"The well intentioned and seemingly reasonable approach of many youth coaches is to look to adult soccer as their guide to teaching the game. What most youth coaches find helpful in the adult game is the organization and positional responsibility (tactics) that the adult players exhibit so well. They are concepts that we, as adults, can understand well- and so, as coaches, many tend to bring an organizational or tactical approach to coaching youth. Coaches often focus on keeping the players under control and teaching what appears, to the adult mind, as the basics of the game: organization, positions, tactics, how to prepare to win games. We choose order over apparent chaos. It is tempting in youth soccer to strive to have the youth games look like adult games, with kids holding their own in set positions, organized and disciplined. However, what is truly required at the youth level is much different."

~C Manual Introduction

Difference between License or Certifications?
Yes a License is much more in-depth education. A cerification is simple technical points and outlines to provide proper training sessions usually catered to the parent/novice coach. For example the latest 16 hour E Certificate course covers a few simple techniques, provides a basic practice session demonstration and allows a coach to be critiqued by a Nationally licensed coach. The assessment is attend, learn and realize their is more to soccer than just "kicking the ball".

It is very misleading when a coach touts an "E" as a license or that it is something of great depth in soccer coaching, it just scratches the surface. Every coach in any recreational program, i.e. Boys & Girls Club of the Lewis Clark Valley, should have an "E" to better serve the development of our youth soccer players. It is the stepping stone to soccer coaching.

A National License provides knowledge in the 4 components of soccer technical, tactical, psychomotor and psychological and the degree of focus of each based on the age group you are coaching as well as evaluations and assessments on your knowledge. You must pass. No free lunches here.
The first National license is the "C" and cover 9 days of material with oral, written and demonstrative field exams evaluated by unbiased "A" licensed coaches not from your state.

I have coached other sports, so what's the big deal about education?
Play and simple our valley community is a microcosm of what is happening nationally. Many American sports i.e. basketball, baseball and football are a cultural sport meaning we invented the sport and all grew up playing them like our parents did and it became a part of our culture. Unlike soccer it is not "our" game but a game created in England and thus in America we see kids tossing the baseball or football around in their free time, when in Engalnd it would be the soccer ball.

I coach high school soccer, what can they teach me?
This is another concern in our valley as none of the coaches at this time are evaluated by their respective Athletic Directors (AD). It's not the AD's fault as their job really doesn't allow it and they tend to reference or assume the training should be similar to our american sports which they are well versed in. High school coaches are hired to coach and then never get assessed. Now evaluation do occur once a year but they are a simply formality and not making the coaches better. A high school coach should have at least a State "D" license if not a "C". Not one high school coach is licensed above an "E" certificate.

Are other coaching clinics and courses just as good?
Pure and simply fodder! US Soccer, UEFA, FIFA, and NSCAA have soccer coaching education programs and they do reciprocate for example, a NSCAA Advanced National Diploma will get you waived in National "B". No one is waived into a National "A" license. They all have similar principles, but the majority of coaches I have met with other credentials give US Soccer the higher "nod" for Soccer Education. Truly good coaches are always taking new courses, even at the "A" level to build upon their knowledge. We expect our players to get better, but not our coaches?

Any other weekend clinics or special event lectures are great but often give you a look into what a college or pro coach does, for example Anson Dorrance's opinion on making women competitive or Tony Diccio on breakaway saves. They re not substitutes for learning to become a better more efficient coach.

I played soccer in college or high school?
There are many examples of coaches touting their abilities/success as players making themselves appear more qualified to coach, unfortunately they are unaware that there is an extreme difference between coaching/teaching and doing. The US Soccer National Schools used to allow player experience to qualify for waivers into National A or B, but it set back our country dearly as many of these coaches put our youth at risk trying to emulate college or professional level training in a youth setting. You will find many "uneducated" coaches following similar methodologies i.e. overtraining, extreme length and duration, emulating adult game too soon, etc.)
US Soccer learning from this error now allows waiver in extreme cases only:
"Applicants with three (3) years of coaching experience (any level) AND three (3) years playing experience with a Senior National Team or three (3) years of FIFA recognized "1st Division" professional playing experience may be waived into the National "C" License. Applicants with five (5) years coaching experience (any level) AND five (5) years playing experience with a Senior National Team or five (5) years of FIFA recognized "1st Division" professional playing experience may be waived into the National "B" License. Documentation of both professional playing experience and coaching experience is required." http://www.ussoccer.com/Coaches/FAQ.aspx
While experience helps in understanding the game it is not a substitute for Coaching Education.

When are the courses available?
Unfortunately many coaches whom are afraid to be evaluated will make statements that they are "working towards" a specifc level of license or complain about none available. It's simple to find a lower level "E" or "D" course online and register online in any state association. The National licenses get more difficult as they require more time and money to attend. VYSA has a strong relationship with the State and offers an "E" annually. VYSA also has their own "In-house" coaching course to prepare them for whatever youth age group they are coaching.