US Club Soccer and LaLiga North America’s friendship will continue forward as the two sides announced a long-term extension earlier this year, furthering a technical partnership that began in August 2015. LaLiga North America is a joint venture with LaLiga—the top division in Spanish professional soccer—and Relevant Sports. LaLiga North America exists to promote the growth of the league and the game in the U.S. and Canada through developing youth coaches and players, as well as holding exhibition matches and more. US Club Soccer also helps grow the game of soccer and assists with player development, education, safety and more. It facilitates registration, league- and cup-based competition, player resources and more. “Growing the game at the grassroots and youth level is one of the main strategic pillars of our joint venture,” LaLiga North America CEO Boris Gartner said in a statement. “US Club Soccer’s expertise in the growth of soccer clubs and the development of players of all ages make them perfect partners to help us achieve our goals.” Among the achievements of the partnership already has been the LaLiga Formation Methodology, a coaching education series led by UEFA-PRO coaches and experts. Nearly 1,500 coaches and more than 400 clubs have participated in the educational series, which includes instruction from Gari Fullaondo, Hugo Blanco, and Zunbeltz Fullaondo, among others. There are currently 14 courses with possibility for more. “The partnership with LaLiga has been so beneficial for our members,” US Club Soccer CEO Kevin Payne says. “We knew from the beginning of our partnership that LaLiga North America genuinely wanted to help improve soccer in the United States.”

Steady Growth

The partnership began years ago when LaLiga reached out to US Club Soccer and asked how it could help. US Club Soccer told them they needed help developing its coaches. Today, about 350 total hours of instruction has been given to coaches through LaLiga instructors. The two organizations plan to continue their “Players First commitment” by creating more opportunities to develop coaches and, in turn, develop players. “US Club Soccer and LaLiga are exploring many different ways to bring LaLiga expertise to the U.S.,” a US Club Soccer representative said. “Currently, those opportunities are coaching related, but player development opportunities are coming. “Even just from the coaching perspective, better coaches develop better players. Coaches that complete LaLiga Formation Methodology courses return to their clubs energized and with new knowledge.” Ultimately, that’s what the partnership is about: growing the game. “US Club Soccer has always been impressed by LaLiga’s willingness to lend their resources and expertise to help the game in the U.S.,” a club spokesperson said. “Signing a contract extension validates that LaLiga sees the value in aligning itself with US Club Soccer as a progressive force in youth soccer. “It also shows that LaLiga realizes that meaningful change doesn’t happen overnight, and they’re truly invested in seeing that change come through.” LaLiga member clubs include FC Barcelona, Real Madrid C.F., Atletico Madrid and more.