3 Reasons To Attend the NSCAA Algarve Cup Symposium in 2010

Book your trip today! Want more information or to get some first-hand feedback? Read letters sent to the NSCAA by previous participants.

Today I had the great pleasure of speaking with April Heinrichs, who you’ll of course know as one of the first players on the United States women’s national soccer team and later became the Head Coach. We chatted for about an hour planning the 2010 Algarve Cup Symposium, presented by the NSCAA Women’s Committee.

This Annual Symposium (this will be our 4th year in a row!) materialized from the brain, heart and diligence of Lisa Cole (Assistant Coach at Boston Breakers) and under the astute leadership of the one and only Sue Ryan (Head Coach at Stonybrook University and the Region 1 Olympic Development Program). The NSCAA, the Women’s Committee, along with trip leaders April Heinrichs and Dr. Colleen Hacker, have developed this trip over the past three years and developed a curriculum and experience that are simply one-of-a-kind. Here’s why:

1. You’ll have Behind-the-Scenes Access to the Top Players and Coaches Around the World

April Heinrichs and Dr. Colleen Hacker take participants down onto the pitch to interact, ask questions and mingle with international teams and coaches. They know everybody!

Angie Hind, 2009 participant said, “April Heinrichs and Colleen Hacker were simply superb in their ability to impart knowledge, share their depth of experience in the game, and stimulate discussion within the group. Their influence on this course cannot be overstated as their enthusiasm and accessibility created a learning environment which was open, engaging, and stimulating.”

More about April: April Heinrichs was captain of the United States team which won the first ever FIFA Women’s World Cup in 1991, and finished her international playing career with 47 caps and 38 goals. In 1998 she became the first female player inducted into the National Soccer Hall of Fame. To add prolific on top of amazing, she went on to coach at Princeton, Maryland and Virginia… and in 2000 became the Head Coach of the U.S. Women’s National Team. She stayed with the U.S. WNT until 2005, and has since been working as a consultant for U.S. Soccer and with the U.S. Olympic Committee in Colorado Springs, Colo.

More about Colleen: Dr. Colleen Hacker has served as the Sport Psychology Consultant to the Women’s U.S. National Soccer Team since 1995. During her tenure, The National Team won a Gold Medal at the 1996 Olympic Games, the 1998 Goodwill Games and the 1999 World Cup. Named as an Assistant Coach in 2000, Dr. Hacker helped lead the National Team to a Silver Medal at the Sydney Olympic Games and a third place finish in the 2003 World Championships. Most recently, the team won a Gold Medal in the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens, Greece. The United States is the only country in the world to finish in the top three of every major world championship in soccer history.

2. The Educational Soccer Experience is Second to None

Participants in this symposium will have a unique opportunity to watch the best in the world train and play while learning from the best coaches in the women’s game. In addition to seminars offered as part of the course, candidates may also have the opportunity to take part in question and answer sessions with the national team coaches, including the six-time tournament champion U.S. squad. Topics of discussion may include: the U.S. Team and its future, national teams from around the world, youth development programs, the impact of Women’s Professional Soccer on the international game, mental skills, and more. Also, USSF “A” Licensed Coaches can apply for 4 CEU credits through this course!!!

Lauren Frankford, 2009 participant said, “This is a tremendous opportunity. The access to international soccer was amazing! This is not something that I could have come close to setting up on my own and I am very grateful to the NSCAA for creating this symposium. The ability to watch games, training sessions and have access to international coaches was such an inspiring experience. That alone was more than I could have asked for.”

3. It’s a trip to Portugal

Uhm, hello awesome vacation spot!!! Situated on the extreme South of Portugal, this part of the territory was the last to be conquered from the Moors by the Portuguese king in 1292. Traces of the Moorish presence are still seen in its unique architecture – terraces, chimneys and whitewashed houses. However, the distance that was difficult to cover back in the 13th century is no longer an obstacle thanks to modern roads and airports.

Temperatures which are ideal for playing golf and other sports. In the northern part of the Algarve, the hills of Espinhação de Cão, Monchique and Caldeirão shelter the coast from strong winds. This brightly coloured region, with its fig trees, orange groves and almond trees in blossom, is also the most verdant and fertile. The southern coastline consists of a long stretch of fabulous sandy beaches, broken up by extraordinary rugged cliffs and fantastic grottoes.

Steve Austin, 2009 participant said, “It is hard to convince friends that a week in Portugal watching soccer is a working trip, but we were kept busy for most of the week. The information from both Colleen and April is so well presented and as useful to me as a high school and club coach as it is to the D1 and D3 college coaches. I have already blocked of the approximate time next spring so I can attend again. Thanks to the NSCAA and the organizers on the ground for making this event happen.”

Book your trip today! Want more information or to get some first-hand feedback? Read letters sent to the NSCAA by previous participants.

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