US Coaches Soccer Convention, Philadelphia 2026
Reflections from US Coaches Soccer Convention, Philadelphia 2026
In January, I had the opportunity to attend the U.S. Soccer Coaches Convention in Philadelphia for the very first time. I went along with several United colleagues excited to see what all the fuss was about. I came home energized, inspired, and with a notebook full of ideas for how we continue to move Colorado United forward.
One of the most valuable aspects of the convention was simply being back in the classroom. Stepping away from the day-to-day realities of the job I do at United to spending time listening, interacting with peers, and reflecting was a reminder of how important it is for everyone to never stop learning.
Some personal highlights
Hearing Nicky Butt from the legendary Manchester United generation (Think David Beckham) speak about elite player mentality and the long haul of commitment over time was a powerful reminder that technical ability alone is never enough at the highest level. His emphasis on habits, resilience, accountability, and daily standards reinforced how critical culture is in any successful development environment. He admitted he was not even a top youth Academy player at an early age. But above made him prosper. Roberto Martínez, head coach of Portugal’s national team, shared his approach to player development; centered on clarity of vision, trust in players, and environments that balance freedom with responsibility. His message around long-term development aligned with performance strongly resonated with the values we strive to live by at Colorado United. As a personal note, I loved his thoughts on not having subs, but impact players (game changers). We don't know what will happen once the game starts, and what we need are strong players, who can come in and change the game, when needed, was his clear statement.
Another highlight was gaining insight into Manchester City’s youth development philosophy, including the coaching frameworks and software systems they use to guide coaches implementing the philosophy with a vast library of lesson plans to support coach and individual player growth. While the scale is obviously different, the principles, clear game models, aligned methodology, and intentional development planning offered ideas that can be meaningfully adapted at our level. And yes we of course have this at United as well. Yet we are currently discussing the 2.0 United version that now may include a few tips from Manchester City
Beyond the classroom, the convention was equally impactful because of the people. Listening in on the latest updates from U.S. Soccer helped provide important context on where the game is headed nationally and how clubs like ours can continue to align with evolving standards.
Spending time with trusted partners of Colorado United from PlayMetrics to Capelli also reinforced the value of being present. These conversations went well beyond products and into collaboration: how we can work smarter, improve communication, and better support our players, families, and staff.
Why This Matters for Colorado United
Attending the U.S. Soccer Coaches Convention made one thing very clear to me: this is an event where Colorado United should be represented every year (Which we are).
When our staff attends, the value comes back to the club in multiple ways. We bring home fresh ideas, new perspectives, and best practices that influence how we coach, how we develop players, and how we operate as an organization. It pushes us to challenge assumptions, stay current, and continue raising our internal standards.
Just as importantly, it allows our staff to connect with peers across the country, learning from others, sharing our own experiences, and ensuring that Colorado United remains part of the broader national conversation around player and club development. These connections ultimately strengthen our club culture and professional growth pathways for our coaches.
Investing in staff education and exposure is an investment in our players. When our coaches grow, our environments improve and that directly impacts the experience of every family in the club.
I returned to Colorado with renewed motivation and a strong belief that continuing to send a Colorado United delegation to this convention each year will help ensure we remain progressive, aligned, and committed to excellence.
I’m grateful for the experience, the relationships built, and the opportunity to turn inspiration into action as we continue building Colorado United together.
Your reporter from Philly,
Morten King-Grubert
ļ»æOutreach & U11-U12B Transition Director
