Every year we do a recap after the United Soccer Coaches Convention, the event that kicks off the new year for the soccer community and provides a much-needed place to celebrate achievements, dive deeper into education, and network. Even though this is a bit later than usual, we had to keep our streak alive and do a write-up!
If you heard through the grapevine that the convention was back in its pre-pandemic glory, you heard right! The convention was brimming with coaches, players, educators, and soccer enthusiasts gathering at the Philadelphia Convention Center over four days from January 10-14.
This was my fifth convention, which is almost hard to believe. My first was also in Philly, which was kind of a full circle moment since that’s the year we launched Girls Soccer Network. For those who don’t know, it travels yearly between a handful of cities, and because of that, each convention has a different flavor and vibe.
Philly’s convention center is a massive four blocks long and located in Center City. It’s definitely a more bustling, urban location than, say, Kansas City, where it was held last year. We didn’t get a real chance to explore the city other than the immediate area, which has plenty of street life and restaurants easily accessible. We did take…
