Len Oliver conducts the classroom portion of the USSF ’E’ License course at Jelleff

by Len Oliver

Taking the USSF  E Level Course

 Over the weekend of June 18, Len Oliver, DC Stoddert Director of Coaching, trained his 4,308^th coach in the 18-hour USSF E Certification Course.  Attending the Course were 26 area coaches, with 14 coaches hailing from DC Stoddert Soccer.  All DC Stoddert coaches received a handsome Nike polo shirt for attending the course.

 In classroom lectures and demonstrations held at the Jelleff Club on Friday night and Saturday morning, Len stressed advanced methods of coaching, including adherence to the “Four Pillars” of coaching the modern game—technical, tactical, fitness, and the psychological dimensions of coaching.  The lectures included Len’s in-class demonstrations and ideas on Risk Management.  On Saturday morning, Len took the coaches through up-to-date interpretations of the FIFA Laws of the Game, along with some insights into the Care and Prevention of Injuries.

Field Work at UDC

Moving from Jelleff to the University of the District of Columbia Soccer Field on Van Ness Street, NW late Saturday morning due to the construction work on Jelleff Field, Len introduced the coaches to advanced warmups—including individual, group, and team warm-ups,  along with Brazilian-style “dynamic stretching” techniques.

The rest of Saturday morning and early afternoon were spent teaching the coaches how to instruct their young players, U9 and up, in individual and team dribbling moves, passing for possession and penetration, receiving and exquisite “first touch,” heading, and shooting both in the penalty box and outside.  Each topic culminated in a 5 v 5 game with goalkeepers, with Len illustrating how coaches can “teach from the game.”   

Teaching the Game’s Tactical Side

Later in the afternoon on the UDC Field, Len was joined by Bob Bigney, Technical Director for the Arlington Soccer Association, and member of the VYSA State Staff. The two instructors introduced the coaches to the tactical side of the game, both attacking and defensive.  The sessions included practice in setting an “offside trap” as well as how to “beat the trap."

Sunday morning at UDC, conducted in the heat of an early DC summer, Len and Bob taught the coaches how to set up “small-sided games,” using some 15 game-related “conditions” to teach their players from USSF’s “whole-part-whole” schemata.  Len then took the coaches through the Tactical Use of Restarts—using the full field for throw ins, free kicks, corner kicks, goal kicks, penalty kicks, and place kicks—utilizing both offensive and defensive tactical insights on the restarts.

Coaching Practicum

Len and Bob wrapped up the course with the coaches actually training their coaching colleagues in 20-minute sessions, critiqued by the instructors, followed by a review of the E course’s Take-Home Exam questions.   The E course is constructed for both coaches who will go on to take the USSF D License course and for those coaches who see the E course as their terminal coaching certification. 

Coach Comment: 

David Lesmes, DC Stoddert open coach and research scientist, sent this note after the training:    “I enjoyed the course – it was fun! Thank you very much for all the effort and dedication you put in to helping us coaches and our kids…..  All the best.”

Coming Up Next--The Summer D Course

Len’s next USSF Course is the 36-hour D License Course in late August, site to be determined.   All coaches holding an E Certificate, or who have college or pro playing experience, are eligible to attend the D Course.  Flyers are available from LOliverASO@aol.com or the DC Stoddert Web site.

posted by MCL 6/25/10