The USOPC coaching education team launched the USOPC Sport Club Leadership program in response to the growing importance of the sport club environment in offering participation opportunities and developing elite athletes. The USOPC has partnered with the University of Delaware, Drexel University and National Governing Bodies to offer a course designed for leaders of local youth sport clubs and organizations so they will further understand the importance of both the management and leadership of an organization as well as the science, theory, and applied practice associated with athlete development that the sport club can provide.
The USOPC Club Leadership program includes three free webinars through the fall as well as a virtual weekend workshop to be held in November. The free webinars will be led by Dr. Matthew J. Robinson, professor of sport management at the University of Delaware and the author of the Human Kinetics text Sport Club Management; and Dr. Cam Kiosoglous, professor at Drexel University and coordinator of sport science with USRowing.
Robinson has educated over 2000 soccer club leaders over the past 13 years through the United Soccer Coaches’ director of coaching diploma course and has also led club development workshops or has given presentations at the national conventions for the National Governing Bodies for basketball, lacrosse, field hockey and ice hockey. Robinson has also worked with coaches and sport leaders from over 100 countries in 22 different sports through his role as the director of the USOPC-supported International Coaching Enrichment Certificate Program.
Kiosoglous is an assistant professor and program director of the sport coaching leadership at Drexel University. He has coached on the USRowing national team since 2002 and is a four-time US Olympic coach at the 2004, 2008, 2012 and 2016 Olympic Games. Cam started coaching in Canberra, Australia, in 1991 and moved to the US in 2000. He has worked with a variety of organizations in coaching development and his research interest include coach learning, reflective practices and professionalization of coaching.
WHO SHOULD ATTEND
The program is directed at the leaders of sport club in any sport. In fact, there is great opportunities for sharing across sports in the sessions. This leadership can be in form of individuals serving as CEOs, executive directors, directors of coaching, business officers or those who serve as leaders on the boards of sport clubs and organizations.