2009 NSCAA Convention

The NSCAA convention is a must for soccer lovers. Aisles and aisles of cutting-edge gear, nutty new equipment, the MLS and WPS drafts, and professional coaches from far and wide coaching coaches on how to coach. There are also thousands of college coaches and gazillions of youth coaches.

I've been to the convention five times now, and there's always something new, interesting, and mind-boggling. There are tons of wild new training contraptions -- rebounding nets that pass the ball back to you along with a frothy latte, gigantic basketball type hoops for chipping games, and bungee-cord stirrups that make it easy to lock your ankle when you strike the ball.

The MLS draft, which takes place in the middle of the convention, is a big draw. It's pretty cool to see up and coming stars get drafted. This year, the convention added the first ever WPS draft for the new women's league. "Old-timers" can always be seen wandering the exhibit hall, giving out autographs.

There are always a few gems tucked into the aisles and aisles of merchants. One that stuck out this year is Calle, a street-soccer gear company. Eurosport had a totally random, old school telephone booth in its booth. And Nike was notably absent from the convention floor.

The convention heads to Philadelphia next year, so the Midwest will be deprived momentarily. Can't they do it someplace warm for a change?