November 2026—It has been an incredibly busy and productive few months for the NorCal Premier Technical Department, with significant activity both on and off the field. From player development and talent identification to coach education and international learning experiences, our focus remains on providing meaningful opportunities that support players, coaches, and clubs throughout Northern California.

We are pleased to share some recent highlights, recognize achievements across our membership, and look ahead to several exciting opportunities in 2027.

Player Development Program (PDP)

Our Player Development Program continues to provide valuable opportunities for talented young players throughout Northern California.

This season, more than 1,500 new players have been evaluated across our eight regions, reflecting both the depth of talent within our membership and the continued growth of the program.

Throughout November, we will finalize our Regional and State training pools as we continue our commitment to identifying, supporting, and developing players.

State Pool Showcase Games
Our U16 and U17 State Pool players recently participated in showcase games in Dublin, providing an excellent opportunity to compete in a challenging environment and demonstrate their abilities.

Congratulations to all the players selected to participate. The level of competition was impressive and highlighted the quality and depth of talent within our program.

These games represent another important step in our ongoing identification and development process.

Boys Selected Players | Girls Selected Players

Upcoming U13/U14 PDP Play Date
On January 10, 2027, selected U13 and U14 Regional Team players will participate in our next PDP Play Date in Davis.

The event will bring together talented players from across Northern California for a day of meaningful competition and evaluation.

Scouts from US Club Soccer’s id2 National Identification Program and U.S. Soccer will be in attendance, providing additional opportunities for players to be observed as part of the national identification process.

PDP At-Home Training Program
We are excited to introduce our official PDP At-Home Training Program through Techne.
This initiative is designed to encourage players to take greater ownership of their individual development by providing structured technical training opportunities outside their regular team sessions.

By promoting consistent individual practice, we hope to help players develop positive training habits, improve their technical abilities, and take greater responsibility for their continued growth.

PDP Game Model & Program Objectives
Our technical staff has developed a comprehensive PDP Game Model, establishing a shared framework for the principles, philosophy, and objectives that guide our player development approach.

The model provides consistency across the program while supporting our coaches in creating meaningful learning environments for players.

Although developed specifically for PDP, we encourage clubs and coaches to review the document and consider how elements of the model might complement their own coaching philosophies and player development structures.

PDP Spotlight: Three Players at the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup
We are proud to recognize three players with connections to NorCal PDP who are representing the United States at the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup. Featured Players:

• Venina Moodie – De Anza Force | Oakland, CA
• Gigi Zuniga – MVLA SC | Watsonville, CA
• Cassie Travers – Gotham FC U-18 | Santa Cruz, CA

All three players have participated in multiple NorCal PDP events, training camps, and international experiences during their development journeys.

While we are proud to have contributed to their development, we want to recognize the tremendous work of their clubs, coaches, and families, who have played the primary role in supporting and developing these talented young players.

Our role at NorCal PDP is to complement the excellent work taking place within our member clubs by providing additional opportunities for training, competition, exposure, and international experiences.

Their achievements reflect not only their individual talent and dedication but also the strength of player development across Northern California and the value of collaboration between clubs and programs.

Congratulations to these outstanding players and everyone who has supported them along the way!

Coach Education

It has been an exceptionally active and rewarding period for our Coach Education Department, with a wide range of learning opportunities delivered both locally and internationally.

Our continued goal is to expose coaches and directors to different ideas, methodologies, and perspectives while providing practical knowledge they can apply within their own environments.

Denmark Coach Education Experience
Twenty-two club directors recently traveled to Denmark for an exclusive international coach education experience hosted by HB Køge.

Throughout the visit, participants gained valuable insight into the club’s philosophy, methodology, and daily operations.

The experience included observations of men’s and women’s first-team training sessions, youth academy activities, and discussions with coaching staff before and after training.
These conversations provided valuable perspectives on session planning, coaching delivery, player development, and performance evaluation.

Participants also had opportunities to observe professional matches and engage with Danish football professionals, gaining a deeper appreciation of the country’s football culture and development structures.

Experiences such as this are an important part of our commitment to providing NorCal coaches and directors with opportunities to learn from different football environments and bring fresh ideas back to their clubs.

Gordon Young Coach Education Series
Our recent coach education series featuring Gordon Young, Emergent Talent Scout at Tottenham Hotspur, was a tremendous success.

The Fresno and Monterey events attracted more than 160 attendees, highlighting the continued enthusiasm for high-quality coach education across our membership.
Drawing on his extensive experience in professional football, Gordon shared valuable insights into player development, coaching methodology, talent identification, and the standards required at the highest levels of the game.

His sessions challenged coaches to reflect on their current practices while offering practical ideas and perspectives that can be applied within their own club environments.
We sincerely thank Gordon for sharing his expertise and making such a positive contribution to our coaching community.

Fresno Session Recording | Monterey Session Recording

Frans Hoek Goalplayer Tutor Program
We recently completed the final in-person component of our year-long Goalplayer Tutor Program with Frans Hoek, bringing an outstanding educational experience to a close.
The program was designed with two important objectives: to deepen participants’ understanding of goalplayer development and to establish a group of tutors capable of delivering high-quality coach education throughout Northern California.

Over the course of the year, participants engaged in theoretical learning, practical field sessions, and collaborative discussions, strengthening both their technical knowledge and their ability to educate and support other coaches.

It has been a privilege to learn from Frans, one of the world’s most respected goalkeeping educators, and to benefit from his wealth of knowledge and international experience.
We look forward to supporting our newly developed tutors as they begin sharing their knowledge and contributing to the continued growth of goalplayer education across NorCal.

U.S. Soccer A & B License Courses

NorCal Premier remains committed to supporting advanced coaching education by hosting and facilitating U.S. Soccer A and B License courses throughout Northern California.

We recently announced a new U.S. Soccer B License course in Morgan Hill, beginning in January 2027. The course has already reached capacity and is currently operating a waitlist.

Registration remains available for our upcoming All-Women’s U.S. Soccer B License Course.

• Location: Pleasanton, CA
• Dates: January 4 – June 18, 2027
• Hosted by: US Club Soccer and NorCal Premier Soccer
• Details and Register

We also anticipate announcing an additional U.S. Soccer B License course beginning in June 2027, with in-person sessions scheduled in Sacramento.

Expanding access to advanced coaching education remains a priority as we work to make these opportunities more accessible and affordable for coaches throughout our membership.

Upcoming Coach Education Opportunities

We have several outstanding educational opportunities planned for the coming months, offering something for coaches and club leaders at every stage of their development.

U.S. Soccer Grassroots, D & C License Courses
We continue to offer U.S. Soccer Grassroots, D License, and C License courses throughout Northern California.

These courses provide coaches with opportunities to strengthen their knowledge, develop their coaching practices, and create more effective and enjoyable learning environments for players.

Whether beginning their coaching journey or working toward advanced qualifications, we encourage coaches to take advantage of the educational opportunities available.

Upcoming NorCal Coaching Courses

U.S. Soccer Technical Director Course
In partnership with US Club Soccer, we are pleased to offer an upcoming U.S. Soccer Club Technical Leadership Level 1 Course, formerly known as the Director of Coaching Course.

Designed for club leaders and technical directors, this program focuses on strengthening leadership, improving club structures, and creating sustainable player development environments.

Participants will have opportunities to reflect on their leadership practices, exchange ideas with colleagues, and explore strategies for supporting coaches, players, and clubs more effectively.

• Course: U.S. Soccer CTL Level 1
• Format: Virtual
• Dates: February 8 – June 6, 2027
• Hosted by: US Club Soccer and NorCal Premier
• Details and Register

LaLiga Coach Education Course – January 16–17, 2027

We are delighted to continue our annual coach education partnership with LaLiga, welcoming their methodology experts back to Northern California for another outstanding learning experience. Details and Register.

2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup – Brazil Coach Education Experience
We are exploring the opportunity to organize a unique NorCal Coach Education and FIFA Women’s World Cup Experience in Brazil in 2027.

The proposed trip would combine professional development with the opportunity to experience one of the world’s premier sporting events.

Our goal is to create a memorable experience that allows coaches and directors to learn from Brazilian football environments while enjoying the excitement and atmosphere of the Women’s World Cup.

At this stage, we are gauging interest to determine whether there is sufficient demand to move forward with organizing the trip.

We encourage interested coaches, directors, and other adults to review the proposed itinerary and complete our short interest form.

Interest Form Deadline: November 14, 2026

Please note that completing the interest form does not commit you to attending or making any payment. It simply helps us evaluate interest and determine the next steps.

Save the Date: 2027 NorCal Premier Symposium

June 11–13, 2027

Following a break in 2026 due to the FIFA World Cup, we are excited to announce the return of the NorCal Premier Symposium in 2027!

Over the years, the Symposium has become one of the highlights of our coach education calendar, bringing together coaches, directors, educators, and football professionals to exchange ideas, challenge perspectives, and share their passion for the game.

The event provides a unique opportunity to learn from leading figures in football while connecting with colleagues from across Northern California and beyond.

We look forward to welcoming our membership back for another inspiring weekend of learning, collaboration, and professional development.

Please save the dates: June 11–13, 2027.

Further information, including presenters, schedules, locations, and registration details, will be announced in the coming months.

Keep Learning. Keep Growing.

As we reflect on another busy and productive period, we want to sincerely thank our coaches, directors, clubs, and partners for their continued commitment to player development and coach education.

Everything we do is built on the belief that better coaches create better learning environments, and better learning environments develop better players.

Whether through regional player development opportunities, local coaching courses, international experiences, or simply sharing ideas with colleagues, our collective commitment to learning and improvement continues to strengthen the game throughout Northern California.

We are proud of what we have accomplished together and excited about the opportunities ahead.

Thank you for your continued support, engagement, and dedication to raising standards across our game.

Keep learning. Keep growing. Keep raising standards.
NorCal Premier Technical Department