Thurs. October 6th, 2022 @ 2pm ET

We look forward to seeing you all online for this session

on Thursday, October 6th at 2pm!

Ian Barker

Technical Advisor for the USYS Olympic Development Program.

Ian served as the Director of Coaching Education for United Soccer Coaches from February 2012 until January of this year. Before accepting the position of Director of Coaching Education for United Soccer Coaches he served as Men’s Soccer Coach at Macalester College in St. Paul, Minn. He also has collegiate coaching experience at the University of Wisconsin, serving as an assistant coach from 1989-1996. In an eight year span while with the Badgers Coach Barker joined the squad in four NCAA tournament appearances. In the 1995 season the Badgers won both the Big Ten and NCAA National Championships.

From 1997-2007 Coach Barker served as the Director of Coaching and Player Development for the Minnesota Youth Soccer Association (MYSA). As state association the MYSA represented over 140 clubs and 75,000 members. He is currently a Technical Advisor for the USYS Olympic Development Program.

Coach Barker serves on the national instructional staff for the United Soccer Coaches, U.S. Soccer and US Youth Soccer. His formal coaching qualifications come from United Soccer Coaches, US Soccer, US Youth Soccer, the English FA, the Scottish FA and the German DFB.

As a coach and coach educator Coach Barker has traveled extensively in Europe, south and Central America, Oceania and Africa.

Twitter ID: @ibarkersoccer

Thurs. October 13th, 2022 @ 2pm ET

We look forward to seeing you all online for this session

on Thursday, October 13th at 2pm!

CRAIG BROWN 

 Former Scottish Men's National Team Coach & Player

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As a youngster Craig played in the same Scotland U18 teams as Sir Alex Ferguson and Billy McNeill.    He was a fine youth player, much in demand, and as an 18 year old signed for Rangers. Two years later, after a loan spell at Dundee, Manager Bob Shankly made him his first signing.   In spite of undergoing four knee operations at Dens Park, Craig won a Championship medal in the impressive League winning Dundee team of 1962.

He finished his playing days in the old First Division with Falkirk then embarked on a coaching career as Assistant Manager of Motherwell. A move to Clyde followed where in a 9 year spell he won two lower League Championships and sold players such as Steve Archibald, Tommy McQueen, Joe Ward, Pat Nevin, Gerry McCabe, Brian Ahern, Jim Boyd and Ian Ferguson for much needed income.

In 1986 after Sir Alex took him on the international team coaching staff to the Mexico World Cup Craig joined the SFA as Assistant Manager to Andy Roxburgh with sole charge of the U21 side. He is the only manager to take a Scottish team to a FIFA World Cup Final (U16 v Saudi Arabia in 1989), and a ¼ Final in Chile (U20 v West Germany in 1987). Further success in 1992 was taking a young Scottish team to the UEFA U21 Semi-Final losing 0-1 over two legs to Sweden.

Craig was on the Scotland National Team coaching staff at 5 major tournaments, assisting Sir Alex Ferguson in Mexico, 1986, and Andy Roxburgh in Italy, 1990 and Sweden, 1992.  He was manager of the national team for a record 70 matches, unbeaten in 50 of them, with back-to-back major tournament appearances in charge - at Euro’96, and FIFA World Cup, France, 1998.

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Now Club Ambassador at Aberdeen FC Craig took over as manager in 2010.  The Dons then were rock bottom of the league with 10 points from the opening 16 matches.   With Archie Knox by his side and Hartlepool boss, Paul Hartley as captain, respectability and stability were restored and the threat of relegation dispelled. 

Prior to arriving at Aberdeen FC, Craig has served 3 clubs in England, Preston N E, Fulham and Derby County and had taken a fine Motherwell side to the play-off stage of the EUROPA Cup.

Craig has received countless awards, such as Hall of Fame entries, two Honorary Doctorates, and a CBE for services to football. 

Wed. November 9th, 2022 @ 2pm ET

We look forward to seeing you all online for this session

on Wednesday, November 9th at 2pm!

NICK BONTIS | Canada Soccer President

Nick Bontis has played soccer competitively since childhood for a variety of clubs in Ontario (Scarborough Maple Leaf, Scarborough Azzurri, London City, London Portuguese, Dundas United, Hamilton Greek Olympic). In 1991, he assisted Scarborough Azzurri in winning the Ontario Cup by contributing a goal against Sora Lazio.

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Nick played for Proto Stars (H&DOSL) and Schalke FC (H&D). He is a former winner of the Ontario Cup (five times) and represented Canada in a World Youth Cup tournament in Bremen, Germany in 1986. As a varsity soccer player at the University of Western Ontario, he was a multiple OUA all-star, leading goal scorer and team MVP. Bontis also received the Bronze W and the Purple Blanket Award as an outstanding dual athlete at UWO. He was a Canadian all-star and national silver medalist in the running long jump as a member of the UWO varsity track & field team.

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Bontis was the head coach for the Hamilton Sparta 2003 boys soccer team. He has several years of coaching experience and is licensed (USSF National B, USSF National C, CSA Provincial B, OSA Pre B, OSA Level 3, OSA Respect in Sport, NCCP Making Ethical Decisions; NCCP Concussion: Making Head Way). 

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In November 2020, Nick Bontis was elected President of Canada Soccer.

Behind The Bench
Previous Webinars -
Click images below to watch.

SEPTEMBER 21, 2022
This session will be available in the "Members Only" area of our website.

JULY 27, 2022
This session will be available in the "Members Only" area of our website.

SEPTEMBER 21, 2022
This session will be available in the "Members Only" area of our website.

APRIL 21, 2022
This session will be available in the "Members Only" area of our website.

JUNE 29, 2022
This session will be available in the "Members Only" area of our website.

APRIL 7, 2022
This session will be available in the "Members Only" area of our website.

MARCH 23, 2022
This session will be available in the "Members Only" area of our website.

APRIL 13, 2022
This session will be available in the "Members Only" area of our website.

MARCH 30, 2022
This session will be available in the "Members Only" area of our website.

FEBRUARY 22, 2022
This session will be available in the "Members Only" area of our website.

MARCH 9, 2022
This session will be available in the "Members Only" area of our website.

FEBRUARY 8, 2022
This session will be available in the "Members Only" area of our website.

JANUARY 5, 2022
This session will be available in the "Members Only" area of our website.

FEBRUARY 16, 2022
This session will be available in the "Members Only" area of our website.

JANUARY 19, 2022
This session will be available in the "Members Only" area of our website.

OCTOBER 27, 2021
This session will be available in the "Members Only" area of our website.