Available National D Course:

The National D license is a 40 to 45-hour course (approximately 36 hours on site with rest of the time completing a variety of assignments), 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 using the Practice-Play-Practice (P-P-P) Teaching Methodology. Coaches will learn how to design, execute, and reflect on a P-P-P training session. Candidates will be assessed coaching at least one on-field training session with youth demo players during the course (when possible each candidate will receive an opportunity to get on-field practical experience during both weekends).

Candidates that register for this course are required to attend both onsite meetings. Candidates must be 18 years of age. Some physical participation may be required.

Cost of the National 'D' Course will be $300.00 and $25.00 US Soccer fee per student. Total fee: $325.00

Candidate Applications for the National "D" License Course must now go through the US Soccer Digital Control Center (along with full payment which will include $25.00 fee to the US Soccer)

APPLICATIONS WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED BY NJYS.

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 National 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:

The course is broken down into three phases that consists of two weekend onsite meetings separated by a development period that will take place in the coach's own environment. During the onsite meetings we will focus on one game format and age group each day. Age appropriate youth players in the proper game format for that day will be used for each field portion of the course . For example on the first weekend we will address the 4v4 Game Format for players 5 to 8 years old.

Onsite Weekend One:

Candidates will be divided into groups of 3, where they will create two age appropriate P-P-P training sessions based on the developmental stage/objectives of the players. This can be done on paper in classroom. All candidates will receive at a minimum one on-field practical experience as such:

During Practical-Day 2: 4v4

• One group of three candidates will execute one complete P-P-P session, (15 minutes each stage)
• Three additional candidates individually execute Core Activity (10 minutes each)

During Practical-Day 3: 9v9

• One group of three candidates will execute one complete P-P-P session, (15 minutes each stage)
• Three additional candidates will individually execute Core Activity (10 minutes each)

There will be no assessment during 1^st weekend, instructors will guide candidates on the field and facilitate reflection.

Development Period:

The Development Period is the time in between course onsite meeting one and two. Candidates are required to 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. All candidates will get experience with on-field coaching with their team in their own environment. There will be several assignments candidates will need to complete during this period through the DCC:

1. Create a two-week micro-cycle periodization plan based on the training session and game schedule (this assignment aligns with the coaching task of Coaching Games). This plan will be based on the developmental stage/objectives of their team
2. Within this two week plan, candidates will design one age appropriate Play-Practice-Play training session plan in the DCC based on the developmental stage/objectives of their players
3. Candidates will execute the training session in their own environment (optional to upload a 10 minute video clip of the Practice portion for additional feedback)
4. Reflect and identify areas of strength and growth. Determine-What will be some actions to grow?
5. Design a 2nd Play-Practice-Play training session using the Planning Tools in the DCC, candidates will create an age appropriate Play-Practice-Play training session based on the developmental stage/objectives of the players to be used in the 2nd Weekend.
6. Design a third training session (each candidate will be assigned either 7v7 or 11v11) to execute during onsite Meeting 2. Your assigned Instructor/Mentor will help guide you during the development period via the DCC by marking your training sessions "revision requested"
7.  

Onsite Weekend Two:

All candidates will get a 2nd on-field practical coaching experience with age appropriate youth players. Each candidate will conduct a 15-minute Core Activity based on their 7v7 or 11v11 P-P-P training session that was designed during the Developmental Period.

• 6 Candidates per day will participate in on-field assessment with age-appropriate youth players.
• Using the DCC, reflect and identify areas of strength and growth. Determine-What will be some actions to grow?

Candidate's assigned course Instructor/Mentor will assess during the on-field experience during Course Meeting #2, taking into account the performance from Course Meeting 1 as well as the Development Period assignments such as the training session plan and reflections. Candidate will receive notice of course results through the DCC.

What is required to host a National D License:

For sample schedule click here

1. Meeting/Classroom space that seats at a minimum 36 people comfortably with tables preferred. Recommend that Meeting Room and Classroom be available throughout the course at any time. WI-FI access preferred.
2. At a minimum 2 full sided 11v11 fields preferably side by side (three preferred) fully lined, goals with nets
3. Three [3] teams of players (first weekend 4v4 and 9v9 teams and second weekend 7v7 and 11v11 teams)

Because of the curriculum and requirements of this course, the following Refund Policy is effective July 1, 2013.

• No refunds once the course roster is set three weeks prior to the course.
• Refund request prior to three weeks before the course begins will be granted only if a qualified replacement can be found for the course.