August 5–6, 2025 – The Orlando Health National Training Center in Clermont became more than just a soccer facility last week. For two intensive days, it transformed into the classroom and proving ground for 44 of Sol SC’s competitive-level coaches, all committed to becoming better for the players they serve.

Thanks to United Soccer Academy Founder Bill Fisher, Sol SC welcomed Warren Hackett and Paul Harsley, two elite educators from the English FA’s coaching team. Warren works full-time with the FA as a coach instructor, coordinating UEFA A Licenses and collaborating with EPL clubs and academies. For our coaches, this was a rare opportunity to learn directly from people who train the trainers at the highest levels of world football.

Why This Investment Matters

At Sol SC, we’ve always believed that soccer is a platform to develop better players and even better people. That starts with the coaches on the sidelines. When our coaching staff grows in their craft, the benefits ripple through everything we do. Players experience smarter training sessions that mirror real game situations. Development becomes more personalized as coaches learn to recognize what each individual needs. Technical instruction improves under pressure, and most importantly, we create an environment where confidence and creativity can flourish alongside fundamental skills.

This wasn’t just professional development for our coaches. It was an investment in the future of every Sol SC player who will benefit from what was learned over these two days.

What Our Coaches Experienced

Warren and Paul structured the program across 10 intensive hours, balancing classroom theory with hands-on field application. Their approach centered on three distinct development phases that guide how players grow from Foundation level through Youth Development and into Professional Development.

The training covered the FA’s Six Capabilities framework, showing coaches how to deliver each element with clear session goals and measurable outcomes. Our coaches dove deep into age-appropriate progression formats, particularly for that crucial 13-14 age group where players transition between 7v7, 9v9, and 11v11 formats. They explored how scanning and awareness skills develop, helping players make split-second decisions before they even receive the ball.

Some of the most engaging sessions focused on essential attacking combinations. Wall passes, overlaps, and intricate combination plays were woven seamlessly into small-sided games, showing how technical skills transfer directly to match situations. The instructors also introduced advanced observation techniques that help coaches analyze one-on-one duels and broader team movements with a trained eye.

Perhaps most valuable was the emphasis on core playing principles. The sessions moved fluidly between defensive concepts like pressing and maintaining compact team shape to attacking principles focused on creativity and penetrating play. Throughout everything, Warren and Paul reinforced the importance of holistic player development, reminding our coaches that they’re shaping young people, not just soccer players.

The first day concentrated on age-appropriate training design. Our U10, U14, and U18 coaches rotated through targeted field sessions before gathering for evening classroom discussions about session planning, creating natural flow in practice, and ensuring that every drill has both realism and relevance. Day two shifted focus to the microscopic details of the game. Small group scenarios dominated, from 1v1 battles to 3v3 combinations, with careful analysis of how field dimensions and game format influence every aspect of player decision-making and technical execution.

The Energy Was Infectious

What struck everyone most was how interactive the entire experience felt. This wasn’t a group of instructors lecturing to passive listeners. Our coaches asked pointed questions, shared their own experiences with challenging situations, and weren’t afraid to respectfully challenge ideas when they wanted deeper understanding.

Warren and Paul responded with stories that brought abstract concepts to life. One minute they’d be describing a training session at an EPL academy, the next they’d reference a grassroots club in rural England, always reinforcing that sound coaching principles transcend levels and environments.

By the end of each day, you could feel the excitement building among our coaching staff. Conversations buzzed with plans to implement new ideas. “I’m completely rethinking how I approach scanning cues with my team,” one coach mentioned during a break. Another was already sketching out modified small-sided games for his next practice. The combination play session seemed to particularly resonate, with several coaches noting how it reshaped their entire approach to teaching teamwork through technical execution.

The immediate impact is already visible in sharper, more purposeful training sessions. But the real test will come throughout the season, as players experience more realistic game environments, benefit from coaches who better understand individual development needs, and grow in an atmosphere where confidence, creativity, and leadership are cultivated right alongside soccer fundamentals.

Gratitude and Partnership

None of this would have been possible without Bill Fisher and United Soccer Academy. Bill’s relationship with Sol SC extends far beyond traditional sponsorship. He actively seeks opportunities to elevate our coaching standards, enhance our programs, and ultimately improve the experience for our players. United Soccer Academy also connects players with international soccer experiences, creating global opportunities that align perfectly with Bill’s belief that “soccer connects people across cultures.”

That philosophy was evident throughout these two days, as coaches from different age groups and experience levels came together around shared commitment to excellence.

Building for the Future

This intensive training represents just the beginning of our commitment to world-class coaching education. We’re already exploring ways to make advanced instructor visits an annual tradition, ensuring our coaches stay current with the latest developments in player development methodology.

When we invest in raising the bar for our coaching staff, every family in our club benefits. Better coaches create better training environments, which develop better players, which ultimately fulfill our mission of using soccer to develop better people.

To Warren and Paul, thank you for sharing not just your expertise, but your passion for the game and genuine care for coach development. To Bill Fisher and United Soccer Academy, thank you for your vision and partnership. And to our 44 dedicated coaches who gave up their evenings to learn and grow, thank you for your unwavering commitment to excellence.

The bar has been raised. Now comes the exciting part of watching how high our players can reach.