
A national non-profit organization dedicated to elevating and enhancing the professions of sport coaching, coach education and coach development.
2021 Mini-Summit Speakers & Panelists
May 17, 18 & 19
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Monday May 17
The USCCE: Supporting a profession, a discipline & quality sport coaching for all
Join the USCCE for the opening session of the 2021 mini-summit as we celebrate entering our 5th as an organization dedicated to supporting sport coaching education and the professionals who educate and develop sport coaches. This presentation will provide an overview of what the USCCE does, its strategic plan, and the USCCE's National Sport Report.
Speakers
Kristen Dieffenbach, USCCE president
Cameron Kiosoglous, USCCE Education chair
Lori Gano-Overway, USCCE Accreditation chair

11am to 12:15pm ET - Watch recording
12:30 to 1:45 pm ET
Assessment as a feature of coach programs: What, why & how?
The assessment experiences of sports coaches, on coach education programs, has received little attention and as such is often overlooked by coach educators and coach developers. This is problematic since assessment is a feature of nearly all coach education programs and the ability to coach can often depend upon it (e.g., certification, qualification, license). In this session, the speakers will make a case for assessment as learning, by sharing examples from around the world and principles of good assessment practice which could be adopted.
Speakers
Hans Vangrunderbeek, Sport Vlaanderen
Clayton Kucklick, University of Denver
Zac Crawford, US Soccer Federation
Dave Piggott, Leeds Beckett University
2 to 3:15pm ET
Diversity, equity & inclusion in coach education
As educators and leaders, coaches are in a unique position to work within communities. Through this role, a coach can be a supportive agent of change in addition to their responsibility to create a safe and equitable environment for the athletes they serve. The panelists in this session will explore current best practices in coach education to support.
Essential topics will include
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"Embracing Difficult Conversations",
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"How to Discuss Intersectionality in Coaching Education" and
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"Why representation matters".
Speakers
Sara Erdner, Adams State University
Anthony Thomas, Francis Parker School
Denise Viera, NV-Ice Skating Group
3:15 to 4:15pm ET - Energize, Engage & Collaborate Session #1
Join us for a social engagement session with designated breakout rooms for discussing the topics of the day, for student engagement, and to talk to colleagues in the field. Participants will be able to join and leave the virtual engagement rooms throughout the session.
Tuesday May 18
11am to 12:15pm ET - Watch recording

The evolving & essential role of the coach: How much is too much to expect?
The coach has always played a central role in the athlete experience. Good or bad, the coach can have a lasting impact on not only skill development and performance but also on things like self-esteem and lifelong fitness habits. In addition to supporting athletic skill development and fitness gains, sport coaching expectations now include facilitating positive youth development and mental health support. How much is too much to expect from the role? Join the panelists in discussing the current expectations of sport coaches across the different levels of sport and the role that coaching education and coach developers can play in supporting coaches.
Speakers
John Crawley, US Olympic & Paralympic Committee
Nate Baldwin, LeagueApps
Andy Ryland, USA Football
12:30 to 1:45 pm ET
Evaluating coach education programs: What is working, why & how?
Coach education programs are a well-recognized feature of coaches’ professional development. Indeed, significant resources (e.g., human, financial) are invested in designing and delivering coach education programs across the United States and the globe. However, little meaningful evaluation work has been carried out, and no dedicated evaluation methodology exists to do this work; we argue that this is problematic. Panelists in this session will outline the ‘problem situation and present examples and practical strategies for moving the field forward.
Speakers
Julian North, Leeds Beckett University
Lori Gano-Overway, James Madison University
John Bales, International Councile for Coaching Excellence
2 to 3:15pm ET
Coach education after a year of COVID: What has changed, what stays the same & what's next?
Panelists in this session, representing a wide range of programs will share the programmatic coaching education COVID adjustments experiences and impact in 2020. An emphasis will be placed on essential lessons learned and the future of virtual and in-person learning in coach education design and delivery.
Speakers
Nik Penn, Rush Soccer
Kristen Wright, USA Hockey
Steve Dingman, Southern Arkansas University
3:15 to 4:15 pm ET - Energize, Engage & Collaborate Session #2
Join us for a social engagement session with designated breakout rooms for discussing the topics of the day, for student engagement, and to talk to colleagues in the field. Participants will be able to join and leave the virtual engagement rooms throughout the session.
Don't forget the Member Assembly from 5-6pm ET
Wednesday May 19
11am to 12:15pm ET - Watch recording

Emerging systems of coach education & coach development
Sport coaching education is provided through a variety of systems from academic degrees to weekend workshops. In addition to often being sport-specific, there is a growing number of programs that train coaches to support youth development through sport. The panelists in this session will discuss sport coaching education approaches across the sport spectrum including the influence of athlete development models and the sport-based youth development foucs, examining the common core topics and essential differences.
Speakers
Paul Caccamo, Up2Us
Allie Riley, Girls on the Run International
Cliff Cook, Lakeshore Foundation
Gary Cimaglia, Special Olympics
12:30 to 1:45 pm ET
The evolving role of the coach developer within coach education: Models & recommendations
As the demands and expectations on coaches, across all contexts, change, the work of professionals who support coaches is also changing. Athletic directors, program directors, and coaching managers all play essential and evolving roles in coach education and professional development. Additionally, the roles and responsibilities of the coach educators and coach developers who design and deliver coach education curriculum and who support coach learning continue to evolve as well. Speakers in this session will share program innovations and recommendations from a range of sport contexts.
Speakers
Scott McNeil, Premier League
Sergio Lara-Bercial, ICCE & Leeds Beckett University
Bob Muir Leeds Beckett University
Kristen Dieffenbach, West VIrginia University
2 to 3:15pm ET
The next decade: Coach education, action items & global conversations
Join the USCCE for an exciting session exploring key initiatives and innovations occurring nationally and globally supporting the growth of the discipline and application of coaching education and coach development
Speakers
Cameron Kiosolgous, US Rowing & Drexel University
Liam McCarthy, University of Central Lancashire
3:15 to 4:15 pm ET - Energize, Engage & Collaborate Session #3
Join us for a social engagement session with designated breakout rooms for discussing the topics of the day, for student engagement, and to talk to colleagues in the field. Participants will be able to join and leave the virtual engagement rooms throughout the session.