The NSCAA has combined with Sports Path to offer an online learning course for soccer parents.
In autumn 2007, Sports Path launched the Soccer Parent E-Learning Courses, which were created for the parents of boys and girls 4-16 years of age. Its goal is to help parents learn how they can contribute to the development of their young soccer players. Parents play a vitally important role in encouraging their children to take up and continue to participate in youth soccer. This e-learning program offers an ideal solution for time-challenged parents by offering units and modules that can be enjoyed in 10-minute chunks at home, in the office or on the go.
The courses are an experience for active learners – instead of lectures, a series of problems are posed that are solved by the parent. The four courses are:
- Course 1: FREE – A Fresh Approach to Soccer Parenting: What do I want to achieve as a Soccer Parent?
- Course 2: Preparing Your Child to Enjoy Playing Soccer: Feeding and maintaining your children's passion.
- Course 3: Choosing a Club: Helping them compete enjoyably and defining the parents' role on game days.
- Course 4: Assisting the Gifted You Player (available May 2008): Recognizing, supporting potential talent and dealing with setbacks.
Course 1 involves the learning in approximately 45 minutes of e-learning. Courses 2, 3 and 4 involve the learner in approximately two hours of e-learning per course. All courses involve video, audio, graphics, animations, photos and text with a high degree of interactivity, involving learning activities and questions.
Course 1 is offered FREE with registration to the site, while the remaining three courses are available for $9.99 each.
The courses have been been developed by UEFA Football Development Consultant Robin Russell, the former Technical Coordinator of the English Football Association.