For all coaches who are participating in N1 this season, there will be minimum coaching standards, like ECNL, that all coaches will have to comply with before league play begins. Please review the requirements below. Coaches' voice is one method, but there are other options that can be applied. An ECNL coach must comply with the "Coaches Voice" platform (No exceptions). If such coach , also competes in N1, the "Coaches Voice" for ECNL can be applied. See requirements below.

 

N1 Coaching Eligibility Requirements

What is the N1 coach eligibility requirement?
Every N1 coach must complete 5 hours of coaching development each year, and there are four ways to do it. You only need to satisfy one of them.

NOTE: Please reference this PDF for a visual representation of the different methods for satisfying this requirement.

What does the rule say?
The full text of N1 League Rule 3.3 is below. 

3.3. Coach eligibility. 

3.3.1. Beyond the US Club Soccer staff registration requirements, all coaches are required to complete a minimum of five (5) hours of annual development through an approved method listed below: 

• Method 1: U.S. Soccer Licensing Course — at or above the minimum of ‘D’ license or equivalent earned in the past 5 years.  
• Method 2: US Club Soccer Coaches’ Voice platform before September 15 (fall season coaches) or January 15, 2027 (spring season coaches). 
• Method 3: ECNL Coaches’ Voice platform before August 1 of the competition year.  
• Method 4: Coaching education pathway waiver – A waiver may be awarded if a coach can show that he/she is on the coaching education pathway. A waiver must be co-signed by the club director and USYS state association technical lead, stating the coach’s development plan, with timelines. This will be verified by the Operator. 
• (Not applicable in Year 1) Any course or clinic that qualified for U.S. Soccer Continuing Education Units (CEU). 

3.3.2. Process. Coaches must upload certificate of completion from any of the approved courses/clinics into GotSport, via a GotSport form, provided by the operator.

3.3.3. Registered coaches are not required to complete education requirements prior to participation in other US Club Soccer sanctioned competitions outside of National 1, in which the annual development requirement does not apply. 

Which method should I use?
Pick the first one that fits your situation: 

• U.S. Soccer ‘D’ license (of equivalent) or higher earned in the past 5 years? Method 1. 
• Taking a license course this year (‘D,’ ‘C,’ ‘B,’ ‘A,’ or non-U.S. equivalent)? Method 4. 
• Coaching in the ECNL? Method 3. 
• None of the above? Method 2.

Where do I submit?
Everything goes through one form: the N1 Coach Eligibility Form in GotSport. Pick your method, upload your proof, and your League Operator reviews it.

When is the deadline?
For the 2026–27 season, you have until either September 15, 2026 (Fall coaches) or January 15, 2027 (Spring coaches). ECNL coaches still follow the August 1 deadline that ECNL sets. Year 2 returns to a single August 1 deadline for everyone. 

Method 1 – Current U.S. Soccer License

Who uses Method 1?
Coaches who hold a U.S. Soccer D License or higher that was earned in the past 5 years. For the 2026–27 season, that means a license earned on or after January 1, 2021. 

How do I satisfy the requirement with my current license? 
Submit the N1 Coach Eligibility Form, select Method 1, and upload your license certificate. That’s it — your license counts as your annual development. 

Where do I find my license certificate?
Here’s how to download a copy of your license from the U.S. Soccer Learning Center. You’ll need to log in to the Learning Center with the account associated with your license. 

What if my license is older than 5 years? 
Method 1 doesn’t apply. Choose another method. 

Method 2 – Coaches’ Voice (5 Hours of CPD)

Who uses Method 2?
Coaches who don’t hold a qualifying current license, aren’t taking a license course this year, and don’t coach in the ECNL. This is also the method for coaches whose D License (or higher) is older than 5 years. 

How do I complete Method 2? 
Log into the US Club Soccer Coaches’ Voice platform, complete 5 hours of designated CPD content, download your completion certificate, and upload it through the N1 Coach Eligibility Form. 

How do I download my certificate from Coaches’ Voice? 
Visit the N1 Coaches’ Voice Platform and scroll down to common questions for instructions on downloading your certificate.

Does the certificate need to be from this year? 
Yes. The certificate must be dated before your deadline (September 15, 2026 for Fall or January 15, 2027 for Spring). Certificates older than May 1, 2026 don’t satisfy the current-year requirement. 

I have a ‘D’ license (or higher), but it’s older than 5 years. Do I really have to do Method 2?
Yes. The 5-year window applies to everyone. There are no exceptions for older license holders, even at higher license levels. 

Method 3 — ECNL Hours via Coaches’ Voice 

Who uses Method 3? 
Coaches who also coach in the ECNL. The 5 hours of CPD you complete for ECNL also satisfy N1 — no separate hours needed. 

How do I complete Method 3? 
Complete your ECNL CPD on Coaches’ Voice as you normally would for ECNL. Submit the N1 Coach Eligibility Form, select Method 3, and upload the same certificate you submitted to ECNL.  Coaches can find their certificate in the Coach Education Center by navigating to their profile and selecting “Achievements.”

When’s the deadline for Method 3? 
August 1, 2026 — the same as your ECNL deadline. You don’t need to track a separate N1 deadline. 

Method 4 – Coaching Education Pathway Waiver

Who uses Method 4?
Coaches who are working toward a U.S. Soccer license (‘D,’ ‘C,’ ‘B,’ or ‘A’) or a non-U.S. federation equivalent this year. The waiver lets you satisfy the annual requirement by demonstrating you’re on the licensing pathway. 

What counts toward Method 4?
A U.S. Soccer ‘D,’ ‘C,’ ‘B,’ ‘A,’ Goalkeeper ‘C,’ Club Technical Leadership (Level 1 or 2) and Talent Identification (Level 2 or 3) License course. Or a non-U.S. federation license course equivalency. 

What doesn’t count?
U.S. Soccer Grassroots courses on their own. They count as prerequisites for the ‘D’ license, but they don’t satisfy Method 4 by themselves. If your plan ends at Grassroots this year, use Method 2 instead.

United Soccer Coaches diplomas or other coaching courses not facilitated by U.S. Soccer or another Federation (i.e., CONCACAF, UEFA, AFC, CAF, OFC, CONEMBOL). 

How do I submit a Coaching Education Pathway Waiver? 
There are three steps, in this order.  

1. Build your plan.
   Your plan should include: 
   • The license you’re working toward (level and issuing federation) 
   • Any prerequisite courses you need to complete first
   • Course names, hosts, locations, and dates from the U.S. Soccer Learning Center or other federation’s course catalog
   • Your target date for earning the license (must be on or before July 31, 2027 
2. Get written approval from both your Club Director and your USYS State Technical Director.
   Email the plan to both reviewers in a single email. Each one needs to reply confirming they’ve reviewed and support your plan — a short reply like, “I’ve reviewed this plan and support it” suffices. Save the original email and both replied emails as a single PDF. If you don’t know your State Technical Director’s contact information, your League Operator can give it to you. 
3. Submit the form.
   Submit the N1 Coach Eligibility Form, select Method 4, fill in your plan details, and upload your approval PDF. 

Where do I find the contact details for my USYS State Technical Director?
Here is the list of contacts.

What’s the deadline for Method 4? 
Submit the waiver by September 15, 2026 (Fall) or January 15, 2027 (Spring). Then complete your license course by July 31, 2027. 

What happens if I’m not eligible for the license course I planned to take? 
Course eligibility is your responsibility. The waiver covers the N1 requirement — it doesn’t override U.S. Soccer’s prerequisites for the license you’re taking. If U.S. Soccer determines you’re not eligible, you’ll need to meet the prerequisites or switch to Method 2. 

What if I don’t finish the license by July 31, 2027? 
Your waiver becomes invalid retroactively. You’ll need to complete 5 hours of Coaches’ Voice CPD to remain eligible to coach in N1 for the 2026–27 season. The waiver is a one-time thing — it isn’t extended or reissued. 

What if a course gets cancelled or my timeline changes? 
Contact your League Operator. Depending on what changed, you may be able to update your plan or may need to switch methods. 

Special Cases

I’m earning a new ‘D’ license (or higher) this year. Does that count? 
Yes. If you earn a qualifying license before your deadline, that license counts as your CPD for the year. If you’ve already submitted a Method 4 waiver, completing the license closes it out. 

Does a ‘D’-Provisional (or other license provisional) count as a license? 
No. A provisional isn’t a full license. You’d need to complete the U.S. Soccer reassessment to earn the full License, or use Method 2, 3, or 4 to satisfy the requirement. 

I hold a license from another federation (UEFA, FA, AFC, etc.). What do I do? 
If you’re currently working toward a non-U.S. license, use Method 4. If you already hold one that is less than 5 years old and want it recognized as your annual development hours, use Method 1. If you’re unsure if the license is equivalent to a U.S. Soccer ‘D’ license or higher, contact your State Technical Director (League Operators have State Technical Director contact information). 

Can I switch methods after I submit? 
Contact your League Operator. Depending on what changed, you may be able to update your submission or may need to submit a new form. 

Does this requirement apply to my coaching in other US Club Soccer-sanctioned competitions? 
No. This requirement applies only to N1. Per Rule 3.3.3, your participation in other US Club Soccer-sanctioned competitions isn’t subject to this annual development requirement.

Missed Deadlines and Getting Unstuck

What happens if I miss my deadline? 
You won’t be cleared to coach in N1 until you satisfy the requirement. If something genuinely outside your control got in the way (e.g., a cancelled course, a medical event), contact your League Operator. 

I’m having trouble logging into the U.S. Soccer Learning Center. What do I do? 
Start with the U.S. Soccer Learning Center Help pages. They cover login problems, duplicate profiles, and finding certificates. 

I’m having trouble logging into Coaches Voice. What do I do?
Start with the N1 Coaches’ Voice FAQs; if you’re still having trouble, contact n1support@coachesvoice.com.