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  • Preview of the National Soccer Coaching Conference at UofT


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    Soccer coaches from across the country will be in Toronto this week to attend Canada’s largest coaching education conference at the University of Toronto.

    The National Soccer Coaching Conference (NSCC) kicks off its fourth annual weekend for coaches to congregate, network and benefit from a plethora of speakers and clinicians from January 30th through February 1st.

    CSN had the opportunity to speak with Manager of Soccer operations at UofT, Anthony Capotosto, about the goals and benefits of this event.

    As Toronto FC Junior Academy and UofT Varsity Blues men's head coach, Capotosto is familiar with the challenges that face coaches in Canada and understands why there is a strong need for an event like the NSCC. ‘‘There needs to be more opportunities for coaches to come together to share ideas and collect information. These opportunities are few and far between.”

    The goal is simple, as the conference’s slogan states: Progress through Education.

    “When you think of universities, they tend to churn out good doctors, lawyers and professionals. Why not coaches?” Capotosto said, “The ultimate goal here is to raise the standard of play for Canadian soccer, starting with the player, by focusing on player development."

    Tackling the issue of player development would not be possible without taking a look at the most

    influential people in the players' careers: the coaches.

    Those attending the NSCC can expect theoretical and practical sessions covering a variety of topics,

    taught by some of the best minds in the sport.

    • Canadian Men’s National team head coach Benito Floro will present clinics on attacking and defending principles.

    • Raymond Verheijen, founder of the World Football Academy, will host sessions on how coaches can avoid team injuries as well as tactical development during soccer conditioning. The Dutchman is one of the global leaders in soccer specific conditioning and has wealth of experience coaching at the highest levels of professional soccer globally. He has years of national coaching experience at three World Cups and three European Championships, with the Netherlands, South Korea and Russia. Verheijen has also worked with a number of European sides, including Barcelona, Zenit Saint Petersburg, Chelsea, and Manchester City.
    • Former MLS head coach Shellas Hyndman will share his knowledge as one of the most successful college soccer coaches in American sports. Hyndman has a record of 368-96-38 over 24 seasons with Southern Methodist University. His clinics will involve speed and system of play as well as possession.
    • Toronto FC head coach Greg Vanney provides over 15 years of youth player development expertise to the conference. He’ll cover playing between the lines and switching the point of attack.
    • Montreal Impact USL Pro Side’s Head Coach and Director of the Impact Academy Philippe Eullaffroy will present sessions on de-zoning and build up versus counter-attack.

    The conference will also address sports science and conditioning. Director of Sports Science for Toronto FC Jim Liston will be presenting two clinics on his approach to sports science innovation, injury prevention and assisting athletes in achieving their highest potential. These are just a few examples of the over 21 seminars available to coaches attending the NSCC.

    The Canadian Inter-university Sport (CIS) Coaches Association will also host its inaugural Sport Congress meeting as part of this conference. The idea is to generate ways to improve and innovate Canadian university athletics programs in order to keep Canadian talent in the country.

    The NSCC event has expanded over its four year existence. What started as a two day gathering, is now a four day conference. Last year saw eight provinces represented, and with time still left to register, that number could grow.

    Conferences have a significant impact on coaching philosophies. The National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) convention sees nearly 10,000 participants in attendance each year and coincides with the MLS combine. There isn't any doubt that growth of the sport stateside is staggering.

    Though Canada’s version is not expected to garner the same numbers, it still has the opportunity to influence the way players are coached. The NSCC’s goal is to reach upwards of 500 coaches in the country with the hopes that those in attendance will share what they have learned with their clubhouses and communities.

    Capotosto believes Canada has a long way to go to bridge the gap between its soccer program, and those of the rest of the world. However, according to Capotosto, Canadian soccer do not lack quality players. “I think that there is so much talent in this country that we should be developing more players than what we have to date,” he said “If we’re thinking long term […] trying to enhance our ranking in the world, we can’t do that without good coaches working with good players as young as U12 and U10. When those players become 19 and 20 years old they will become main stays in our national program […] we need to be better at harnessing talent in Canada.”

    Capotosto hopes that coaches across Canada get excited about an event like the NSCC and that it resonates with the Canadian soccer community.

    Canadian Soccer News will have more from the conference later this week.



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