Anaheim, California - January 11-13, 2024

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

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!

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.