#270 Mirelle van Rijbroek, US Soccer Director of Talent Identification for Girls, on Defining, Identifying and Developing Talent

Mirelle van Rijbroek has been US Soccer's Director of Talent Identification for the Girls Program since 2017. van Rijbroek is a UEFA A Licensed coach, and began her coaching career in her native Netherlands working for clubs and the KNVB, as well as the head of Talent Identification, Talent Development, and Elite Performance for the Youth National Teams. Her role with US Soccer consists of identifying and monitoring the development of potential US Youth National Team Players, scouting, scout education, and developing coaching education content for coaching courses and clubs. She manages three Talent ID Managers and over 90 youth national team scouts across the country.

In our talk today, we discuss the six components of talent that US Soccer seeks to identify and develop, and well as explore the following ideas:

• Talent and Talent Identification
• Performance /Potential
• Player Development and developmental Psychology – Player wellbeing.
• Game Evolution – Future Player/Future Game
• Soccer Landscape: Player Pathway and Player Journey

If you have not yet listened to episode #269 with Lee Hancock on Talent Zones, it is a wonderful companion to this talk.

ANNOUNCING THE 2022 WAY OF CHAMPIONS VIRTUAL CONFERENCE, JUNE 25-26: Yes, we are going virtual again in 2022, and we have already amassed an incredible lineup of guests that we are ready to announce, with more to come. Joining us this year are:

• Steve Kerr: Golden State Warriors and Team USA Head Coach
• Acacia Walker: Head Coach of Boston College Women's Lacrosse, 2021 NCAA Champions
• Dave Aranda, Head Coach, Baylor University Football, 2021 Big 12 Champions and Sugar Bowl Champions
• Sandy Barbour: Athletic Director and VP of Intercollegiate Athletics, Penn State University
• Ron Adams: Golden State Warriors Asst. Coach
• Trevor Ragan: Podcast Host and Founder of The Learner Lab
• Betsy Butterick, "The Coaches' Coach" and Communication Specialist
• Dave Dickerson, Head Coach, University of South Carolina Upstate Men's Basketball

If you register soon, we will throw in the videos from the 2021 Way of Champions Virtual Conference as well, a $349 value! Learn more and register at www.ChangingTheGameProject.com and click Way of Champions Conference on main menu!

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