They say if you build it, they will come.

In the case of this week's Goal In One Coaches Clinic and Expo, it's more like if you host it, they will come.

Dean Koski, the founder and president of G.I.O., as well as head coach of Lehigh's men's soccer program, spent eight months preparing for February 28th's opening night of the expo at Bethlehem Sands Event Center.

The event will run throughout the weekend with clinics, speakers and exhibitions running all day Friday and Saturday from 8am-6pm.

Thursday night's reception is more of a kickoff for the weekend, one that Koski hopes can become a yearly mainstay in the Lehigh Valley.

"This really all came about from a meeting I had with Kwik Goal last year about getting more coaching education for our local coaches," Koski said. "A lot of coaches can't attend the national convention unless it's being held locally. Having a great venue like the Sands is a perfect location and we hope this can become a regional event."

The expo will feature coaches, referees, psychologists, speakers and trainers that have worked from the youth levels, all the way up to the professional ranks and with the U.S. national team.

Koski wants this event to help all coaches understand what the next level is looking for in players. That means starting from the youth levels, on their way up to the high school realm and then up the ladder to college and professional avenues.

There will also be a focus on officiating, which is a fresh approach to conventions since many don't concentrate on the man in the middle of the field.

"There aren't many conventions that focus on the official," Koski said. "We'll have speakers that have worked all the way up through Major League Soccer. It gives us a wide range of information we're presenting that helps make the event appealing to a large audience."

Koski aims to have 200 guests attend the event and hopefully make this expo the first of many.

"This event is really about giving everyone a great educational experience," he said. "We want this to be something where people want to stay and be apart of it. I think once people see what we've put together, they'll want to do that."

Pre-registration pricing before February 28 is $139 for all three days. Registration at the door is $159, or if you feel like doing a day trip, Friday and Saturday's daily tab is $89.

For more information, visit http://www.goalinonesoccer.com.