RICHMOND, Va. (December 15, 2021) – The ECNL is pleased to announce that the 5th annual ECNL Coaching Symposium, powered by US Club Soccer, will take place February 4-5, 2022 in Las Vegas, NV. The educational event will feature top coaching and leadership experts from around the world, giving those in attendance a collaborative environment to share best practices, resources and tools to continue to innovate and push the game of soccer forward. 

Below are the initial speakers announced for the event, with more to be announced in the coming weeks. 

• Doug Lemov: Doug Lemov is the ECNL Coaching Methodology Advisor and impactful educator of teachers and coaches.  He is the international best-selling author of the international best-seller Teach Like a Champion and of the highly acclaimed The Coach’s Guide to Teaching.  Lemov has been an instructor with the US Soccer Federation in their Pro License and other courses, and has consulted with coaches and sporting organizations around the world, including in MLB, the NBA, MLS, and more.
• Codey Gandey: Codey Gandy is a former U.S. Marine, and current leadership instructor, speaker, and strategic advisor for Echelon Front, the globally renowned leadership consultancy founded by retired U.S. Navy Seals Jocko Willink and Leif Babin, also co-authors of the #1 NY Times bestseller “Extreme Ownership: How Navy SEALs Lead and Win”. Codey spent over 5 years as a ground combat leader for various units in the Marine Corps. He brings unique experience in demonstrating leadership in dynamic environments, building winning teams, and developing relationships across all levels of an organization. 
• Cristina Fink: Cristina Fink is the ECNL Mental Performance Advisor, and a licensed Performance Psychologist who has worked with Olympic Medalists, World Champions, and various professional and national teams.  As a former two-time Olympic High Jumper (Seoul 1988 and Barcelona 1992) who held the Mexican High Jump Record with a 6’4’’ jump that stood for 22 years, Fink brings her personal experience to her professional expertise when educating coaches on how to more impactfully work with athletes.
• Mark Williams: Mark Williams is a world-leading sports scientist with a focus on expertise and skill acquisition in sport and other professional domains. He is currently a Professor of Kinesiology at the University of Utah, having previously worked in the UK and Australia, and has published almost 500 articles in fields including sports science, psychology, neuroscience, medicine and education. His book ‘The Best: How Elite Athletes are Made’ was published in August 2020, and he has previously delivered courses or services for UEFA, IOC, FIFA, The FA, as well as a multitude of professional sports teams in the Premier League, Premiership Rugby, National Basketball Association, National Football League, Major League Baseball, and several Olympic sports including GB Hockey and Sailing and the US Ski Team.

“After a one-year pause, we are extremely excited to announce the return of the ECNL Coaching Symposium,” said ECNL President Christian Lavers. “This unique event provides great insight and learning opportunities for anyone interested in talent development, leadership, coaching, and culture-building.  We look forward to several days that will challenge conventional thinking, stimulate innovation and discussion, and provide an opportunity for coaches around the country to connect and share thoughts and perspectives.”

“The ability of US Club Soccer and the ECNL to work together to bring this event and these incredible speakers to coaches across the landscape is another step in developing a more collaborative soccer environment,” said US Club Soccer CEO Mike Cullina. “Coaches working with all levels of youth teams and in any club will find this event to be a great experience and we are proud to support it.”

The 2022 Coaching Symposium is part of the ECNL’s club and coach development platform, a key component in the league’s mission to Raise The Game. The event is open to coaches of both male and female youth soccer players, regardless of youth league affiliation. 

Coaches registered with US Club Soccer can book their spot at the 2022 Coaching Symposium here. All other coaches can register for the event here.