-
KC Kick Season Update:
Everything is officially in place. The roster is finalized. The field is secured. The division is set.
Now we have dates.
📅 Key Dates
Practices begin: Tuesday, March 10
Games begin: Saturday, March 21That gives us a short runway to prepare. We’ll use every session wisely.
Practice Location & Time
We’ll train Tuesdays at Field 3 at Swarner Park (Swarner Park).
Field 3 is the one closest to the restrooms. In previous seasons we practiced on the northeast field, so be sure to head to the correct location.
Time:
5:00–6:30 PM (or until dark)
It will likely get dark between 6:15–6:30, and we’ll adjust as needed.If we can get enough interest for an earlier session, we may explore that option as well.
3rd Grade Blue Division
This year’s division includes:
This is the upper division for 3rd grade.
We also have three new players joining the team, giving us more depth than last year. That depth matters over the course of a season.
What Happens Between Now and March 21
Game day performance will reflect what happens at home.
Five to ten minutes every night:
- Toe Taps
- Tik Toks
- Bounce Juggles (driveway or hard surface)
We’re not looking for perfection. We’re building comfort and confidence on the ball.
March 10, we begin training.
March 21, we compete.Let’s show up ready. ⚽
-
KC Kick Season Update: Built the Team
We’re officially set. The roster is locked in, and I’m excited about this team. There’s a great mix of players, some of the kids have been playing together for several years now. It’s fun to watch these kids grow. Thank you to all the parents for the opportunity.
The Secret Isn’t Complicated — It’s Touches
To start off the season I’m encouraging everyone to get in touches at home at least 3 days per week, starting now.
Five to ten minutes. That’s it. (Aiden does 25 min 3 times per week.)
What we’re really trying to build is comfort. When the ball feels natural at your feet, the game slows down. Confidence grows. Decisions get cleaner.
Here’s what I want every player doing each night. I have also linked to the skills page for further detail.
1. Toe Taps
Simple. Steady rhythm. Soft touches. Stay light on your feet. 100 toe taps are a good start. For advanced players work on rolling toe taps.
2. Tik Toks
Inside touches back and forth. Quick feet. Keep the ball under control. Aim to do 100 per session. For advanced players try to keep you head up.
3. Bounce Juggles
Use a driveway or hard surface. Let it bounce between touches and try to keep the ball from going off to the side.
Track your numbers. Try to beat your personal best. The idea is for each player to be able to complete 30 bounce juggles, once they have achieved this, they are ready for the next step. Juggling 2 or 3 times, then catching the ball.
Practice Update
We’re planning to hold Tuesday practices at Swarner Park. We are expecting practice to open up around the first of March. I’lll update when everything is final.
*Field availability should be confirmed in the next few days.
The current plan is to get a 90 min practice 1 day per week.
- 5:00–6:30 PM
- Or until dark (sunset will likely fall between 6:15–6:30)
If there’s enough interest we may try to sneak in a practice or two at Quivira Glen park during the end of February.
-
KCL Practice Plan for 1-21-26
This Wednesday’s session is designed to improve how we get open for teammates, and continue building the mindset we want going into the spring.
Our normal practice time is 5:00–6:00 PM, with an optional extended session from 6:00–6:20 PM for players who would like to stay a little longer.
Schedule & field setup
- 5:00–5:40 → Red fields
- 5:40–5:50 → Team break + discussion
- 5:50–6:00 → Transition to large boxes
- 6:00–6:20 → Large boxes (optional)
The final 20 minutes are completely optional. If you need to leave at 6:00, no problem at all.
Ball Mastery & Fake Shot Focus (5:00–5:15)
We’ll open the session with our usual ball mastery work, but with a special emphasis on the fake shot.
The fake shot is one of the most effective tools in soccer when it’s done correctly. We’ll focus on:
- Selling the shot with body language
- Getting the defender to commit
- Changing direction and accelerating into space
The goal here is technique over speed. Players will start slow, perform the move cleanly, and then explode rather than rushing through it.
Freestyle Skills (5:15–5:20)
For five minutes, players will work through freestyle touches.
Each player will cycle through at least five different skills, repeating them and finding rhythm. This is about creativity, confidence, and becoming comfortable on the ball without pressure.
Passing, Movement & Getting Open (5:20 –5:40 )
For the extended portion, we’ll move into the larger boxes and work on getting open for passes and understanding where to go on the field.
Players will work in 2v1 situations, with three groups of three running at the same time. The rule is simple:
- Complete 10 passes or skills before you’re allowed to shoot
Skip to 1:43
Team Break & Discussion (5:40–5:50)
We’ll take a short break to recap and introduce the first part of a mindset series based on The Four Agreements. I made a post about this a few weeks back.
We’ll start with Controlling the Controllables.
We can’t control:
- Referees
- Opponents
- A bad play by a teammate
What we can control:
- Effort
- Attitude
- Decisions
- How we respond to challenges
The focus is simple: How do we still find ways to win and improve, even when things don’t go our way?
Quote of the week:
“It’s about always thinking. Always moving. If you stand still you can’t help your teammates or the team.”-Johan Cruyff
Looking Ahead to Spring 2026
We’re gearing up for the Spring 2026 Heartland season, and the seedings have been released. This year, we’ve been placed in Division 6.
Here is a link to the seedings…
As we prepare, our focus will stay on:
- Off ball movement to get open for the pass
- Better decisions and better shot selection
- Blocking the shot when on defense
- How to mark up the defender
Every training session is a step toward that.
We will also be selecting 2 captains for the year. Captains will be responsible for leading the team in warmups. They should also display leadership qualities like controlling the controllables.
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.