USL News Release
Monday, January 14, 2013
TAMPA, Fla. – United Soccer Leagues will be represented by a large staff contingent at the 2013 National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) Annual Convention, and will hold its inaugural USL Youth Annual General Meeting, presented by the National Guard, in conjunction with NSCAA gathering. With the NSCAA Annual Convention set for January 16-20 in Indianapolis, the USL Youth AGM will take place on January 16-17.
“The USL Youth AGM is a much-needed piece of the puzzle as we continue to raise the bar on the level of competition and service teams competing in USL’s youth leagues receive,” Senior Director of USL Youth Leagues Jason Arnold said. “We are looking forward to bringing our clubs together so we can all work to continue to raise the profile of USL’s youth leagues.”
More than 50 youth clubs representing hundreds of teams participating in the USL Super Y-League and Super-20 League will convene at the Indiana Convention Center for meetings addressing multiple topics including operations, registration, insurance, standards, ODP, scheduling, communications, college recruitment, etc. Arnold will direct the event along with Super-20 League & NGS Director Abe Thompson, Super Y-League & ODP Director Natalie Akula, and Super Y-League & ODP Manager Bryan Bachelder.
Further, several special guests will visit the proceedings including a prominent NCAA Division I coach, a member of the U.S. Women’s National Team and league partner, the National Guard.
"We are excited to be supporting the inaugural USL Youth AGM,” SFC David Therrell said. “It is extremely important to the National Guard to reach those centers of influence who our prospective recruits turn to for advice. We are eager to inform these individuals about National Guard benefits and opportunities and how these help their players achieve their goals."
USL staff will travel to Indianapolis representing each of its leagues and properties including USL PRO, the MISL, the PDL, the W-League, the Super-20 League, the Super Y-League, NGS and Major Beach Soccer. Additionally, USL National Technical Director Peter Mellor, a longtime staff coach for the U.S. Soccer Federation, will introduce the new goalkeeping “D” and “E” License curriculum to coaches in attendance at the convention.
Billed as "The World’s Largest Annual Gathering of Soccer Coaches," each year the NSCAA Convention draws approximately 4,000 coaches and more than 9,000 attendees over five days. Throughout the event, USL will occupy booth 3001 - one of the larger 20’ x 20’ spaces in the NSCAA Exhibit Hall on the floor of the Indiana Convention Center - while its staff meets with prospective partners and current league members.