Courses

Beyond the Whistle: Building a Culture of Staff Development in Soccer”

Courses

Course Description

This course empowers soccer leaders, directors, and coaches to intentionally craft and implement Staff Individual Development Plans (IDPs) grounded in both strategic planning and human development psychology. Drawing on Hugo Guzman’s personal coaching journey and the reflective insights of María Ruiz de Oña, participants will understand why staff development matters, how to construct a framework for sustainable growth, and what tools and processes can be used to guide staff through transformational learning and leadership.

Participants will:

  • Learn how to assess, design, and execute long-term development goals for staff
  • Explore the psychology behind coach learning, motivation, and behavior change
  • Create a feedback-driven learning environment that enhances performance
  • Gain access to tools, templates, and self-assessment frameworks for practical implementation

Ideal for directors of coaching, club leadership, and academy coordinators seeking to elevate their culture and invest in people—not just performance.

Course Curriculum

Module 1: The WHY – The Human Side of Development

Goal: Understand the psychological and emotional foundation behind staff growth

Key Topics:

  • Staff as learners, not just performers
  • Building emotional safety and trust in staff environments
  • Coaches as mirrors: feedback, blind spots, and self-awareness
  • Psychological games: victim, rescuer, persecutor roles—and how to transcend them

Module 2: Philosophy & Vision – Shaping Your Development Culture

Goal: Define your leadership principles and long-term vision

Key Topics:

  • Creating a shared culture of excellence
  • Linking personal mission with organizational goals
  • The “Project is the Leader” concept: alignment before performance
  • The value of staff IDPs as living documents

Module 3: The HOW – Building a Staff Development Framework

Goal: Provide structure and systems to the IDP process

Key Topics:

  • The Staff Competency Framework: role clarity and expectations
  • Designing effective self-assessments and mid-year reviews
  • Setting medium and long-term goals (personal, professional, financial)
  • How to use scorecards, action plans, and evaluations

Module 5: From Theory to Practice – Case Studies & Real Journeys

Goal: Learn from lived experience to inspire your own plan

Key Topics:

  • Hugo Guzman’s professional journey using IDPs
  • Staff development in elite environments (e.g., NYCFC, USL, MLS)
  • Overcoming challenges in implementation
  • Peer review of submitted IDPs (optional for cohort-based learning)

Module 6: Feedback & Communication – Leading with Emotional Intelligence

Goal: Develop the communication skills that move people

Key Topics:

  • Constructive feedback vs evaluative feedback
  • 1st person coaching conversations: unlocking reflection
  • Creating autonomy while holding accountability
  • Managing emotional distance and connection with staff

Module 7: Sustaining the Process – Leadership, Consistency & Habits

Goal: Build a repeatable model that scales

Key Topics:

  • The 5AM Club & Willpower Mastery in coaching
  • Habits of high-performing teams and individuals
  • Creating annual rhythms of review, reflection, and realignment
  • Leadership succession planning & mentorship structures

Course Deliverables

  • Downloadable Staff IDP Template
  • Self-Assessment Workbook
  • Session Planning & Reflection Tool
  • Case Study: Hugo Guzman’s IDP Timeline
  • Suggested Reading List (e.g., Turn the Ship Around, How to Win Friends & Influence People)
  • Bonus: Guided Audio on Building Your Daily Coaching Habit (Optional)

Course Length

  • 7 Modules | Self-paced or delivered over 7 weeks
  • Optional Live Session / Office Hours (if cohort-based)

Learning Outcomes

By the end of this course, participants will

  • Create and implement personalized Staff IDPs aligned with club philosophy
  • Guide reflective and goal-oriented conversations with staff
  • Build an emotionally intelligent learning culture for their coaching team
  • Set a standard of excellence rooted in planning, self-discipline, and collaboration