SAC HC is interested in attracting the best coaches available for its Travel Team Program. The club fields teams in age groups from Under 9 through Under 19. All coaches must apply and go through stated selection process.

In a continuing effort to enhance the SAC Travel program and to continue in refining the program’s objective of player development, a new coaching selection process based on clearly defined evaluation criteria has been established. Specifically, all coaches will be selected based on where, in the Technical Director and his respective directors of coaching’s’ opinion, each individual best fits into our development program.

In the SAC Travel program, four distinct and discrete stages of soccer development are recognized. They are the:

• Preliminary Stage where basic technique and the development of a level of confidence with the ball is developed;
• Basic Proficiency Stage where player acquires the skills to solve soccer problems;
• Competitive Proficiency Stage where the player acquires the skills to choose the correct options available to him/her with regard to position, and the particular line (unit) on the team; and
• Team Proficiency Stage where the player has acquired the knowledge of how to win and how to use the available resources to achieve a good result.

Differing talents and skills are necessary to coach at each of the aforementioned stages of development. To that end, five criteria will be used in assessing the potential of a coaching candidate. The criteria are: (1) the ability to read the game; (2) the ability to manipulate soccer obstacles as part of the learning process; (3) the ability to explain clearly the problems involved in playing the game; (4) the ability to provide the right example and to demonstrate it and (5) the ability to provide an encouraging atmosphere for learning and to stimulate a desire to do well.

Therefore, all candidates for coaching positions in the SAC Travel Program will be assessed in a specific soccer situation using the above criteria.

New coaches that apply should be prepared to conduct at least one training session. The topic, age group and location are to be determined by the Technical Director and his staff. The session should reflect the coach’s plan to address three main components: the training objective, warm-up, and the main activity. The main activity should reflect a progression of activities that lead to a match conditioned conclusion.

Coaching candidates should reflect at least one if not all of the following:

• A background of prior experience in playing and/or participating in the game; or coaching of the game at a level that is relevant for the expressed age group of interest;
• Completed a USSF or NSCAA licensing coaching course that is appropriate for the expressed age group of interest ( MSYSA requires all travel coaches to have a E license at minimum);
• Demonstrated passion for the game that is reflected in experience of participation,
• Continuing education or background relevant to the age group of interest.

The Technical Director and his staff will consider recommendations and input from a variety of resources. However, all final decisions will be based on (1) the needs of a selected age group and (2) the assessed qualifications of the coaching candidate.

Every attempt will be made to provide notice of the Technical Director’s final selections in a timely fashion, recognizing that player decisions to consider alternatives may be influenced by the coaching choices.

Please use the following link to apply for a coaching position in the Travel Program.
TRAVEL COACHING APPLICATION