Anaheim, California - January 11-13, 2024

Soccer Career Conference at the NWSL Draft during the United Soccer Coaches Convention

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Experience the heart of the action and mix and mingle with some of the most prominent names on the soccer landscape by attending the SMWW Sports Career Conference held in conjunction with the United Soccer Coaches Convention, (formerly the NSCAA Convention.) Attendees at this conference consist of club owners, front office personnel, league officials, agents, coaches,  individuals on the business side of the soccer and those wanting to work on the business side of soccer. Included in the conference will be tickets to the USCC Exhibit Hall AND the NWSL Draft. 

What:

The SMWW Soccer Career Conference is your opportunity to gain valuable insight into a variety of careers from those working at the highest level in soccer! This two-day career conference offers unique panel discussions and question-answer periods designed to start or advance your career in the business of soccer.
Day ONE will include a ticket to the USCC Exhibit Hall and a reserved seat at the NWSL Draft, and the SMWW Welcome Reception.

  • The world famous "Business of Soccer Exhibit Hall" features soccer vendors from all over the world and allows attendees to test out products, find solutions to assist with coaching and administrative duties. SMWW will provide you with one ticket per Soccer Career Conference registration.
  • The NWSL Draft is an annual entry draft for the National Women's Soccer League which is growing quickly and offers lots of opportunities for those trying to break into soccer business. SMWW will provide Soccer Career Conference attendees to watch LIVE and in person!  See the future starts of women's professional soccer. Here is a link to the 2023 NWSL Draft. 


Day TWO will be split up into diverse speaker panels; including scouting, talent identification, analytics, athlete representation, broadcasting, media and the business of soccer! Meet our faculty and join us as Anaheim, California becomes the center of the Soccer Universe.

Where:

Anaheim, California
(Next to Disneyland!)

Experience the Heart of the Action!

 
  • Network with soccer executives in the MLS, EPL, NWSL, & USL
  • Career guidance from well know soccer executives
  • Insights on who is doing the hiring and what you need to know to get hired
  • Connect with soccer business career-minded individuals
  • Mentors who have been where you are and want to assist you with your soccer career
  • Insider information about changes in the industry that put your soccer career on the fast track
  • Strategies to catapult your soccer career to the next level

Past Speakers:

  • Keir Radnedge - well-known journalist, WorldSoccer, and broadcaster
    John Thorrington, Los Angeles FC Co-President & GM
    Sky Andrew - Sports Agent (Clients include: Alex Dowsett, Sol Campbell, and Chris Robshaw.)
    Aidan Mullally - Tottenham Hotspur Head of Business Development
    Tommy Smyth, ESPN Soccer Analyst
    Tom Fox - Aston Villa Chief Executive
    Tom Glick, MLS New York City FC President
    Dr. Lynn Lashbrook - Sports Management Worldwide President
    Jordan Garbutt, Prozone Head of UK Professional Services 
    Darren Eales - Tottenham Hotspur Director of Football Administration
    Colin Gordon - Key Sports Management Licensed Player Agent by the FA 
    Simon Farrant, Opta Sports - Marketing
    Paul Molesworth - English Football League Chief Scout
    John Print - SMWW Director of UK Operations & Licensed FA Player Agent
    Charles Bruner – Arsenal FC Premium Sales Manager
    Steve Simmons, Aston Villa European Scout
    John Guppy, Gilt Edge Soccer Marketing Founder and former President & CEO of MLS Chicago Fire
    Tony Farrell, Head of International Football with Everton FC
    Mark Lisi - Sports Marketing Consultant and Player Agent, former MLS Player
    Matt Martin, Real Salt Lake, Director Academy Scouting 
    Tom Veit, President of Philadelphia Union
    Chris Canetti, Chief Operating Officer of Huston Dynamo
    Greg Cotton, Chief Operating Officer & General Counsel of Kansas City Wizards
    Brian Wellman, President of Carolina RailHawks FC
    Richard Tratford, Wyscout
    Jim Risher, Executive Director of Eurotech Soccer Academies and Tours
    Tim Regan, Indy 11 Head Coach
    Mark Washo, General Manager and President of Washington Freedom
    Shawn McGee, General Manager of Atlanta Beat
    Louise Waxler, Associate General Manager of Philadelphia Independence
    Alex Kotler, Founder of Football Partnerships
    Cara Joftis, Vice President of Marketing, Philadelphia Union
    Mike Quarino, Vice President Ticket Sales and Fan Services of Philadelphia Union
    Rich Searls, Director of Sales and Fan Services of New York Red Bulls
    Steve Powell, Senior Vice President Business Development of Houston Dynamo
    Brian Bilello, Chief Operating Officer, New England Revolution
    Blake Wooster, Head of Business Development, Prozone Sports
    Mark Gress, Co-Op Coordinator, Business Administration & Sports Management, Drexel University
    Bryant Pfeiffer - MLS Vice President, Club Services
    Roy A. Tewell - D.C United Vice President, Ticket Sales and Service
    David Ross-Williamson - Wilmelsport Partner Agent
    Justine Stone - Founder, Stone Sports Management
    Oliver Gage - Houston Dynamo, Performance Analyst
    Angus Mcnab – Perform Group, Head of Content Distribution for North America
    Brooke Tunstall - American Soccer Now, Contributing Writer
    Ricky Clarke - Atlanta Silverbacks, Director of Scouting and Player Recruitment 
    Scott Rezendez - Sporting KC, Domestic Scout
    Dan Altman - North Yard Analytics Founder
    Peter Wilt - Managing Dir. USL Madison
    Jason Arnold - Capelli Soccer Holdings Technical Director
    Glenn Crooks - SiriusXM Announcer
    Brooks Laimbeer - Portland Timbers Scout
    Lee Fraser - Newcastle United Talent ID and Data Analyst
    Tommy Smyth - former ESPN & Philadelphia Union Color Analyst
    Matt Pearson - Chicago Fire Academy Scout
    Maikel Tsuji - SMWW Agency Soccer Director & FIFA Agent
    Matt Martin - The Soccer Syndicate Director of Scouting
    Tim Regan - Bradley University Assistant Men's Coach
    Scott Rezendes - The Soccer Syndicate CEO
    Oliver Gage - Houston Dynamo Performance Analyst

 

SMWW’s Industry Leading Courses Featured In:

 

Group Discount:

Several University Sports Management programs do attend. If you are interested in bringing your group of any kind, please contact StudentServices@SMWW.com and we provide group discounts for 3-40. (Most individuals attend on their own)

 

SMWW Welcome Reception

Meet this year's speakers, MLS scouts, FIFA agents, media members and the SMWW faculty in a location to be determined! This welcome reception is a great kick-off to the conference, spent downtown in the hub of the NWSL Draft & United Soccer Coaches Convention. Drinks and appetizers at the heart of the action after the NWSL Draft. 

Location To Be Determined.
 

Networking:

Networking Opportunities: One of the advantages of this conference is the ability to network within the soccer industry. Attendees work for teams, others are looking to break into the industry. Most attendees come alone but make many new friends and peers within the industry. And they return year after year!

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SOCCER CAREER CONFERENCE AGENDA

Note: below is the agenda outline from 2019. We share this to give you an idea of what the day is like. Speakers will be different but topics will be similar. The 2024 conference agenda will be constantly changing up until the week of the event. We work with our speakers and panels around their team meetings. Team meetings are scheduled one week prior to the event. However, you can keep checking back as we add speakers. We always have a great schedule. You will love it!

 

Thursday, January 11, 2019

9:00am - 5:00pm - United Soccer Coaches Convention Exhibit Hall "The Business of Soccer Happens Here!"

10am-12noon - Registration Open

  • Pick up your tickets, name badge, SMWW soccer scarf, and information needed for the event 
12noon-3:00pm - NWSL Draft Reserved Seats for SMWW Conference Attendees
4:00pm-6:00pm - Welcome Reception
  • Meet SMWW President Dr. Lashbrook, MLS Scouts, Agents, and SMWW Staff and Faculty including Lee Fraser, Sky Andrew, Tommy Smyth, Matt Martin, and more!

 


Friday, January 12, 2019

8:00am - Conference Registration Opens
8:45am - Dr. Lynn Lashbrook Welcome and Opening Remarks
9:00am - Analytics Panel
  • Lee Fraser - Newcastle United FC Talent ID and Analytics
  • Matt Martin - The Soccer Syndicate Director of Scouting
  • Dan Altman - North Yard Analytics Founder
10:00am - Scouting Panel
  • Brooks Laimbeer - Portland Timbers Scout
  • Matt Pearson - Chicago Fire Academy Scout
  • Tim Regan - Bradley University Assistant Men's Coach
11:00am - Agent Panel
  • John Print - SMWW Soccer Operations Director
  • Shea Richard Soma - Xeric Sports Management
  • Maikel Tsuji - SMWW Agency/SMWW Alum
Noon - Lunch (included with registration) 
1:30pm - 1-on1 With Peter Wilt
  • Peter Wilt, USL Madison Managing Director
2:15pm - Media and Communications Panel
  • Tommy Smyth - Philadelphia Union Color Analyst
  • Glenn Crooks - SiriusXM Announcer
3:30pm - 1-on-1 with Eddie Rock
  • Eddie Rock - Senior Director of Soccer Operations
4:15pm - Professional Leagues in Soccer
  • Scott Rezendes - The Soccer Syndicate CEO
  • Oliver Gage  - Houston Dynamo Performance Analyst
  • Jason Arnold - Capelli Soccer Holdings Technical Director

5:00pm - Closing Remarks with Dr. Lynn Lashbrook

About The 2024 Event:

What is the United Soccer Coaches Convention and Exhibit Hall?

The United Soccer Coaches Association (formerly the NSCAA) hosts the World's Largest Annual Gathering of Soccer Coaches each year. The United Soccer Coaches Convention draws approximately 4,000 coaches from their 30,000-plus members and more than 10,000 attendees over five days. Registration to the SMWW Soccer Career Conference includes entrance to the United Soccer Coaches Exhibit Hall which showcases more than 300 soccer businesses covering 600,000 square feet, making it The Largest Soccer Trade Show in North America. This is a great educational event covering all of the opportunities within the soccer industry. "The Business of Soccer Happens Here!" 

NWSL Draft

The National Women's Soccer League (NWSL) Draft is traditionally on Thursday during the United Soccer Coaches Conference. The NWSL Draft is an annual event which takes place in January of each year when twelve NWSL teams  (and maybe more with expansion!) select players who are in their senior season in college or have exhausted their college eligibility. The draft is composed of four rounds. The draft order is determined by the final regular-season standings. SMWW has attended in the past and currently, SMWW is working on securing tickets for all conference attendees to attend live and in-person, once again in 2024.

Scholarships

SMWW will award a limited amount of full and partial scholarships for each SMWW Career Conference. You must be 18 years or older to be considered. If interested, fill out an application and submit your resume and a one-page letter explaining why you should receive a scholarship to info@smww.com.
Scholarships do not include lodging or airfare. Those who have completed an SMWW training program will be given preference.

2019 Featured Speakers
*Speakers are subject to change.

 
Darren Eales
Atlanta United FC President
 
Tommy Smyth
ESPN Soccer Analyst
 
Sky Andrew
FIFA Agent
 
John Print
SMWW International Director & Soccer Agent
 
Daniel Woolard
SportBox Group
 
Maikal Tsuji
SMWW Alumni
 
Steven Short
USL VP Division 3 Soccer
 
Andre Sherard
Portland Timbers
 
Brian Kellogg
The Scouting Network
 
Oliver Gage
Houston Dynamo
 
Chris Malenab
Sacramento Republic FC Video Analyst
 
Devin Pleuler
Toronto FC Senior Manager Analytics
 
Charles Boehm
MLSSoccer.com and FourFourTwo contributor writer
 
Dave Giffard
Virginia Commonwealth
 
Pete Caringi
Maryland, Baltimore County
 
Nate Kish
DC United
 
John Thorrington
Los Angeles FC GM
 
Matt Martin
The Soccer Syndicate Director of Scouting
 
Scott Rezendez
Sporting KC, Domestic Scout
 
Lynn Lashbrook
President & Founder of SMWW. Certified Sports Agent. Former NCAA Athletic Director.

Note: Due to Team Meetings, speakers are not guaranteed and will change. The closer we get to the date, the more accurate the schedule becomes as executives do not yet know their team meeting schedules.
 

 



Download a Copy of the
2019 Soccer Sports Career Conference Program Here

 

 

Thank you! We will let you know as soon as conference dates are announced!