How important is attending training for your little soccer player to improve in the game they love? How many days a week does your son/daughter train? Most teams/players train at least two days a week, but how much does your coach train?

Coaches' training is an important element of the continual growth of each individual player and team. To be a better player you must train, play, learn and continue to gather knowledge of the greatest game on earth! Ah, but to be a better coach you must just coach? No, you have to do the same! Coaches are teachers of this beautiful game and to be the best teacher coaches must also attend trainings. They must learn and continue to grow their knowledge to pass on the intricacies of the game all of our young soccer players are dedicated to learn.

SSC Shadow requires our coaches continue to improve their knowledge of the game and what they are presenting to players. Our coaches strive to become better and respond positively to this expectation - as we recognize and honor player and parent expectations as dues-paying members.  This is our promise and our "territory" for paid, licensed, professional coaches at the Premier level of youth soccer!  This expertise and growth is what has brought us a #7 club ranking in the state and allows us the only full Regional Club League membership in greater Spokane!

We congratulate Coach Kevin Moon and Coach Julio Morales who recently earned their USSF National "A" licenses!  The "A" license is the highest available license a coach can attain in the United States. Pursuing it is a big commitment that takes a considerable amount of time and testing of knowledge, while learning new items. Both Kevin and Julio will, in turn, directly pass their knowledge back to our players - from U10 Development, to Select teams to Premier teams - and to other SSC Shadow coaches. Willy Sennott, Jesse Rennaker, Don Joppa, and  Doug Cooper recently passed and successfully attained their USSF National 'D' licenses; a great step in the continued improvement toward becoming a better coaches!

Attending courses and earning licenses are just one important way to educate our coaches.  Another way we are extremely proud of is to bring in qualified instructors to teach. Frans Hoek arrived in Spokane in the middle of June and spent hours on the field helping our coaching staff continue grow in knowledge and the ability to pass that knowledge onto our players.  Hoek teaches the UEFA pro license, was on the staff at Ajax when Ajax beat AC Milan in the Champions League final, was on the Barcelona staff while Messi trained as a youth and Rivaldo scored that fabulous bicycle kick to have a hat trick and qualified Barcelona for the Champions league, and he is currently on the Bayern Munich staff. The value of the time our coaches spent with him is utterly priceless!

Finally, our Technical Director Sean Bushey consistently holds field sessions for our whole coaching staff and classroom sessions during tournament weekends - as we did at US Club Regionals where all the coaches attended an evening meeting after the games were over for the day.

These examples are just snippets of what our SSC Shadow coaches do outside of team practices to become better.  I am grateful for our coaches and I know you are, too.  Please thank them for their service to our players, teams and this great club!

In the Spirit of Soccer,