| Appreciating the Facets (November 2008) |
The NSCAA and its many programs make it unique in the soccer world
By Al Albert
As we approach the annual Convention in St. Louis, I would like to share with you some observations on our Association.
It is interesting to note that even in parts of the world where soccer is revered, coaches’ organizations resembling the NSCAA do not exist. Although most national federations, such as our own US Soccer, have their own educational programs, there is seldom a choice for coaches who desire training; they must go through their federation’s national coaching school. Unlike national federations, whose main mission clearly is to produce teams capable of qualifying for and winning international championships, the NSCAA has as its No. 1 priority the education and development of soccer coaches.
The NSCAA stands out in the world of soccer in that it is an association of more than 26,000 coaches, an organization whose central purpose is to help educate and develop soccer coaches to their full potential. Many of the top coaches in the United States are committed members of the NSCAA and willingly share their basic secrets of success with coaches of all levels. This attitude of openness and sharing is at the core of who we are.
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The special nature of our Association may stem from our inception as a group for college coaches. The uniqueness of the NSCAA on an international level parallels the special nature of intercollegiate soccer, which certainly is more professionally organized in the United States than in any other country. We have grown from academic roots, and we consider ourselves to be primarily an educational institution.
Another unique aspect of our organization is the upcoming annual Convention. Without appearing to brag, I think I can say that our NSCAA Convention is THE soccer convention. There are other credible events that are similar in purpose, some quite large, but most are regional in nature. Simply put, if coaches asks their colleagues if they are going to “the soccer convention,” everyone clearly knows which one. Our event has the largest exhibit hall with the broadest and best soccer-specific show of the latest apparel, shoes and training aids. Our convention planners work hard to develop meaningful and timely presentations, and many leagues have their annual meeting at this venue. Perhaps most important, the convention is a reunion, a social gathering of old friends and adversaries.
Members of the NSCAA can be confident in our organization’s leadership. It has been a real pleasure to work alongside the rest of our Board and especially the Executive Committee. Immediate Past President Steve Malone has been great this year in helping me learn the ropes, and our three Vice Presidents – Randy Waldrum, Marcia McDermott and Paul Payne – all played key roles this year in a reorganized governance structure. Along with Secretary Ralph Polson, these individuals will be great presidents when their time comes.
With NSCAA elections coming up, I want to encourage each of you to pay special attention to the ballot included in this issue of the Journal. In the past, there has been quite a low level of participation in our elections, which basically determine the future leadership of our organization. It is critical that you participate and vote this year in the electoral process. As you probably know, the secretary of the NSCAA will in six years very possibly become the president, so it is important that you make a judgment on which candidate you think will best serve in this capacity. I know Jack Huckel, Kevin Denson and Cela Shukie personally, and think each would be a unique and excellent choice. However, it is up to you as members to pick the person you think might be best to lead the NSCAA into the year 2014. Because of a change in our election procedures, there will be no opportunity to vote on site at the Convention this year, so mailing in your ballot in is critical. In addition to the ballots included in the Journal, all current members will receive a special mailing with a unique postage-paid return mechanism.
The last thing I want to mention, but not the least, is something that is very personal to me – the Endowment Campaign of the NSCAA Foundation. In our strategic plan, which our board took six months to hammer out and finally approve in January, a goal was set to raise the assets of the Foundation Endowment to $1 million by 2012. For the last 10 months, our Campaign Leadership Committee, under chairman Hank Steinbrecher and volunteer leader Doug Orr, has worked diligently on the infrastructure for the next five years of fundraising for the Foundation. In January at the Convention, we will roll out this campaign and try to create as much awareness and momentum as possible going forward into 2009. Please consider supporting the Foundation with a personal contribution, however small or large, and also make sure you pay attention to what this campaign can mean. One million dollars under investment in 2012 can annually send 40 coaches to our coaching schools, coaches who otherwise could not afford to improve their abilities and help their teams.
Thank you for indulging my rambling; this was my last chance to make some points that truly resonate with me. I believe that we are a unique organization that requires and deserves your participation to continue our mission. Let your voice be heard by voting in this year’s election and please consider supporting the endowment campaign. See you in St. Louis.
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| The Technical Area, NSCAA eNewsletter |
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| Soccer Journal - Published seven times a year in print and once annually online, Soccer Journal is the Official Publication of NSCAA and is one of the few publications in the world produced exclusively for soccer coaches. learn more |
| Insurance - Members in the United States automatically receive $1 million in professional liability insurance, providing coverage for most soccer-related activities. learn more |
| Academy Programs - The benchmark of soccer coaching education is the NSCAA Coaching Academy program. learn more |
| Convention - The NSCAA Convention is "The World's Largest Annual Gathering of Soccer Coaches." Held each January learn more |
| Awards and Recognition - The NSCAA administers an outstanding awards and recognition program which includes Coach of the Year, All-America, long-term service and special recognition awards, designed to recognize excellence in soccer, academics and service to the game. learn more |
| Licensed Apparel - A full line of distinctive coaching gear sets you apart as a member of the NSCAA through our licensed apparel program with adidas. learn more |
| For more details, please proceed to the Benefits of NSCAA Membership Page |
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