches Summit brings expanded League presence to United Soccer Coaches Convention
Technical Staffs, Academy Directors and Legends to present at Convention in Baltimore Jan. 15-18;
MLS, adidas to host inaugural Youth Affiliate Coaches Summit with dedicated seminars on Jan. 14-15
NEW YORK
(January 14, 2020)
– Major League Soccer continues its commitment to coaching education by today announcing – in conjunction with United Soccer Coaches – five days of MLS-led programming at the United Soccer Coaches Convention at the Baltimore Convention Center from Jan. 14-18. MLS will see an enhanced presence at the United Soccer Coaches Convention with the inaugural Youth Affiliate Coaches Summit, offering elite player development and talent identification seminars to participating coaches.
The Youth Affiliate Coaches Summit is the marquee education platform of the MLS Youth Affiliate Network, launched in September 2019 in partnership with adidas, and is dedicated to improving athlete identification and development. Additionally, MLS and adidas are committed to creating a path to higher levels of soccer for youth players through increased education and competition such as Generation adidas Cup.
Technical staff leaders from MLS and six MLS clubs will guide Youth Affiliate Network coaches in a variety of courses ranging from sport psychology and talent identification to on-field goalkeeping coaching activities on Jan. 14-15. In addition to rigorous coursework and on-field sessions, Youth Affiliate Network coaches will learn best practices in using their club affiliations with professional MLS staff to better serve athletes.
The marquee event of both the Youth Affiliate Coaches Summit and the United Soccer Coaches Convention will see a keynote presentation by reigning MLS Cup champion Seattle Sounders FC General Manager Garth Lagerwey. The three-time MLS Cup winner and reigning MLS Sporting Executive of the Year will discuss the Sounders FC player development pyramid and the alliance with adidas as part of the Youth Affiliate Network.
Among other notable MLS sessions will be a presentation on “Application of a Principle of Play in an MLS Youth Academy Environment”, led by D.C. United academy director Dave Sanford and Technical Director Gus Teren, both of whom have participated in the Elite Coaching Formation License through MLS’ groundbreaking partnership with the French Football Federation.
Outside of MLS programming, the Professional Referee Organization continues its ongoing education of the Video Review process by once again welcoming United Soccer Coaches Convention attendees to step into the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) simulator from Jan. 16-18. The VAR simulator provides real-time video of potentially reviewable incidents with PRO officials on hand to explain the decision-making process for penalty kicks, red cards, and goals.
Below is a complete listing of notable MLS-related programming at the United Soccer Coaches Convention.
*
Note: Schedule subject to change. All times are Eastern.
**Events on Jan. 14-15 are open only to Youth Affiliate Coaches
Tuesday, January 14


<div>10:30 a.m.</div>	<div>Health & Performance: Insights from Building a Youth Program & Working in Two Different MLS Academies</div><div><strong>James Wagenschutz,</strong> Colorado Rapids Academy Performance Coach and Applied Sport Scientist</div>
<div>11:45 a.m.</div>	<div>MLS Goalkeeper Methodology</div><div><strong>Danny Cepero</strong>, New York City FC Academy Goalkeeper Coach</div><div><strong>Jeremy Proud</strong>, New York Red Bulls Academy Goalkeeper Coach</div><div><strong>Jack Stefanowski</strong>, D.C. United Academy Goalkeeper Coach</div>
<div>1:15 p.m.</div>	<div>Shot Stopping & Angle Play (On-field session)</div><div><strong>Danny Cepero</strong>, New York City FC Academy Goalkeeper Coach</div><div><strong>Jeremy Proud</strong>, New York Red Bulls Academy Goalkeeper Coach</div><div><strong>Jack Stefanowski</strong>, D.C. United Academy Goalkeeper Coach</div>
<div>2:30 p.m.</div>	<div>Sport Psychology for the Grassroots Coach</div><div><strong>Cristina Fink</strong>, Philadelphia Union Sports Psychologist</div>
<div>3:45 p.m.</div>	<div>How to Communicate Well with Players and Parents</div><strong>Positive Coaching Alliance</strong>
<div>5 p.m.</div>	<div>Talent Identification for PreFormation</div><div><strong>Alecko Eskandarian</strong>, MLS Senior Manager of Player Relations and Competition</div>
<div>6:15 p.m.</div>	<div>MLS Club Relationship – Affiliate Workshop</div><div><strong>Brandon Turton</strong>, MLS Manager of Youth Development</div>

Wednesday, January 15


<div>10 a.m.</div>	<div>Brand & Sports Marketing Insight</div><strong>adidas</strong>
<div>10:45 a.m.</div>	<div>Atlanta United Academy Methodology</div><div><strong>Matt Lawrey</strong>, Atlanta United Academy Manager</div>
<div>11:45 a.m.</div>	<div>Attacking Principles of Play – the D.C. Way (On-field session)</div><div><strong>Gus Teren, </strong>D.C. United Technical Director</div><div><strong>Dave Sanford, </strong>D.C. United Academy Director</div>
<div>1:30 p.m.               </div>	<div>Anticipate to Intervene (On-field session)</div><div><strong>Matt Lawrey</strong>, Atlanta United Academy Manager</div>
<div>2:30 p.m.</div>	<div>Attacking Principles of Play – the D.C. Way (On-field session)</div><div><strong>Gus Teren, </strong>D.C. United Technical Director</div><div><strong>Dave Sanford, </strong>D.C. United Academy Director</div>
<div>3:15 p.m.</div>	<div>Building Your Club Culture</div><div><strong>Cristina Fink</strong>, Philadelphia Union Sports Psychologist</div>
<div>4:15 p.m.</div>	<div>From Youth Soccer to the Pros – Leadership Panel</div><div><strong>Alecko Eskandarian, </strong>MLS Senior Manager of Player Relations and Competition</div><div><strong>Lori Lindsey, </strong>Former NWSL & U.S. Women’s National Team Player</div><div><strong>Santino Quaranta, </strong>Former D.C. United & U.S. Men’s National Team Player</div><div><strong>KJ Spisak</strong><strong>, </strong>Former NWSL and U.S. U-23 Women’s National Team Player</div>
<div>5:15 p.m.</div>	<div>MLS Relationship – Affiliate Workshop</div><div><strong>Brandon Turton</strong>, MLS Manager of Youth Development</div>

Thursday, January 16


<div>9:30 a.m.</div>	<div>Red Bulls Youth Programs: Youth Pathway to Pro</div><div><strong>Simon Barrow, </strong>New York Red Bulls Senior Manager of Player Development</div>
<div>11 a.m.</div>	<div>Insight and Development of MLS Academy Goalkeeper</div><div><strong>Danny Cepero</strong>, New York City FC Academy Goalkeeper Coach</div><div><strong>Jeremy Proud</strong>, New York Red Bulls Academy Goalkeeper Coach</div><div><strong>Jack Stefanowski</strong>, D.C. United Academy Goalkeeper Coach</div>
<div>12 p.m.</div>	<div>Seattle Sounders FC: Youth Development Pyramid and the adidas Alliance</div><div><strong>Garth Lagerwey, </strong>Seattle Sounders FC General Manager</div>
<div>1 p.m.</div>	<div>Sports Performance Course Introduction</div><div><strong>Mateus Manoel, </strong>Inter Miami CF Sports Performance Manager and Fitness Coach</div><div><strong>James Wagenschutz, </strong>Colorado Rapids Academy Performance Coach and Applied Sport Scientist</div>
<div>2:30 p.m.</div>	<div>Red Bulls Youth Programs: Combination Play to Create Scoring Chances</div><div><strong>Abigail Katz</strong>, New York Red Bulls Senior Manager of Youth Coaches</div>
<div>2:30 p.m..</div>	<div>United Soccer Coaches Hall of Fame Panel</div><div><strong>Schellas Hyndman, </strong>Former FC Dallas Head Coach</div><div><strong>Dean Linke, </strong>Announcer and Former MLS PR Professional</div><div><strong>Jay Martin</strong>, Ohio Wesleyan Head Coach</div>
<div>2:30 p.m.</div>	<div>Shot Stopping & Angle Play (On-field session)</div><div><strong>Danny Cepero</strong>, New York City FC Academy Goalkeeper Coach</div><div><strong>Jeremy Proud</strong>, New York Red Bulls Academy Goalkeeper Coach</div><div><strong>Jack Stefanowski</strong>, D.C. United Academy Goalkeeper Coach</div>

Friday, January 17


<div>9:15 a.m.</div>	<div>Qualities of Good Finishers</div><div><strong>Nolan Sheldon</strong>, D.C. United Assistant Coach</div>
<div>9:15 a.m.</div>	<div>Integrating Strength and Power in a Field Session (On-field session)</div><div><strong>James Wagenschutz,</strong> Colorado Rapids Academy Performance Coach and Applied Sport Scientist</div>
<div>11 a.m.</div>	<div>Red Bulls Youth Programs: Finding Runners In-Behind the Back Line (On-field session)</div><div><strong>Richard Scott, </strong>New York Red Bulls Coach Education Manager</div>
<div>12 p.m.</div>	<div>Challenges in the U.S. Landscape and How We Can Provide Solutions – Panel</div><strong>MLS Player Development Department</strong><div><strong>Patricia Gonzalez, </strong>Women’s Football Technical Development Manager at FIFA</div><div><strong>April Heinrichs, </strong>Former U.S. Women’s National Team Head Coach & Technical Director</div><div><strong>Bill Taylor, </strong>President, Idaho Youth Soccer (USYS)</div>
<div>1:30 p.m.</div>	<div>Application of a Principle of Play in an MLS Youth Academy Environment (On-field session)</div><div><strong>Gus Teren, </strong>D.C. United Technical Director</div><div><strong>Dave Sanford, </strong>D.C. United Academy Director</div>

Saturday, January 18


<div>9 a.m.</div>	<div>Red Bulls Youth Programs: Combination Play to Create Scoring Chances (On-field session)</div><div><strong>Abigail Katz</strong>, New York Red Bulls Senior Manager of Youth Coaches</div>
<div>9 a.m.</div>	<div>Periodization 101: Physical Planning for Optimal Performance</div><div><strong>James Wagenschutz,</strong> Colorado Rapids Academy Performance Coach and Applied Sport Scientist</div><div><strong>Mateus Manoel</strong>, Inter Miami CF Sports Performance Manager and Fitness Coach</div>
<div>1:30 p.m.</div>	<div>Destabilizing the Opponent: Combination Play to Unbalance an Organized Low Block Defense (On-field session)</div><div><strong>Gus Teren, </strong>D.C. United Technical Director</div><div><strong>Dave Sanford, </strong>D.C. United Academy Director</div>
<div>3:30 p.m.</div>	<div>Developing Strength and Power for Soccer</div><div><strong>James Wagenschutz,</strong> Colorado Rapids Academy Performance Coach and Applied Sport Scientist</div>

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