CHICAGO (May 16, 2024) - Continuing in its mission to grow the game and foster the best playing environments, U.S. Soccer has announced the next application window for A-Youth Coaching Education Courses will open on Monday, May 20 at noon Central Time.
The A-Youth Course is intended to guide participants in developing competencies to perform a coaching role in a high-performance youth team environment. The course will consist of three in-person meetings during a 10-month period, which will be held over four days and three nights.
In addition to in-person meetings, virtual interaction and learning will take place weekly. Students will participate in large-group, small-group, and individual webinars.
Women accepted to the A-Youth course will have 50 percent of tuition covered by the Jill Ellis Scholarship fund, established to increase the number of female coaches in the United States.
“U.S. Soccer’s primary objective is to create an environment that fosters learning and growth for every student,” U.S. Soccer Coach Educator Dr. Jené Baclawski said. “Women in coaching face unique challenges and opportunities, and as a result, we believe it is essential to create intentional spaces and programs that allow women to share their experiences and voices. In 2019, the Federation launched the SheChampions program, which aims to eliminate barriers to education and support coaches across the United States. As part of this initiative, we are delighted to offer a women-only cohort experience for this round of A-Youth Courses. The women-only cohort aims to encourage community building and empower women to voice their perspectives in a safe and inclusive learning environment.
Based on final registration numbers, the women-only cohort experience will at minimum be provided during the virtual learning components of the course.
The application window will run from May 20-June 3. Interested applicants should review the course details and pre-application checklist below. All applications must be submitted through the U.S. Soccer Learning Center.
2024-2025 A-Youth Course General Timeline:
Application Window: May 20- June 3, 2024
Opening Webinar: July 15
Virtual Learning Week: July 29-August 2, 2024
In-Person Meetings: See chart below
| Level |
Meetings |
Dates |
Location |
Application Window |
| A-Youth Course |
Meeting 1 |
August 26-29, 2024 |
Kansas City, KS |
May 20-June 3 |
| Meeting 2 |
November 6-9, 2024 |
Kansas City, KS |
| Meeting 3 |
March 3-6, 2025 |
Kansas City, KS |
| A-Youth Course |
Meeting 1 |
September 3-6, 2024 |
Kansas City, KS |
May 20-June 3 |
| Meeting 2 |
November 11-14, 2024 |
Kansas City, KS |
| Meeting 3 |
March 10-13, 2025 |
Kansas City, KS |
| A-Youth Course |
Meeting 1 |
September 9-12, 2024 |
Kansas City, KS |
May 20-June 3 |
| Meeting 2 |
November 18-21, 2024 |
Kansas City, KS |
| Meeting 3 |
March 24-27, 2025 |
Kansas City, KS |
| A-Youth Course |
Meeting 1 |
September 3-6, 2024 |
Florida |
May 20-June 3 |
| Meeting 2 |
November 11-14, 2024 |
Florida |
| Meeting 3 |
March 10-13, 2025 |
Florida |
| A-Youth Course |
Meeting 1 |
September 9-12, 2024 |
TBA-West |
May 20-June 3 |
| Meeting 2 |
November 18-21, 2024 |
TBA-West |
| Meeting 3 |
March 17-20, 2025 |
TBA-West |
Participants in U.S. Soccer Coaching Education courses will have the opportunity to earn a nationally recognized license from U.S. Soccer, a FIFA national association member, and the governing body of soccer in all its forms in the United States.
For further updates, follow our social channels @ussoccer_coach on X, facebook.com/ussfcoachinged on Facebook, and @ussf_coachinged on Instagram.
For other coaching inquiries, please contact the U.S. Soccer Coaching Education Department at coaches@ussoccer.org.
