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The Certification Program represents a comprehensive plan of study and player identification system which culminates in players earning a Certified Player’s designation.

• Designed for soccer players who have a strong desire become recognized and documented among their peers, as possessing superior levels of skill and knowledge.
• Guarantees that players who pass physical skills assessments in each level will be technically competent players, by any standard of measurement or coaching evaluation.

Players ages 11 and older are welcome to enroll in the program. Players ages 10 and under are required to complete the Achievement Awards Program prior to enrolling in the Certification program.

Certification programs are offered in 6 different levels—Levels 1, 2 and 3 and Bronze, Silver and Gold (See program matrix). Students must complete and receive a passing grade on physical skills assessment tests (on-the-field) as well as computer-based examinations.

Students start the Program at Level 1 and "graduate" from one level to the next culminating in the completion of the Gold Level.

In order to receive a "certified designation", a player must complete the Bronze, Silver and Gold levels regardless of age or ability.

As players advance through the program, they receive handsome achievement awards and diplomas. They also can order additional embellishments to showcase their achievements.

Once players are certified they can be conferred as a member of the Soccer Players University Fellowship ("Hall of Fame" membership group) and will be promoted to higher level programs and coaches at the collegiate and professional levels.

Soccer Players Association Certification Program Matrix
The table below displays the various "units" within the Certification Program. Each of the boxes inside the table represents one (1) unit of the program.

You will notice that there are six (6) "levels" of units displayed horizontally. The six levels are:

Level 1 - Level 2 - Level 3 - Bronze - Silver - Gold

Each of these levels represent an increased level of challenge. (Level 2 is more challenging than Level 1, and Level 3 is more challenging than Level 2 and so on).

Level/ Skill	Sports Performance (Theory)	Tactics- Understanding the Game (Theory)	Fair Play & Ethics (Theory)	Community Leadership (Theory/Practical)	S.O.C.C.E.R. S.A.V.E.R.S. Skills (Practical)	Awards
1	How the body works!	Attacking principles quiz	What would you do if? Quiz	Who helps me to play the game?	S.O.C.C.E.R. S.A.V.E.R.S. Skills 1 (self-assessed)	Level 1
2	Eat well & Play Well	Defending principles quiz	Laws of the Game Quiz	Understanding the roles of governing body	S.O.C.C.E.R. S.A.V.E.R.S. Skills 2 (Self-assessed)	Level 2
3	How your equipment helps your game	Positional play – roles and responsibilities	Laws of the Game Quiz 3	Team Media & Reporting	S.O.C.C.E.R. S.A.V.E.R.S. Skills 3 (Self-assessed)	Level 3
Bronze	Understanding speed & agility and flexibility	Systems of Play	Design a code of conduct for your team.	Coaching a Junior Team	S.O.C.C.E.R. S.A.V.E.R.S. Skills Bronze (Self-assessed)	Bronze Level
Silver	Design a fitness program for your team	Match Analysis	How to control the sideline atmosphere at your club	Managing an Event	S.O.C.C.E.R. S.A.V.E.R.S. Skills Silver (Regional Test Center)	Silver Level
Gold	Complete a CPR Certification	Player/Coach of your team for the week!	Complete your state referee certification	Completing coach education license	S.O.C.C.E.R. S.A.V.E.R.S. Skills Gold (R.T.C)	Gold Level
Specialist Certifications	Sports Performance Certification	Tactics Certification	Fair Play & Ethics Certification	Community Leadership Certification	S.O.C.C.E.R. S.A.V.E.R.S. Skills Certification

There are five (5) subject areas certification matrix.
The first four subject areas are primarily "Theory-based courses":

• Sports Performance
• Tactics Understanding the Game
• Fair Play and Ethics
• Community & Leadership
  

The fifth subject area represents on-the-field-skills assessment tests.

• S.O.C.C.E.R. Skills (for field players) or S.A.V.E.R.S. Skills (for goalkeepers)

Players must also complete a skills challenge test for the S.O.C.C.E.R. (field player) or S.A.V.E.R.S. (goalkeepers) unit. The table below displays the five (5) units of Level 1 highlighted in Yellow:

Level/ Skill	Sports Performance (Theory)	Tactics- Understanding the Game (Theory)	Fair Play & Ethics (Theory)	Community Leadership (Theory/Practical)	S.O.C.C.E.R. S.A.V.E.R.S. Skills (Practical)	Awards
1	How the body works!	Attacking principles quiz	What would you do if? Quiz	Who helps me to play the game?	S.O.C.C.E.R. S.A.V.E.R.S. Skills 1 (self-assessed)	Level 1

Once players complete requirements of all units of Level 1, they are qualified to receive Level 1 awards and can begin Level 2. Players continue to advance through the rest of the Levels in the same manner.

Specialist Certification

Level/ Skill	Sports Performance (Theory)
1	How the body works!
2	Eat well & Play Well
3	How your equipment helps your game
Bronze	Understanding speed & agility and flexibility
Silver	Design a fitness program for your team
Gold	Complete a CPR Certification
Specialist Certifications	Sports Performance Certification

In addition to advancing through the Certification Program following Level 1 through the Gold Level, players may alternatively elect to earn a Specialist Certification in one or more of the four (4) Theoretical Units. This means a player would follow a vertical pathway on the program matrix to become an "expert" in one of the four "Theories" taught as part of the overall Certification Program

The Theoretical Units include:

• Sports Performance (for players who might look to a career in sports medicine, physical fitness, etc.)
• Tactics, Understanding The Game (for players that possess a desire to coach or manage)
• Fair Play and Ethics (for players that might seek to become a referee)
• Community Leadership (for players that are interested in administration, operations, management, or sports media)

The table to the right displays the six (6) units of the Sports Performance Specialist program highlighted in Yellow.

Please note, that in order to complete a Specialist Certification, players must complete all 10 units within Levels 1 & 2 first, as a minimum requirement before electing to continue the units for a Specialist Certification.