AUBURNDALE, FL (March 28, 2022)- Over the weekend Florida Youth Soccer Association (FYSA) teamed up with U.S. Soccer and Florida Rush to run a free Coach for Community (C4C) event at the National Training Center in Clermont, Fl. This C4C event is one of several community engagement initiatives that are part of U.S. Soccer’s “One Nation” social responsibility platform, which seeks to drive positive impact in the areas of diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging.

U.S. Soccer's mission is to make soccer, in all its forms, the preeminent sport in the United States and to continue the development of soccer at all recreational and competitive levels.

In the United States, many youth coaches do not have access to adequate training. U.S. Soccer has established the Coach for Community program to serve not only as an introduction to teaching the game but also to improve sporting experiences within communities, particularly in underserved areas that may lack access and training for coaches, players, and volunteers.

The C4C event was held on Saturday, August 26, and included both a classroom workshop and an on-field session. This presentation was organized and led by:

• Mark Godwin, Associate Director of Coaching for FYSA and Grassroots Coach Educator for U.S. Soccer
• Zac Crawford, U.S. Soccer Coach Educator and author of the Coach for Community Workshop
• Mike Strickler, FYSA Director of Coaching
• Peter Moore, Florida Rush Director and the FYSA Coaching Education staff

FYSA was excited to have Former USMNT player Eddie Johnson come out to participate in the event. Johnson engaged in several group discussions and shared a few of his personal experiences in his player development journey, including his time as a youth player in Florida through his professional and international career. 

Check out some of the event photos here:  https://adobe.ly/3qR3S9M

Thank you to all of the attendees, players, instructors/ presenters, and our special guest Eddie Johnson for making this event a success!

If you would like to learn more about setting up a Coach For Community event in your area, click here to connect with Mark Godwin.

If you would like to learn more about the coaching education pathway and upcoming coaching courses in Florida, click here.