NorCal Coaching Symposium: Part 2
The final day of the 2025 NorCal Summer Coaching Symposium in Alameda began with a true treat as former United States Women’s National Team coach Twila Kilgore was on hand to deliver her first of two lectures on the day to a large crowd of local member coaches.
Kilgore, who also met with NorCal’s Women’s Committee and a U15 girls PDP residency squad, started by sharing her coaching journey from coaching club soccer all the way to serving as a part of the staff that won Olympic Gold in Paris.
The former UC Davis head coach and Houston Dash assistant then used experiences from her career in a second classroom session, this one giving her thoughts on leadership through shaping culture and setting expectations.
“Having someone with her experience and success come back to help with the Women’s Committee and deliver two sessions meant so much to us, especially as someone on the Women’s Committee,” said Pleasanton RAGE coach and Co-Fitness Director Alena Thom. “It was neat to have behind the scenes access to someone who has coached at that level. She’s been in positions that not many others have, but was willing to come and give back, which was super inspirational.”
“At the same time, through her presentations, she challenged us to think about our own pathway,” Thom added. “It’s always good to self-reflect and think about our ‘whys?’ It was amazing to see how true she was to herself in what she did, which made me reflect on my own pathway.”
“Another big takeaway was that she said that in life everything comes to an end so as coaches we have to make the most out of the journey,” Thom concluded. “How do we have the best possible impact we can wherever we are on our journey?”
In between Kilgore’s two lectures, Hoffenheim U19 coach Tobias Nubbemeyer continued with yet another field session, this one designed to both work on build out from a goal kick as well as pressing opposition build outs.
Nubbemeyer would later expand on this by demonstrating his ideas on how to build up during the run of play in what would be his final of five separate demonstrations he graced the NorCal faithful with over the weekend.
“One area that the modern player lacks is the intensity the game requires and the details of how to properly defend,” said NorCal PDP coach Greg Rubendall. “Tobias does an excellent job of creating the mentality to win the ball back so that when you do have the ball you’re able to keep it for longer.”
“Even in an attacking-based session, (Nubbemeyer’s) first requirement is to focus on the intensity of the defending,” Rubendall added. “Because of this, the attacking players are able to be more effective and realistic in a competitive environment.”
Finally, it was time for another one last session from AC Milan Academy Director Vincenzo Vergine, who showcased several different ways to deliver tactical development methodology on the field.
“NorCal Premier Soccer would like to thank every coach who came out to further their development over this past weekend with the five world class clinicians we were able to host at the Oakland Roots’ facility,” said NorCal Head of Coaching Education David Robertson. “We truly believe that better coaches make better players and so many dedicated individuals took time out of their busy schedules, which will directly benefit the players in our membership.”
