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⚽ Player Development
Level 1, Level 2, and Level 3 Routines
One of the best things our players can do is build a consistent training routine outside of practice. This isn’t meant to be done every day. Depending on the player’s schedule and other sports, it can be anywhere from 2 to 5 days per week. The goal is to establish some consistency. Let’s start every player at Level 1 for the first week unless they are already doing a routine.
Below are three training levels based on skill. Players can move between them as they grow more confident.
🟢 Level 1: Foundation Routine
For players still learning ball control and building confidence with the ball.
Recommended 2 to 5 times per week
Routine
✅ 100 toe taps (stationary)
✅ 1 skill move of the week — practice both feet
✅ 100 bounce juggles💡 Tip: Bounce juggles are the first step toward juggling. Focus on rhythm and control, not speed.
🔵 Level 2: Intermediate Routine
For players who have control with toe taps and bounce juggles and are ready for more challenge.
Recommended 2 to 5 times per week
Routine
✅ Moving toe taps — 60 seconds nonstop
✅ 3 skill moves — at least 10 reps per foot each
✅ 250 bounce juggles🎯 Challenge: Track your bounce juggling high score each session and try to beat i t.
🔴 Level 3: Advanced routine
For players who are confident and consistent with control and bounce juggling and are ready to master juggling and wall work.
Recommended 2 to 5 times per week
Routine
✅ Moving toe taps — 60 seconds at game speed
✅ 3 skill moves — 10 reps per foot
✅ Regular juggling — see how many you do in a row.
✅ Wall training — 10 minutes (if available)
Pass and receive off a concrete wall or backboard using the inside of the foot. Work on one-touch and two-touch passes. Track your clean streaks.💡 Pro Tip: Juggling is about patience and technique. Count your best streaks and celebrate every improvement.
🧠 Why This Matters
The point of these routines isn’t to wear kids out, it’s to help them build confidence. Even just a few sessions each week will make them feel more comfortable in games.
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🏆 Parent Update: Competing in the Heartland U10 Premiere League
We’re now a few weeks into the Heartland Soccer League, and I wanted to take a moment to share some thoughts and updates, especially for our parents and players who may be feeling a bit discouraged after a tough start.
📊 Where We Stand
KC Liverpool is currently placed in Division 5 of the U10 Boys Premiere League, which includes 13 total premiere teams. While the division number might seem low at first glance, it’s important to recognize that we are actually in the top third of all premiere level teams, a placement that reflects how the previous Liverpool team placed.
It’s a high level league, and we’re playing against clubs that are established and disciplined.
⚠️ Tough Games ≠ Failure
We’ve opened the season with three losses in league play and another three tough results in the Mariachi Tournament. I know that’s hard on the players and sometimes even harder on parents watching from the sidelines. But here’s the truth:
Just because we’re losing games doesn’t mean we’re not improving.
Our boys are not “losers.” In fact, they are learning how to control the ball, implement team strategies, and build good soccer habits under real pressure. They’re not just booting it down the field like it’s recess ball , they’re starting to think.
They’re working on:
- Controlled goal kicks and buildup play
- Defensive shape and using the outside
- Recognizing space and pressure
These are the things that matter long-term not short term scores.
🔄 Upcoming Changes: Paragon League & Midwest Tournament
To help balance the level of challenge, we’ll be entering the Paragon Fall League and the Midwest Tournament, this time, we’ll be requesting a less competitive division. These games will give our players the opportunity to build confidence, work on their skills, and hopefully start to see the scoreboard reflect their effort.
🔜 What to Expect in the Next 5 Heartland Games
We expect the next five Heartland games to be just as tough or even tougher than the first three. And that’s okay. We’re not backing down. We’re preparing.
Between now and then, we’ve got plenty of indoor and outdoor practices, which is more than enough time to sharpen our skills and build trust as a team. Our hope is that the Paragon games in between will help the boys feel the momentum shifting in their favor.
🙏 A Thank You to Parents
Lastly, I want to say how grateful I am that our team was placed in this league. It’s not easy but it’s the kind of environment where real growth happens.
Thank you for supporting your kids through the hard games. Thank you for cheering for good effort, not just goals. And thank you for trusting the process.
We’re going to keep getting better. One pass, one touch, and one lesson at a time.
See you on the field.
— Coach Chase
Thanks for being here. You’re not just a ride to practice, you’re part of your kid’s development as an athlete and as a person.
This page is here to help parents understand how we approach youth soccer: teach the game, build confidence, and focus on effort over outcome. Winning is great. But it’s not the goal. Growth is.
Below, you’ll find tools, articles, and reminders that help keep things in perspective, especially on game day.
💡 1. Coaching Philosophy
Our approach is built around positive coaching, long-term development, and keeping the game fun.
✔ Teach decision-making, not just drills
✔ Value effort more than the scoreboard
✔ We don’t yell at kids and we ask that you don’t either▶️ [Read the Philosophy]
🎧 2. Supporting Your Kid
How you talk to your child before, during, and after a game matters. This section covers simple ways to encourage, not pressure.
✔ What to say in the car ride home
✔ The “5 words” every kid wants to hear
✔ Avoiding sideline coaching
📆 3. Game Day Expectations
Game day is for the kids. Here’s what we expect from parents to help keep things positive, productive, and fun for everyone.
✔ Sideline behavior
✔ Cheering vs. coaching
✔ Handling tough losses▶️ [Game Day Guidelines]
🏡 4. Family Support at Home
Our players improve most when there’s structure and support outside of practice. This section covers how we train at home — with help from the family.
✔ Daily Skill Work: Players pick 3 moves a day and repeat each 50–100 times
✔ Bounce Juggling: 250 touches a day to build coordination and rhythm
✔ Game IQ Reports: Watch a video, write a report, and present to the family
✔ Fascia Training: A short routine to reduce injury risk and build foot strength
▶️ [View the Daily Routine & Family Support Page]
We want every kid to walk away from this season better than they started, not just as a player but as a person. That takes good coaching, great teammates, and supportive parents.
Thanks for being part of the team.