Chicago will be “Soccer City” this week as the United Soccer Coaches (formerly the National Soccer Coaches Association of America) will hold its annual convention in the Windy City, Jan. 9-13.
The convention will be held in the McCormick Place West Building.
The United Soccer Coaches, with over 30,000 members, is the largest soccer coaches association in the world. The convention will attract coaches from the youth, high school club, college and professional ranks.
This marks the first time Chicago has hosted the convention, which traces its roots to 1941 and the formation of the NSCAA in New York City. This year over 6,500 coaches will attend and over 14,000 individuals, including award winners and their families, vendors, administrators will be attending.
The annual US Youth Soccer Workshop, along with its annual Awards Gala, will be held jointly with the coaches convention. This workshop will attract administrators, coaches and Directors from all 50 states.
“One of the amazing experiences of the convention is walking down the halls and talking to coaches you have never imagined meeting,” said Geoff VanDeusen, United Soccer Coaches Director of Operations & Events. =
“It could be Bruce Arena, Peter Vermes, Anson Dorrance, Leslie Gallimore, April Heinrichs, or one of dozens of others.”
The National Women’s Soccer League and Major League Soccer, the top pro leagues for women and men in the USA, will also hold their annual player drafts during the convention.
The world’s largest soccer vendor show will open Thursday night and run through Saturday afternoon. Over 400 vendors from all around the world will be in the exhibition hall.
The five-day schedule for the convention includes conference and league meetings and hundreds of coaching clinics and lectures. Over 250 education sessions will be held, which will be presented by more than 200 coaches and clinicians.
Awards will be presented throughout at breakfast meetings, and two highlights are the annual Honor Awards dinner, where the annual Honor Award will be presented, along with inductions into the United Soccer Coaches Hall of Fame.
Additional detailed information can be reached on the United Soccer Coach website: unitedsoccercoaches.org