Course Descriptions
The NSCAA Coaching Academy offers a wide range of educational opportunities to enhance the knowledge of soccer coaches.Non-Residential Courses- These courses are conducted on an on-demand basis throughout the country. Entry-level courses include the Parent Coach and State Diploma, which are designed for coaches with little to no experience. The Regional and Advanced Regional Diplomas are designed for coaches who work with players from 11 to 18 years of age. There are also several courses geared toward specific coaching disciplines (ex. National Youth Diploma, High School Coaches Diploma, Director of Coaching Diploma).NOTE: As of Jan. 1, 2006, any non-member who takes a non-residential course will receive a complimentary one-year NSCAA membership. This applies to NEW members only.* Additional fees may be added to some courses to cover facility rental costs.

Parent Coach Diploma
The Parent Coach Diploma is a 2 ½-hour course for coaches of players 5-8 years of age. The course deals with coaching young players who are playing the game for the first time. The course content includes philosophy of coaching youth, risk management strategies, organization of practice sessions and activities appropriate to players of this age. There is no testing in the Parent Coach Diploma. All candidates must be at least 14 years of age at the time of application. If a candidate is under 18 years of age, an adult must accompany him or her for the duration of the course.
 
Prerequisites: None
Duration: 2 ½ hours
Cost: $35/person (reimbursed by HYSA for Holliston coaches).

State Diploma
The State Diploma is a five-hour course directed toward the person newly involved in coaching soccer. It is designed to help coaches working with players in the 5- to 10-year age range. Special emphasis is placed on understanding the physiological and psychological differences of coaching children.
The course is designed to emphasize that the game itself essentially is the teacher and the focus of the coach at this level clearly is as facilitator. The curriculum focuses on the organization of a practice session, using small-sided games to enhance knowledge and fun, basic understanding of the Laws of the Game and information about the care and prevention of injuries. There is no testing in the State Diploma. All candidates must be at least 14 years of age at the time of application. If a candidate is under 18 years of age, an adult must accompany him or her for the duration of the course.
Prerequisites: None
Duration: 5 hours
Cost: $40/person (reimbursed by HYSA for Holliston coaches).

Regional Diploma
The Regional Diploma is a 13-hour course designed for the coach working players 11 to 18 years of age. An emphasis is placed on learning to work with the developing player within both an individual and team concept.
The curriculum outlines how technical and tactical concepts can be applied in the development of players. The focus is placed on the basic methods of coaching, teaching proper technique, the theory and application of offensive and defensive tactics and understanding team management. There is no testing in the Regional Diploma. All candidates must be at least 16 years of age at the time of application. If a candidate is under 18 years of age, an adult must accompany him or her for the duration of the course.
Prerequisites: None.
Duration: 13 hours
Cost: $65/person (reimbursed by HYSA for Holliston coaches).

Advanced Regional Diploma
The Advanced Regional Diploma is a 21-hour course designed as a supplement to the Regional Diploma, adding eight hours devoted to technical and tactical uses of small-sided games, the study of systems of play and a practice teaching component.
Participants are given an opportunity to conduct a training session on an assigned topic and are assessed by the course instructor. All candidates must be at least 16 years of age at the time of application. If a candidate is under 18 years of age, an adult must accompany him or her for the duration of the course.
Prerequisites: Regional Diploma.
Tests: None. Training sessions is assessed.
Duration: 21 hours*
Cost: $95 – (reimbursed by HYSA for Holliston coaches).

Visit NSCAA for more information.