LA World Cup 2026 Committee Hosts Soccer Coaching Clinics to Grow the Game

Growing Soccer in Los Angeles

• ⚽ The LA World Cup 2026 host committee is actively working to grow the game of soccer in the United States.
• 📍 A series of soccer coaching clinics have been launched, with the first one held in East Hollywood at Los Angeles City College.

Empowering Coaches and Referees

• 🎯 The primary goal of these clinics is to provide coaches and referees with the necessary tools to better support their players.
• 📊 A survey revealed that nearly 33% of participating coaches lacked basic certification, and 12% had only a basic level of certification.
• 🤝 The event saw 150 participants, many of whom are volunteer and parent coaches from diverse backgrounds.

Holistic Player Development

• 🧠 Kaiser Permanente partnered to educate coaches on addressing players' needs beyond the game, including stress, anxiety, and depression.
• 💡 The focus is on holistic player development, recognizing that it's more than just technical skills.

Inspiring Future Generations

• 🌟 LA Galaxy legends, such as Kevin Hartman, participated to inspire the coaches.
• 🗣️ Coaches are seen as influential figures who can impart technical game knowledge and character-building messages to their players and environments.
• 🌍 The initiative aims to impact thousands of kids across LA County, contributing to the growth of soccer leading up to the World Cup.