Whether you are a beginning parent coach or an elite level travel team coach, Illinois Youth Soccer provides the latest US Soccer certification and licensing coaching courses in English and Spanish. US Soccer licensed instructors provide the latest coaching information, techniques and tools to help you handle the challenges of coaching in a fun, learning environment. Clinics are taught by top US Soccer-licensed instructors and participants can earn a US Soccer Coaching License.

Illinois Youth Soccer Coaching Education Staff
Position	Name	Email
Director Of Coaching/ Technical Director	Adam Howarth	doc@illinoisyouthsoccer.org
Associate Director of Coaching	Marek Radziszewski	marekr@illinoisyouthsoccer.org

Thousands of coaches have attended Illinois Youth Soccer licensing courses. The objective of the coaching licensing curriculum is to provide all soccer coaches, from the beginning to the advanced, with up-to-date theoretical and practical knowledge, so that coaches in Illinois can help ensure that players develop towards their fullest potential.

Designed to meet the needs of today’s modern youth soccer coach, Illinois has established a comprehensive Coaching Education Program that offers a U.S. Soccer Federation (USSF) approved curriculum.

 

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Introduction

Illinois Youth Soccer provides:

• A program in which coaches can earn state and national coaching credentials
• A system which improves a coach’s knowledge of the game, methodology, and teaching methods
• Valuable information and current coaching trends state-wide, nationally and internationally

All Courses are taught by Illinois Youth Soccer State Staff Coaches who are USSF certified and currently hold a, "B", or "A" coaching license. All Youth Module instructors have the National Youth License. All courses must be scheduled through the Illinois Youth Soccer office. We will update list of courses as they are scheduled on the website.

Philosophy of the Coaching Education Program

To help you gain the most information from the courses, staff coaches teach the essentials of soccer in an optimal and dynamic way. All candidates are asked to participate in field sessions if able. Approximately two-thirds of each course is comprised of field sessions and practice coaching and the remaining one-third as lectures and collaboration. The intensity of the field sessions are directly related to the level of the course. The higher the course level, the more hours required for the field.

Want to host a USSF Course?

If your club or program is interested in hosting a coaching course for the convenience of your coaching staff please contact Adam Howarth. 

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Recreational Clinics Available to member leagues 
If you are a member recreational program and would like to schedule a FREE clinic, please contact Adam Howarth.  Some of the topics include:

• Organizing a youth training session using Play - Practice -Play
• Methods of Coaching  
• Team Administration and Risk Management 
• Laws of the Game
• Parent Engagement
• Small sided games

Please contact Adam at doc@illinoisyouthoccer,org

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Introduction to Grassroots Coaching

This free introductory module, which represents the first step in the newly revised coaching license pathway, is now the general starting point of the pathway and is the required prerequisite to undergo any of U.S. Soccer's Grassroots Licensing Courses. Coaches who complete the module will also be provided with four complimentary Play-Practice-Play training sessions.

USSF 4v4 Grassroots Course

The “4v4” license is a 4 Hour in –person course. It is aimed for the coach working with 5-8 year old players.

The goal of all Grassoots courses is the following:

At the Grassroots level children learn and develop to their full potential through game like experiences in an enjoyable environment which supports individual growth

A major emphasis of the course is Topics will include the Six Tasks of a US Soccer Coach:

• Coaching Games (CG)
• Coaching Training Sessions (CTS)
• Leading the Team (LT)
• Leading the Player (LP)
• Managing the Performance Environment (MPE)
• Leadership (L)

Prerequisites:

• Create a coaching profile in the US Soccer Digital Coaching Center(DCC)
• Complete the US Soccer Introduction To Grassroots Coaching Module
• Minimun Age: 16 years of age

Course Length: 4 Hours – 1 Hour Field, 2 Hour Classoom and 1 Hour Field

 

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USSF 7v7 Grassroots Course

The “7v7” license is a 4 Hour in –person course. It is aimed for the coach working with 9-10 year old players.

The goal of all Grassoots courses is the following:

At the Grassroots level children learn and develop to their full potential through game like experiences in an enjoyable environment which supports individual growth

A major emphasis of the course is Topics will include the Six Tasks of a US Soccer Coach:

• Coaching Games (CG)
• Coaching Training Sessions (CTS)
• Leading the Team (LT)
• Leading the Player (LP)
• Managing the Performance Environment (MPE)
• Leadership (L)

Prerequisites:

• Create a coaching profile in the US Soccer Digital Coaching Center(DCC)
• Complete the US Soccer Introduction To Grassroots Coaching Module
• Minimun Age: 16 years of age

Course Length: 4 Hours – 1 Hour Field, 2 Hour Classoom and 1 Hour Field

 

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USSF 9v9 Grassroots Course

The “9v9” license is a 4 Hour in –person course. It is aimed for the coach working with 11-12 year old players.

The goal of all Grassoots courses is the following:

At the Grassroots level children learn and develop to their full potential through game like experiences in an enjoyable environment which supports individual growth

A major emphasis of the course is Topics will include the Six Tasks of a US Soccer Coach:

• Coaching Games (CG)
• Coaching Training Sessions (CTS)
• Leading the Team (LT)
• Leading the Player (LP)
• Managing the Performance Environment (MPE)
• Leadership (L)

Prerequisites:

• Create a coaching profile in the US Soccer Digital Coaching Center(DCC)
• Complete the US Soccer Introduction To Grassroots Coaching Module
• Minimun Age: 16 years of age

Course Length: 4 Hours – 1 Hour Field, 2 Hour Classoom and 1 Hour Field

 

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USSF 11v11 Grassroots Course

The “11v11” license is a 4 Hour in –person course. It is aimed for the coach working with 13+ year old players.

The goal of all Grassoots courses is the following:

At the Grassroots level children learn and develop to their full potential through game like experiences in an enjoyable environment which supports individual growth

A major emphasis of the course is Topics will include the Six Tasks of a US Soccer Coach:

• Coaching Games (CG)
• Coaching Training Sessions (CTS)
• Leading the Team (LT)
• Leading the Player (LP)
• Managing the Performance Environment (MPE)
• Leadership (L)

Prerequisites:

• Create a coaching profile in the US Soccer Digital Coaching Center(DCC)
• Complete the US Soccer Introduction To Grassroots Coaching Module
• Minimun Age: 16 years of age

Course Length: 4 Hours – 1 Hour Field, 2 Hour Classoom and 1 Hour Field

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USSF ‘D’ License – 45 Hour Course
Grassroots coaches - All 4 Playing Formats are examined.

Course Details:

The National D license is a 40 to 45-hour course, held over two weekends, at minimum 4 weeks apart, designed for the grassroots coach who meets the prerequisites outlined below. The focus of this course is to facilitate the improvement of the candidates in the Six Tasks of a Coach across all four game models (4v4, 7v7, 9v9, 11v11) with a particular emphasis on Coaching Training Sessions. Candidates that register for this course are expected to attend both meetings.

Eligibility Requirements:

A unique combination of three of the eight Grassroots Licenses now formally represent the prerequisite to progress to the U.S. Soccer D License. Specifically, candidates must have completed a minimum of three grassroots courses, in the form of two in-person courses and one online course:

• Two in-person courses (one of which must be the 11v11)
• One online course across any of the four levels (4v4, 7v7, 9v9, 11v11)

Coaching candidates who have earned the E or F License will have the following opportunities to use those certifications toward the D License prerequisites:

• U.S. Soccer E License + Introduction to Grassroots Coaching Module
• U.S. Soccer F License + Introduction to Grassroots Coaching Module + 11v11 in-person license + one other in-person license

Course Structure:

First Meeting

• Friday - Sunday

Development Period:

The Development Period is the time in between course meeting one and two. It is vital that candidates have access to a team during this period so that they can practically apply what they learned during the first course meeting and complete their assignments.

Second Meeting

• Friday - Saturday - Sunday 

 

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USSF ’D’ License (Re-test) Upgrade

You have the option to attend the entire course again.   This is offered to coaches who received a "D Certiificate", "State D License",  "Not Ready" or "Provisional Status" score and are looking to upgrade to the National ’D’ License.  Webinars will also be required. If you have any questions contact Adam.

Please be aware that the coaching course reuqires all candidates to actively partcipate and conduct field demonstrations and/or play in field sessions. However, if you are unable to actively partcipate in field sessions, please notify the course instructors at the beginnning of the coaching course or anytime during the course.

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USSF "C" License 

The C Course focuses on the core concepts of coaching.

Eligibility

In order to register for the U.S. Soccer C course, all candidates must meet the following pre-requisites:

• At least 18 years of age
• Have held a U.S. Soccer D license for at least 12 months
• -OR- meet the waiver guidelines
• ​Currently coaching

Interested candidates who wish to apply based on a waiver must submit an application directly to the hosting organization.

Course Structure

The C course consists of two course meetings separated by a development period. The total course duration is approximately 2-3 months.

Tasks of the Coach

• Coaching Training Sessions

• Coaching Games

• Leading Players

• Leading the Team

• Managing a Performance Environment

• Leadership

Other frequently asked questions and answers can be found here.

Waiver Guidelines

Applicants who hold certain foreign licenses or have a minimum amount of professional playing experience may be considered eligible without holding the U.S. Soccer D License.

• Certain foreign licenses (subject to review by U.S. Soccer)

-OR-

• Applicant has three-(3) years coaching experience, at any level, AND three-(3) years playing experience with a Senior National Team and/or three-(3) years playing experience on a FIFA recognized “1st Division” outdoor professional team. This information must be reflected on the coach’s DCC profile. Official proof of playing and coaching experience must be provided via letter head from the affiliated clubs, leagues, or organization.

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Continuing Education

Knowledgeable coaches are essential to the development of players. Coaches must keep up with the latest techniques, philosophies and tactics. To maintain credibility, to learn the latest information and to keep up with the players, improve your knowledge by taking advanced and refresher courses.

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