CHICAGO (Tuesday, September 17, 2002) - U.S. Soccer and Region IV will host a coaching symposium on November 1 and 2 in Seattle, Wash., in conjunction with one of the U.S. Women’s National Team’s Women’s World Cup qualifying matches.

The symposium will be built around the Women’s National Team and is highlighted by the opportunity to watch the 1999 Women’s World Cup champions train on Friday, Nov. 1, and then watch them take on Panama the following day at Safeco Field in a CONCACAF Gold Cup match that also serves as a Women’s World Cup qualifier.

“Our hope is that the combination of watching a National Team training session, going through field sessions as a group and then watching a Women’s World Cup qualifying match will prove to be a very insightful two days for these coaches,” said U.S. Women’s National Team head coach April Heinrichs.  “We want to be able to provide a weekend and an environment that will increase coaches’ understanding of player development on the women’s side of the game and also show them an up-close view of the women’s international game.”

The symposium’s theme will be “A Window on Player Development in the Women’s International Game”, and it will examine the latest ideas and trends for player development in the women’s game.  The information in the symposium will utilize the international game as a point of reference and will be especially relevant to those who are coaching the emerging youth player.

The two-day symposium kicks off on Friday, Nov. 1, and the first day includes a discussion about the recently-completed FIFA Under-19 Women’s World Championship and the opportunity for coaches to observe the Women’s National Team’s training session.

The coaches will go through four field sessions on Saturday, Nov. 2, at Willows Crossing, and will wrap up a soccer-filled Saturday by watching the U.S. Women play at 7:30 p.m. that night.

Some of the top soccer coaches in the nation will be interacting with participating coaches at the two-day clinic, including: U.S. Women’s National Team head coach April Heinrichs, Region IV Women’s National Staff Coach Jay Entlich and Region III Women’s National Staff Coach Dave Simeone.

"A" licensed coaches will receive two Continuing Education Units (CEU) for attendance at the two-day symposium. Registration is limited to 100 coaches on a first-come basis.

Pre-registration costs $60 for U.S. Soccer Coaching Organization Members and $70 for non-members.  Walk-up registration is $70 for members and $80 for non-members.  The cost of the symposium includes one ticket to the U.S. Women’s National Team’s match on Nov. 2.

To register, please send an email to Dave Schumacher at schu@wsysa.com.   Pre-Registration emails and checks need to be received by no later than October 28, 2002

Region IV U.S. Soccer Coaches Symposium
November 1-2 , 2002
Seattle, Wash.
(Tentative Schedule)

Friday, November 1
2:30 – 3:15 p.m. - Registration at Host Hotel
3:30 – 4:45 p.m. - Lecture on U – 19 Youth World Cup at Host Hotel  -  (Dave Simeone)
5 p.m. - Dinner on your own
7:15 p.m. - Field Session I @ Safeco Field -  Watch U.S. Women’s National Team train  - (April Heinrichs)
8:30 p.m. - Summary about the session

Saturday, November 2
9 – 10:15 a.m. - Field Session II @ Willows Crossing - (Jay Entlich) – Attacking play
10:30 – 11:30 a.m. - Field Session III @ Willows Crossing - (Dave Simeone) -  Topic TBD
12 p.m. - Lunch on your own
2 – 3:15 p.m. - Field Session IV @ Willows Crossing  -  (Jay Entlich)  -  Self training
3:30 – 4:30 p.m. - Field Session V @ Willows Crossing  -  (Dave Simeone) – Topic TBD
7:30 p.m. - Attend Game at Safeco Field