The United Soccer League (USL) has annoiunced the launch of its signature Diversity, Equity and Inclusion program: USL Forward. This multi-dimensional, leaguewide initiative prioritizes professional development for technical staff, league and club executives, and local communities with the intention of increasing racial and gender diversity in leadership roles throughout the USL ecosystem.
USL Forward addresses a widely-recognized issue in global professional soccer – the lack of diversity among technical staff and executive positions. To start, USL Forward has created a new Pro Preseason Residency (PPR) Program to provide promising coaches with new, experiential opportunities to pursue their aspirations of coaching at the professional level. USL Forward also creates a platform for the USL and its member clubs to innovate and lead in advancing diversity, equity and inclusion for the betterment of the game and the industry.
Over the past eight months, the USL has conducted extensive research and qualitative interviews with stakeholders and subject matter experts, including the United Black Players of the USL, across the American soccer and global sports landscapes to understand the numerous factors that affect BIPOC and women candidates seeking leadership opportunities on the sideline and the front office.
At its launch, USL Forward will focus on coaching development. Kicking off in February, in conjunction with the start of preseason for USL Championship and League One clubs, the USL Pro Preseason Residency (PPR) Program is designed to affect positive change through new professional development opportunities. Additionally, USL Forward will create opportunities for coaching education assistance.
USL Pro Preseason Residency (PPR) Program:
With 2024 serving as its pilot year, the PPR Program is designed to identify high-performing, pro-aspiring BIPOC and women coaches and place them in a professional environment with an established curriculum. The participating coaches will receive immersive experience and real-world training as they work alongside pro-level head coaches and technical staff.
The program has three distinct phases, beginning with the USL Championship and League One preseason, and continuing through the end of the USL pro seasons. Phase One involves experiential professional environment immersion. Phase Two provides touchpoints with mentors at regular intervals during the calendar year. In Phase Three, PPR participant coaches provide feedback on the program and prepare to help mentor a new class of resident coaches for the following year.
Each year, resident coaches will be selected based on several criteria such as, but not limited to, licensed at the USSF-B or UEFA-B level or above, or seeking USSF or UEFA Pro License, demonstrated record of success in player development or coaching at the pre-professional or Academy level within USL, and representing a currently underrepresented group among technical staffs in the USL ecosystem. In this pilot year, the five resident coaches were nominated and selected by USL Sporting and DEI departments in collaboration with participating clubs. Beginning in year two, there will be an open application process for the PPR Program.
Resident coaches may fall into one of three categories: Traveling Resident, Homegrown Resident and Player-to-Coach Resident.
2024 USL Pro Preseason Residency Program resident coaches and their placements:
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CLICK HERE to view/download photos and bios of resident coaches Coaching Education: In collaboration with its partners, the USL will expand the number of coaching education scholarships available to BIPOC and women coaches to obtain advanced coaching licenses that will help them to meet the standards for professional coaching roles. In 2022, the USL, in partnership with KwikGoal and U.S. Soccer, kicked off the KwikGoal Coach Scholarship program which covers full tuition costs for a select number of candidates for the U.S. Soccer coaching course for the “A,” “B,” or “C” licenses. One of the scholarships will be awarded to an active player to assist in their post-playing career transition. Applications for the 2024 scholarships will be open by this summer. Previous scholarship recipients include:
As announced in December, the USL and the league’s new Official Apparel and Footwear Partner CHARLY USA will allocate a minimum of $15,000 per year towards a scholarship fund for players and coaches across the USL ecosystem and subsidize the cost of obtaining official coaching licenses. Additional elements to USL Forward will be announced later this year. For more information, visit https://www.uslsoccer.com/usl-forward. QUOTES: Paul McDonough, USL President and Chief Soccer Officer “The development of the next generation of coaches is vital to the growth of the USL and soccer in America. To make progress in this area, up-and-coming coaches of all backgrounds need opportunities to gain expertise and experience at higher levels. USL Forward represents our commitment to expanding those opportunities for coaches in the USL ecosystem and having a real and long-term impact on coaching in our country.” Dr. Chris Busey, VP of DEI and Community Impact “USL Forward represents a bold and necessary step towards progress for our ecosystem, and the broader soccer landscape. Building this platform along with its associated initiatives to drive diversity and equity has been a rewarding exercise in collaboration, and ultimately demonstrates what we can accomplish when we work from an ethos of shared understanding. I am confident that USL Forward’s initiatives such as the Pro Preseason Residency program, our Coaching Diversity Scholarships, and future endeavors will result in the type of systemic transformation that needs to happen to work with intent towards continuous improvement while simultaneously sustaining a more diverse, equitable, and inclusive ecosystem.” Carrie Taylor, VP of Operations for USL Super League “USL Forward and, more specifically the Pro Preseason Residency Program, will move the needle for many coaches. I would like to thank our clubs for their belief in the PPR Program and for opening their doors to a very special experience for these coaches. Having navigated the coaching landscape within the men’s professional space myself, this is the type of program that I would have loved to have had access to during my own coaching journey. It’s been an honor to be able to collaborate with Dr. Busey and our USL team, our PPR coaches and participating USL clubs to continue to push for inclusivity within the game we all love.” Liam O’Connell, USL Technical Director “It’s been incredibly rewarding helping launch USL Forward and its associated initiatives such as our Coaching Diversity Scholarships & the USL Pro Preseason Residency program. We’re confident this broader strategic plan will help more coaches of all backgrounds develop their craft, continue their education, and build upon their network, all while gaining further access into USL’s growing coaching pathways from the youth to professional ranks.” United Black Players of the USL “United Black Players stands in solidarity with the United Soccer League's commitment to diversity and education. Embracing the new USL Forward platform marks a crucial and much-needed step in the right direction. Recognizing education as a key catalyst for growth, we firmly believe this initiative will foster continuous improvement, ensuring a more diverse, equitable, and inclusive soccer ecosystem for future coaches and players alike.” Resident Coaches
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