Coaching the coaches crucial to success Coach education is a vitally important factor – arguably the most important factor – in developing soccer in Canada. Jason deVos has more on a conference that is working toward coaching Canada's coaches.

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This past weekend, over 350 soccer coaches from across Canada descended on the University of Toronto campus to attend the National Soccer Coaches Conference, presented by Bell. The conference took place over four days, and included classroom lectures and on-field practice sessions from renowned coaches such as Dutch periodization specialist, Raymond Verheijen, Canada’s men’s national team coach, Benito Floro, and Toronto FC head coach, Greg Vanney.

Since the inception of the conference, the head coach of the University of Toronto men’s varsity team, Anthony Capotosto, has organized the annual event.

“It started in 2012. I collaborated with a colleague of mine, Stuart Neely (now the Senior Academy team head coach and USL PRO assistant coach at Toronto FC), who was working behind the scenes here with me at the University”, Capotosto said on Friday.

“We talked about the need for coaching education in Canada, not necessarily at a regional or provincial level, but on a national scale; trying to galvanize the country and provide more opportunities for coaches to enhance their education.”

For Capotosto, events like the NSCC are crucial environments in which coaches can continue to learn about the game.

“I do believe that it’s important to have an accreditation – to have a formal license and to go through the process of being evaluated. This environment is a little bit different; this is strictly for coaches who are interested in learning and wanting to get better. The whole motto of this conference is ‘Progress Through Education’, and that is what we are trying to do here.”

The support of the University has been vital to the success of the conference.

“We’re trying to use the University’s resources, the facilities; the administration is behind it, our athletic director is very supportive - using these resources to help coaches enhance their level in Canada,” said Capotosto.

Capotosto has been the men’s head coach at the University of Toronto since 2007, when he graduated from being an assistant coach to take over from Carmine Isacco, who is now in charge at York University. Capotosto is also an Academy coach with Toronto FC, working with the under-15 age group – so he is as much a student of the game as any of the coaches who attended the conference over the weekend.

He has a unique view of the game in Canada, as he has a foot in both the collegiate game as well as in the professional game. When asked if he believes the resources at the CIS level are underutilized in Canada, Capotosto said; “I definitely do. You can take a walk around any campus in Canada and see the types of infrastructure and facilities that are available. In addition to that, the people that are at these universities who can help bring the game forward through educating coaches.”

Unfortunately, there is a slight hurdle in place that the CIS must first overcome.

“Currently, the CIS is not recognized by the Canadian Soccer Association. I think having the CIS under the CSA’s umbrella would certainly lead in the right direction and look to enhance what we’re currently doing,” said Capotosto.

Plans are already well underway for the 2016 NSCC, to be held once again in Toronto.

“This is a unique event to the University of Toronto. It acts as a hub for the rest of the country, to bring coaches together in a central location. Plans are already moving forward for 2016, and we’re looking forward to running another event at the same time next year.”

Coach education is a vitally important factor – I would argue the most important factor – in developing the game in Canada. Events like the NSCC should be taking place from coast to coast, organized and run by the CSA. Not only would these conferences aid in the development of coaches in Canada, they would also serve as fundraisers – proceeds of which could be put towards offsetting the cost of coach education.