Getting to Know NorCal’s Summer Symposium Clinicians: Part 1

With NorCal Premier Soccer’s summer coaching symposium fast approaching, it’s time that you get to better know the world-class clinicians NorCal is bringing to the June 29 – July 2 event in Livermore.

Each week, we’ll preview a different set of the exciting minds that you, the coach, will get a chance to learn from at the event.

This week, we bring to you four of our headliners: Boca Juniors Head of Youth Development Jorge Raffo, US National Team Staff Member Dr. John Cone, former Manchester United, Barcelona, Bayern Munich, and current Netherlands Goalkeeper Coach Frans Hoek, and Benfica and Portugal U-17 National Team Coach Renato Paiva.

Having taken over as the Head of Youth Development for Boca Juniors in early 2017, Jorge Raffo is one of the most important and influential gurus of the youth game for Argentina, a country that has reached the FIFA World Cup Final five times.

“During a trip to Argentina, after one day at Boca Juniors, meeting with Raffo and watching the coaches work, I cancelled my visits to other clubs, deciding to dig more deeply into Raffo’s philosophy and training methods,” said NorCal President Benjamin Ziemer. “In our first meeting, he told us his ideal football was the possession of of FC Barcelona, the pressing game of Dortmund, and the fight of Boca. I have never met a Head of Youth Development work so much and so hard. It was an absolute footballing education.”

Dr. John Cone comes to the symposium with impressive credentials as well, having founded the successful company Fit For 90, as well as being a US Soccer Sports Science Consultant and Coach Educator.

Cone has also previously worked with MLS clubs like the Portland Timbers and Sporting KC, as well as numerous college soccer programs.

“Dr. John Cone combines the best of both worlds: top level practical experience with top level theory,” said Ziemer. “he is recognized as one of the top Sports Scientist in the US Soccer world.”

“He pushes us at our level because we are coaches, not physical trainers,” said NorCal Vice President Paolo Bonomo. “For our reality, he makes the physical conditioning and preparation really simple to apply to the training for our players. A lot of coaches might know that if you have a game from one sunday to the next, that you do an overload day on Wednesday, but what do you do with the rest of the time. Cone is able to give us that information in a simple way.”

Meanwhile, one of NorCal Premier Soccer’s most popular coaching instructors, UEFA instructor Frans Hoek, returns to provide more valuable lessons.

The former Manchester United Goalkeepers Coach, who was also in charge of all set pieces at the storied English club, comes as the current Goalkeepers Coach of the Dutch National Team after stints at Bayern Munich and Barcelona as well.

“Frans’ coaching career has brought him to Ajax Amsterdam, FC Barcelona, Bayern Munich, Manchester United, Galatasaray, Polish National Team and Dutch National Team,” Ziemer said. “During this time, Frans has worked with some of the top keepers in the world including Edwin Van Der Saar, Victor Valdes and David DeGea. He is widely recognized as one of the top clinicians in the world.”

“Frans Hoek has arguably more experience working in the US than any other foreign coach who has coached at the top level,” said PDP staff member Andrew Ziemer. “He understands the needs of the American coach and is about to adapt to the needs of the US Soccer landscape.”

That impressive trio is joined by a fourth world class instructor, Benfica youth and Portugal U-17 National Team Coach Renato Paiva who has helped coach a number of top class professional players including current Bayern Munich star Renato Sanches.

“This is going to be the fourth time we’ve brought Renato out, we get overwhelmingly positive feedback about him,” said David Robertson of NorCal’s Coaching Education and PDP Departments. “He’s someone that has coached at the highest level, but he’s got a unique ability to let people see the process and how you get there, rather than just showing you the end product. We’re excited to have him.”

To apply for the symposium, click the link at the top of the page.