February 4, 2026, Washington, DC - This past weekend, DC Soccer Club hosted a German Soccer Federation (DFB) coaching education certification at Washington International School’s campus, reinforcing the club’s commitment to investing in its coaches as a core pillar of player development.

In partnership with Global Soccer Development, the club welcomed DFB Coaching Education Instructor Maik Dzensla to lead the intensive three-day program, which blended classroom learning with live, on-field training. Nearly 40 coaches participated over the course of the weekend.

The certification was created and hosted by DC Soccer Club specifically to support the continued growth of its Travel coaching staff, and was offered at no cost as part of the club’s ongoing investment in professional development. In the spirit of collaboration and shared learning, DC Soccer Club also invited coaches from Washington Capital United and Washington International School to take part in the experience as partners.

“We’re grateful to Director of Soccer Matt Arrington for creating such a robust coaching education environment for our DCSC technical staff and our local partners,” said DCSC Executive Director, Greg Andrulis. “The German Federation Certificate was the culmination of a months-long series of six internal and external educational opportunities made available to our coaches since the start of the season. Investing in our staff strengthens our coaches’ ability to lead both on and off the field—and that impact is felt directly by our players. Thank you to all of the coaches who participated in the coaching education series—their dedication to learning and continuous improvement is exactly what makes our club stronger.” 

Coach education is a critical component of DC Soccer Club’s long-term vision. As the game continues to evolve, ongoing learning ensures coaches are equipped with modern teaching methods, tactical understanding, and age-appropriate training approaches. That growth directly benefits players, as new ideas and best practices are applied daily on the training field.

Understanding that coaches learn best through real-world application, the course incorporated live training sessions featuring DC Soccer Club teams. Players from our U14, U15, and U16 Boys Academy participated throughout the weekend, allowing coaches to actively coach, receive feedback, and refine their approach in real time.

For Matt Arrington, DC Soccer Club’s Director of Soccer who coordinated the event, the course represented a major step forward in the club’s ongoing commitment to coach development:

“A big focus for this year has been on increasing coaching education and development within the club. Having the ability to bring in a coach educator from the German Soccer Federation (DFB) is an incredible opportunity for our coaching staff to hear a different voice, gain new ideas, be challenged in how they view the game, and learn the principles and methodology from a different country’s soccer federation. The more we can expose our coaches to educational opportunities and expand their coaching toolbox, the better the experience will be for the players at DCSC. The more our coaches know, the more they can transmit to players in training and in games. Coaching development is player development.”

Across the three days, coaches explored a progression of modern coaching themes led by Dzensla, including mastering fundamental actions, teaching effective runs into space, and understanding pressing lines and spatial organization as foundations for team structure and ball recovery. The curriculum reflected contemporary approaches used at the highest levels of the game, while remaining grounded in principles that translate directly to youth development.

The opportunity to learn from a German Federation instructor also provided a valuable global perspective on coaching education—something DC Soccer Club prioritizes as it continues to strengthen its technical culture.

DCSC Technical Director Edu de Souza, whose background includes years of experience as a coaching educator, welcomed the opportunity to expose coaches to a global approach to the game. ”In Germany, coaching is a way of life! Their methodical discipline and precise approach emphasizes attention to the small details. DCSC is open to learning from all cultures and ideas about soccer. We grow by learning from different ‘schools of soccer,’ and this past weekend gave us a valuable opportunity to experience the German methodology firsthand.” 

All participating coaches received a certificate upon completion of the program, marking both the culmination of the weekend and the continuation of their development journey. 

Connor Keenan, DCSC U16 Boys Red team coach and Head Men’s Soccer Coach at Catholic University, noted, "The entire weekend with our instructor, Maik, was such a unique and valuable experience. It allowed us to gain a better understanding within the fundamental methodology from the DFB. It was great to learn not only how such a soccer-rich country teaches the fundamentals in order to produce high-level players, but also how to create positive environments for players to get the most out of training." 

 “I really enjoyed how Coach Maik's perspective on the game and on how to run a training session,” added DCSC ECNL RL U17 and U19 Boys Coach and ECNL Manager Neill Ouska. “His passion was commendable, and he reminded me that being different is okay. You have to stay confident in yourself—even when your approach goes against the norm.”

DC Soccer Club extends its thanks to Global Soccer Development, Maik Dzensla, Washington International School, and all participating coaches and players who helped make the weekend a success. Most importantly, the club remains committed to creating meaningful opportunities that support its coaches—because when coaches continue to grow, players benefit at every level.