NEW YORK
(Friday, January 4, 2019)
– In preparation for the world’s largest annual gathering of soccer coaches and administrators, Major League Soccer continues its commitment to coaching education by today announcing – in conjunction with the United Soccer Coaches – a featured slate of MLS-led programming for the United Soccer Coaches Convention at McCormick Place West in Chicago from Jan. 9-13. The annual event will be highlighted by the 2019 MLS SuperDraft presented by adidas on Friday, Jan. 11 at 12 p.m. CT.
As part of the United Soccer Coaches Convention, MLS and Chicago Fire together will host the Coaches Lounge outside of the Skyline Ballroom on the third floor of McCormick Place West. Convention attendees are welcomed to stop by the Coaches Lounge throughout the week for access to charging and work stations, informal meeting spaces and lounge seating, FIFA gaming, an interactive photo booth, giveaways, and more.
Media interested in covering the 2019 United Soccer Coaches Convention should apply for credentials HERE.
Headlining the featured MLS programming will be an exclusive, 1-on-1 spotlight session with MLS Cup-winning manager and technical director Peter Vermes of Sporting Kansas City. Vermes, who remains the only person ever to win MLS Cup as both a player and a coach with the same team, has created a proven model of vertical integration from academy development to first team production. He is also among the top candidates for MLS Sporting Executive of the Year.
Hometown hosts the Chicago Fire will present three sessions, including “How we built a game model at the Chicago Fire Soccer Academy,” which will be led by the club’s academy technical director Cedric Cattenoy. Cattenoy moved to MLS from legendary club Paris Saint-Germain F.C. of France’s Ligue 1, and he has received an Elite Formation Coaching License as part of the groundbreaking MLS partnership between MLS and the French Football Federation.
Among other notable MLS sessions will be a roundtable on “Utilizing Performance Technology in Varying Environments,” which will be presented by Philadelphia Union Athletic Development Coach James Wagenschutz.
In addition to these impactful sessions, MLS SuperDraft 2019 presented by adidas on January 11 at 12 p.m. CT will again invite convention attendees to watch the proceedings of the first two rounds live from the draft room, as college seniors, Generation adidas players and Youth Internationals hope to be selected by one of the 24 MLS clubs ahead of the 2019 season.
Media interested in covering the 2019 MLS SuperDraft presented by adidas, should complete the credential application
HERE
.
Fans can watch live coverage of the 2019 MLS SuperDraft presented by adidas on
MLSsoccer.com
, and on MLS social media platforms (
YouTube
,
, and
Facebook
) for exclusive first interviews with draft picks, and expert analysis from
MLSsoccer.com
personalities.
Below is a complete listing of notable MLS-related programming at the United Soccer Coaches Convention.
*
Note: Schedule subject to change. All times are Central.
Wednesday, January 9
6:15 p.m. A field session based on the Chicago Fire Soccer Academy Methodology,
Presented by Chicago Fire
Selim Talbi,
Chicago Fire Academy Coach
Ross Brady,
Chicago Fire Academy Coach
8:45 p.m. Develop Soccer Fitness Within Different Training Exercises
James Wagenschutz
, Philadelphia Union Athletic Development Coach
*
Diploma 1: Developing Players and Coaches
Thursday, January 10
11 a.m. Cognitive Based Team Training:
Reflections on How it has been Implemented on the Professional Level
Mike Rabasca,
Toronto FC High Performance Director
*Diploma 1: The Mental Game
1 p.m. How we built a game model at the Chicago Fire Soccer Academy
Presented by Chicago Fire
Cedric Cattenoy
, Chicago Fire Academy Technical Director
Brian Roberts
, Chicago Fire Academy
Director of Performance, Advisory and Support Services (PASS)
1 p.m. 1-on-1 with Jermaine Jones
Jermaine Jones
, MLS & U.S. Men’s National Team Legend
4 p.m. Collective Possession to Advance – Playing Across the Direct Game Channel
Anthony Capotosto
, Toronto FC Academy Director
4 p.m. 1-on-1 with Peter Vermes
Peter Vermes
, Sporting Kansas City Manager and Technical Director
4 p.m. Utilizing Performance Technology in Varying Environments
James Wagenschutz
, Philadelphia Union Athletic Development Coach
Friday, January 11
9:30 a.m. Toronto FC Academy – Principles of Play
Anthony Capotosto
, Toronto FC Academy Director
11 a.m. The Development of a Principle of Play within Columbus Crew SC Methodology
Dennis Sanchez
, Columbus Crew SC Academy General Manager
Ben Cross
, Columbus Crew SC U19 Head Coach
12:00 p.m. 2019 MLS SuperDraft presented by adidas
4 p.m. 1-on-1 with Dwayne De Rosario
Dwayne De Rosario
, MLS & Canada Men’s National Team Legend
Saturday, January 12
2:30 p.m. The Development of a Principle of Play within Columbus Crew SC Methodology
Ben Cross
, Columbus Crew SC Academy U19 Head Coach
Kelvin Jones
, Columbus Crew SC Academy U15 Head Coach
4 p.m. An insight into a holistic approach to player development at Chicago Fire
Soccer Academy
Brian Roberts
, Chicago Fire Academy
Director of Performance, Advisory and Support Services (PASS)
Felix Yu,
Chicago Fire Academy
Coordinator of Performance, Advisory and Support Services (PASS)
Rachael Jankowsky,
Chicago Fire Academy Player Support Coordinator
About United Soccer Coaches
Founded in 1941 and headquartered in Kansas City, Mo., United Soccer Coaches is the trusted and unifying voice, advocate and partner for coaches at all levels of the game. The largest community for soccer coaches in the world, we unite coaches of all levels around the love of the game and we elevate the game through advocacy, education and service. To learn more visit
UnitedSoccerCoaches.org
.
About Major League Soccer
Headquartered in New York City, Major League Soccer features 24 clubs throughout the United States and Canada, with LAFC beginning play in 2018. The League plans to have 28 clubs in the coming years. For more information about MLS, visit
www.MLSsoccer.com
.
