Coaches learn, network & inspire at 2025 United Soccer Coaches Convention

CHICAGO, Ill. (Jan. 12, 2025) – Thousands of coaches attended the 2025 United Soccer Coaches Convention, held Jan. 7-12 at the sprawling McCormick Place Convention Center in Chicago. The convention has been a staple of the country’s soccer calendar for decades and is fondly recognized as the “world’s largest annual gathering of soccer coaches and administrators.”

Presenters from around the world hosted sessions throughout the week, covering a wide range of topics designed to educate and inspire new and seasoned coaches alike. Dr. Missy Price, US Club Soccer Vice President of Education & Development, and Vince Ganzberg, US Club Soccer Director of Coach Education, led the organization’s offerings, which has enjoyed a significant presence at the annual Coaches Convention for years.

• A Process-Driven Approach to Training (session plan available in the app) / presented by Ganzberg | January 8
• Implementing A Process-Oriented Approach (presentation available in the app) / presented by Ganzberg | January 9
• Collaboration vs. Competition / co-presented by Dr. Price and Ganzberg with US Youth Soccer’s Sari Rose | January 9
• Developing Women Leaders in Soccer / presented by Dr. Price | January 10
• Adaptive and Inclusive Coaching Strategies / co-presented by US Club Soccer and US Youth Soccer | January 11

These sessions put into practice US Club Soccer’s mission to provide accessible, affordable and relevant educational opportunities and resources through inclusive programming that supports the holistic development of our players, coaches and clubs. It also displayed the collaborative spirit US Club Soccer and US Youth Soccer have embraced, as the two organizations – accounting for millions of registered players and coaches – co-hosted two sessions together for the first time in Convention history.

US Club Soccer’s first two sessions – a late-night field session Wednesday and a morning classroom lecture Thursday – were delivered by Ganzberg and Dr. Lee Hancock, a U.S. Soccer Coach Educator and performance psychology coach. The field session was a treat for observing coaches and demo players alike, as the session encouraged creativity, autonomy and communication. The complementing classroom session then provided a roadmap for coaches to implement the kind of structure and culture they saw glimpses of before.

“Collaboration vs. Competition” followed Thursday afternoon as a panel discussion moderated by renowned broadcaster Dean Linke. Price and Ganzberg were joined on stage by Sari Rose, US Youth Soccer’s Sr. Manager of Grassroots Education. The trio discussed the need for perspective, rising above youth sports politics to always have the best interests of athletes, families, coaches and referees top of mind. Examples were shared about how US Club Soccer and US Youth Soccer are collaborating in the classroom, such as the all-female Club Technical Leadership Pathway, and on the field, such as the recent Virginia State Cup. The audience Q&A portion delved further into leveraging the size and influence of the two organizations and the impact they can have on other important issues, like DEIB.

Friday’s “Developing Women Leaders in Soccer” tested the capacity of the hosting room, as attendees took all the seats, floor space and wall space to listen to a star-studded panel. The group was moderated by Price and consisted of: Lesle Gallimore (Seattle Reign general manager), Haley Carter (Orlando Pride general manager), Ella Masar (Chicago Stars assistant coach), Erin Sharpe (Pleasanton Rage Girls SC DOC), Nicole Green (renowned professional referee), Janet Albert (Advantage Youth Soccer Academy DOC) and Jenna Lundgren (Elmhurst City SA HS Girls Director). The group inspired attendees with words of wisdom about their past experiences, challenges, setbacks and triumphs. The discussion proved that women at every level of the sport are facing similar challenges. Price encouraged the audience to take advantage of supporting programs, such as Coaching HER, WeCOACH and Aiberry. Coaching HER educational modules are free, and WeCOACH and Aiberry are complimentary for US Club Soccer members.

Saturday afternoon’s “Adaptive and Inclusive Coaching Strategies” lecture was another US Club Soccer / US Youth Soccer collaboration, sharing tips for making coaching more inclusive. Whenever coaches are positively impacted, the benefits to players are then exponentially increased.

US Club Soccer will continue its educational efforts at the 2025 ECNL Symposium in Las Vegas, NV, Feb. 4-5. ECNL recently announced its lineup of speakers and presenters.