Building Blocks of Player Development

At Kid Goals, we believe in developing young athletes through a multi-layered approach that creates a professional training environment while keeping the game fun, engaging, and rewarding. Our proven player development philosophy focuses on skill-building, confidence, and teamwork, ensuring that every child reaches their full potential—on and off the field.

1. Technical Skills

• Ball Mastery – Developing comfort and control with the ball
• Dribbling & Footwork – Enhancing agility, creativity, and confidence
• Passing & Shooting – Improving accuracy, technique, and decision-making

2. Tactical Awareness

• Game Understanding – Learning positioning, movement, and team strategy
• Decision-Making – Teaching players how to read the game and adapt
• Small-Sided Games – Providing real-game scenarios for faster skill application

 3. Physical Development

• Agility & Coordination – Enhancing movement efficiency
• Strength & Conditioning – Building endurance and injury prevention
• Speed & Reaction – Improving quickness and explosiveness on the field

4. Mental Toughness

• Confidence & Composure – Helping players stay focused under pressure
• Growth Mindset – Encouraging resilience and a love for learning
• Leadership & Sportsmanship – Teaching respect, teamwork, and positive attitude

5. Passion for the Game

• At Kid Goals, we foster a lifelong love for soccer by ensuring that every session is engaging, fun, and development-focused.
• We believe that a supportive and encouraging environment allows young athletes to thrive, gain confidence, and continuously improve.

Our Commitment
We are dedicated to helping young players grow, not just as athletes but as individuals. Our comprehensive approach to player development ensures that every child has the opportunity to succeed, enjoy the game, and build a strong foundation for the future.

Activity Overview

• Each activity is displayed using a practical format based on the USSF  coaching methodology.
• Session-Specific Learning Objectives: Every session has clear goals tailored to age and skill level, such as improving passing accuracy, learning formations, or developing leadership.
• Required Equipment and Suggested Player Involvement: A clear inventory of what’s needed (e.g., balls, cones, pinnies), and suggestions for ideal player numbers per activity.
• Organization & Diagrams: Activities are organized in a step-by-step format, illustrated with diagrams to help visualize drills, field setup, and movement.
• Detailed Coaching Points: Focus on the key aspects of technique or tactic to emphasize during the activity (e.g., correct foot position while passing, maintaining space in formations).
• Progressions: As players improve, drills are adapted to challenge them, increasing complexity and pace.
• Regressions: Activities can be simplified to ensure every player experiences success, fostering confidence and enjoyment.

Our Kid Goals curriculum is designed to nurture young athletes (ages 3-13) through every stage of their soccer journey. The program emphasizes age-appropriate development in a structured, fun, and supportive environment, following a proven methodology similar to the New York Red Bulls coaching framework.

Motor Skill Development (Ages 3-5)

Objective: Build foundational motor skills such as balance, coordination, and agility through soccer-related activities.

• Focus: Fun, movement, and ball familiarity.
• Equipment: Small soccer balls, cones, and mini-goals.
• Activities: Running, jumping, dribbling, kicking, and stopping the ball.
• Coaching Points: Encourage creativity and freedom of movement while building comfort with the ball.
• Progressions: Introduce simple dribbling exercises.
• Regressions: Simplify by using stationary balls and slower-paced activities.

Objective: Introduce basic soccer techniques such as dribbling, passing, and shooting.

• Focus: Ball control, touch, and coordination with the ball.
• Equipment: Soccer balls (size 4), cones, goals, and small-sided fields.
• Activities: Dribbling through cones, passing in pairs, shooting on mini-goals.
• Coaching Points: Focus on using both feet, keeping the ball close when dribbling, and striking the ball with the proper part of the foot.
• Progressions: Add defenders or introduce time challenges for skill exercises.
• Regressions: Remove defenders and allow players more time to practice basic ball control.

Objective: Teach players how to make decisions in 1-on-1 situations, emphasizing positioning, timing, and movement.

• Focus: Defensive and offensive positioning, decision-making under pressure.
• Equipment: Cones, soccer balls, and small-sided fields.
• Activities: 1v1 challenges, shielding the ball, attacking/defending drills.
• Coaching Points: Teach players when to dribble, pass, or shoot; emphasize staying on their feet defensively.
• Progressions: Increase the speed and intensity by reducing space or time.
• Regressions: Expand the field and slow the pace to allow more time to react.

Objective: Develop teamwork and passing strategies in small groups.

• Focus: Understanding how to work with teammates in 2v2, 3v3, and 4v4 situations.
• Equipment: Goals, cones, and soccer balls.
• Activities: Small-sided games focusing on passing, movement, and support.
• Coaching Points: Encourage communication, movement off the ball, and spacing.
• Progressions: Add a defender to make passing more challenging.
• Regressions: Play without defenders to encourage free-flowing movement and passing.

 

Team Tactics (Ages 10-13)

Objective: Introduce full-team concepts such as formations, spacing, and strategic play.

• Focus: How players work together in different positions and in various phases of play (offense/defense).
• Equipment: Full-sized goals, cones, and pinnies for distinguishing teams.
• Activities: 7v7 or 9v9 matches focusing on positions, formation, and transitioning between attack and defense.
• Coaching Points: Teach positioning, marking, communication, and anticipation.
• Progressions: Increase tactical complexity by introducing situational challenges (e.g., defending a lead, building out from the back).
• Regressions: Simplify by focusing on specific roles or phases of play without full opposition pressure.

 

Leadership and Sportsmanship (All Ages)

Objective: Instill values of leadership, teamwork, respect, and sportsmanship.

• Focus: Developing leadership skills on and off the field.
• Equipment: None required.
• Activities: Captains assigned each session, team discussions on sportsmanship, encouraging positive reinforcement.
• Coaching Points: Teach respect for opponents, referees, and teammates; emphasize the importance of effort and attitude over results.
• Progressions: Encourage captains to lead warm-ups or tactical discussions.
• Regressions: Pair less vocal players with a teammate to practice leadership in a smaller group setting.

 

History of Soccer (All Ages)

Objective: Teach children the global history of soccer, inspiring respect and love for the game.

• Focus: Introducing famous players, teams, and historical moments.
• Equipment: Posters, videos, or books about soccer history.
• Activities: Brief talks about famous soccer moments or players, viewing short clips of iconic games, discussing the evolution of the game.
• Coaching Points: Inspire passion for the game by connecting players to the rich history of soccer and its role in global culture.
• Progressions: Assign older players research on a famous player or team to present to their peers.
• Regressions: Simplify by telling engaging stories and showing highlights of famous matches.