May 16, 2008
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - Penn State men's soccer head coach Barry Gorman will serve as a guest tutor at the Union of European Football Association's (UEFA) "A" License Course, scheduled to take place in Belfast, Northern Ireland from May 31-June 6. The course will be held at Stranmillis University College in Belfast, of which Gorman is a 1973 graduate.
The UEFA "A" License is an advanced coaching award and is divided into two annual parts. This year's portion, Part 1, includes practical and theoretical aspects. Candidate assessments will take the form of practical coaching (two assessments during the week, one of which will be a "Functional Practice to Phase of Play" and the other will be a 9v9 game) and theory (a written examination). Candidates will then be assessed at their clubs during the subsequent months. The focus of the course is on preparing players and teams for professional and semi-profession League or top amateur Leagues.
Gorman, an Irish Bi-Centennial immigrant, is regarded by many experts as one of the foremost teachers of the game in the country. Entering his 21st year at the helm of the Penn State program, Gorman is its all-time winningest coach and is one victory shy of attaining his 250th in Happy Valley. His teams have made 12 NCAA appearances and captured three Big Ten Championships. Gorman was voted NSCAA Regional Coach of the Year in 1992, 1999, and 2005 and Big Ten Coach of the Year in 2005. He has coached 41 First Team All-Big Ten selections.
From Northern Ireland, Gorman will travel to Switzerland and Austria for the 2008 UEFA European Football Championship in early June. Check back to www.GoPSUsports.com to read Coach Gorman's commentary in a daily blog and see the sites from the games in a photo diary.