SOCAL is thrilled to announce the addition of nine new member clubs and its partnership with The Coaching Manual.

The Coaching Manual is a resource built for soccer coaches who want to improve their understanding of coaching, find real practical sessions they can use, and accelerate the development of their players by creating a first-class soccer learning environment.

“Since its inception, SOCAL has always been focused on prioritizing player development, so we are delighted that they have chosen The Coaching Manual to help coaches deliver their training sessions,” said Chris Barton, The Coaching Manual founder. “With the content and resources at their fingertips, we know the future of the league’s players is in safe hands. We are really excited to see what they do with the platform and The Coaching Manual will be here to support them on their journey.”

As part of the new partnership, SOCAL will use their own ‘white label’ version of The Coaching Manual, featuring world-class video sessions and industry-leading planning tools, as well as a collection of SOCAL’s own coaching content.

Using the new tools at their disposal, thousands of coaches under SOCAL will be able to plan and deliver full seasons’ worth of training sessions, while also sharing content within their own club and efficiently developing and communicating their team’s own unique playing philosophies.

“We are very excited for our long-term partnership with The Coaching Manual,” said Cris Gilmore, SOCAL’s Director of Special Programming. “They’ve always been a leader in online coaching content and coaching development and now our soccer community will have full access to their library of coaching resources. In addition, our highly experienced coaching community will be able to collaborate and share their best practices and help bring the region to a higher coaching level with tools that are so easy to use and so easily accessible, ultimately improving all the players in our region.”

The platform is trusted by coaches, clubs, and organizations around the world from grassroots to the elite level.

To see how a white label version of The Coaching Manual could benefit your club, league, or organization, contact sales@thecoachingmanual.com.

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In addition to its new partnership with The Coaching Manual, SOCAL is excited to welcome these member clubs beginning with the 2021-22 season:

• AYSO Matrix (San Diego, CA)
• Claremont Stars (Claremont, CA)
• Fallbrook Villa FC (Fallbrook, CA)
• FC Dynamo (Lake Balboa, CA)
• FCGS – San Diego (San Diego, CA)
• Future FC – Corona (Corona, CA)
• NHB (Huntington Beach, CA)
• SoCal Elite FC (Chino, CA)
• Tudela FC (Los Angeles, CA)

As an NPL member league, SoCal enjoys a pathway to postseason opportunities for its clubs. In addition to postseason opportunities, members also gain access to a plethora of US Club Soccer benefits, including player identification and development, cup-based competition, player health and safety resources, robust coaching education, and more.

US Club Soccer’s mission is to foster the growth and development of soccer clubs throughout the country to create the best possible development environment for players of all ages in every club. The primary vehicle for accomplishing that ambition is Players First: 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.

That Players First philosophy is supported by best-in-class partners and resources, including LaLiga, and is anchored by five pillars: Club Development, Coaching Development, Player Development, Parent Engagement & Education, and Player Health & Safety. In particular, Player Health & Safety is the emphasis, as US Club Soccer prides itself on fostering the safest environment for players in youth sports. US Club Soccer has stringent requirements for all staff registration/eligibility and also provides a variety of safety-related resources to members.

“SOCAL is continuing to make significant strides in its marketplace,” said Leo Garcia, NPL General Manager and US Club Soccer VP of Competitions. “US Club Soccer and the NPL are excited to watch this league compete beginning in the fall. The level of competition is sure to be top-notch and the experience the league will provide its members will be nothing less than that.”

Quotes from new member clubs:

• Chhem Young-Pen, AYSO Matrix Director of Coaching: “AYSO Matrix is looking forward to joining SOCAL. The multiple flights provided by SOCAL will give our competitive teams a chance to compete with other teams playing at the highest levels while still being focused on player growth and development. We believe SOCAL will allow our players an opportunity to be challenged, to be competitive, and to create a pathway for higher-level play.”
• Matt Abraham, Claremont Stars Director of Coaching: “Claremont Stars are very excited to be joining SOCAL. We are looking forward to the new challenges and balanced level of competition geared toward development. As one of the oldest clubs in Southern California (est. 1972) we look to continually progress as a club and inspire the local youth talent in Claremont and our surrounding communities.”
• Ryan Vaspra, Fallbrook Villa FC President: “We are proud to join our fellow top tier clubs in the San Diego and greater Southern California area in SOCAL. We know this league, as built by design, strengthens soccer in our community, region, and state. We support soccer’s professional growth at the youth level.”
• Walt Rodas, FC Dynamo Executive Director: “We’re pleased and excited to be able to offer SOCAL to our club members. Our organization, FC Dynamo, is composed of approximately 700 local players from the San Fernando Valley and surrounding areas, between the ages of six and 17 years old. We believe that by adding SOCAL programming to our fall curriculum we diversity competition, invest in our players’ futures and create more opportunities for all. Our organization’s goal is to continue pushing limits and improve the game, one player at a time. We look forward to working with US Club Soccer and SOCAL.”
• Johnson Asiedu, FC Golden State – San Diego Technical Director: “We are really excited to be a part of this league with good organization and top competition. SOCAL offers a wonderful opportunity for our players to develop and grow.
• Shayon Jalayer, Future FC President and Director of Coaching: “Future FC is extremely excited to be a part of SOCAL. The league not only provides a competitive platform but with its initiatives in coaching education and a detailed player pathway we feel this is in line with the new direction we are taking as a club.”
• Chris Volk, NHB Director of Coaching: “NHB has a rich history and tradition within the Southern California soccer landscape. Joining SOCAL will provide our NHB players opportunities to compete against other local clubs while maintaining our commitment to both community and the overall family soccer experience. NHB is looking forward to working in conjunction with SOCAL to improve the growth of the ‘beautiful game’ while maintaining standards and expectations that are appropriate and driven by a player-first approach to personal development.”
• David Oh, SoCal Elite FC Executive Director: “SoCal Elite FC is excited to be a member of SOCAL and US Club Soccer. As a club, we pride ourselves on player development and we are committed to competing at the highest level. By joining SOCAL, it provides a vast variety of opportunities to all of our players. The local, regional, and national pathway that SOCAL offers will help push our players to their highest potential. We are excited for the next chapter with SOCAL!”
• Jacob Tudela, Tudela FC Director of Coaching: “Our club’s mission is to offer the best possible soccer training to any girl with the passion and desire to play. But our project also needs a pathway for the best possible competition and we feel that SOCAL and the NPL can provide that. We are proud and excited to align ourselves with them and to help create a strong, successful, and supportive South California youth soccer community.”