KC Kick

KC Soccer Blog

Author: Chase

  • 📝 Practice Recap – Wednesday, Oct 22

    We had a great practice this week. Each session we’re focusing on a few select moves so the players can master them through repetition. This week, we worked on the Body Feint, Double Scissor, and Puskás Move.

    Let’s keep building on these, try to practice them each night this week.

    ⚙️ Skill Challenge

    See how many repetitions you can complete in 2 minutes for each of the following moves:

    1. Body Feint
    2. Puskás Move

    Record your score and try to improve each time.

    🎯 Focus for Next Week

    We’ll continue working on goal kicks before the next game. These are difficult to practice on the red fields due to limited space, but we’ll make sure every player understands positioning and spacing when we’re playing out from the back. I want to make sure the players at the second and third level know what to do. Also that the kick can go long if there is an opening.

    We’ll also begin selecting team captains each week, based on Wednesday’s practice performance. Captains aren’t just chosen by who’s the best, they’re chosen for focus, effort, and improvement.

    ⚽ Looking Ahead

    We have two games this weekend:

    • Game 1: Against the first-place team, a great opportunity to show we can compete at this level.
    • Game 2: A Paragon League match. It’s still unclear whether it will be 7v7 or 9v9, but it looks like we’ll be facing a 2015 team, likely due to the limited number of teams in the fall division.

    No matter the setup, let’s bring our energy, focus, and teamwork into both matches.

  • ⚽ Weekly Training Plan –Sept 30, 2025

    Five years from now, these kids will be trying out for their high school soccer teams. Our goal is to help them get there prepared and ready to compete for a varsity spot. That won’t be determined by how many wins or goals they had at age nine, but by the muscle memory and habits built from doing skills over and over since they were little.

    This winter, Legends has an outline that will bring in more passing and shooting. For now, we’re heavily focused on ball mastery. That doesn’t mean we want players doing a Maradona in our own goal box. Instead, we stick to Skill – Scan – Send. The skills allow us to scan, create space, and move the ball past the defender with control.

    To help track progress, we’ve put together an Excel spreadsheet for skills and stats. We’ll also be choosing two captains each week, based on standout performances at Wednesday practice or exceptional play during a game.

    Wednesday (Indoor) – Ball Mastery Session 5:00-6:00

    ⚙️ Ball Mastery (30–60 Seconds Each)

    • Moving Toe Taps
    • Inside Ball Taps (TikTok, Stationary)
    • Ball Shift – 3 Taps Left / 3 Taps Right
    • Rolls – Left to Right (Stationary)
    • Rolls – 2 Left / 2 Right (Moving)
    • Ball Shift (Stationary + Feint) – R & L
    • 2 Outside Touches / 2 Inside Touches – R & L
    • V Cut – Outside (R & L)
    • V Cut – Inside (Puskus, R & L)
    • L Drag Behind – Alternate Feet
    • 180 Turn Into Space (Cruyff)
    • Scissor (R & L)
    • Double Scissor
    • Matthews (R & L)
    • Ball Shift + Touch to Space (La Croqueta)
    • Stepover + Touch to Space (Opposite of Scissor)
    • Shield + Turn Into Space
    • Weak Foot Only

    🔄 Skills on Command (Group Work)

    Players move around the field and perform skills on command. They must keep doing the move until everyone has completed it.

    • Scissor
    • Maradona
    • Puskus
    • Wide V
    • Double Scissor
    • Roll
    • La Croqueta
    • L Turn
    • Matthews

    If time remains, quick 2v2 keep-away (no shooting).

    🎯 Focus is on clean technique, balance, and rhythm. Don’t rush control is more important than speed.

    ⏱ Box Training

    Box 1 (Solo Work) – Partner up and compete for high score

    • Wide V Cuts → Bounce off wall (alternate feet)
    • Puskus
    • Scissor

    Box 2 (Partner Work)

    • Point Battle: Shooter scores 1 point if the ball gets past defender and hits back wall (must hit plywood, not wire).

    🏠 Weekly Routine – Moves of the Week

    ⚙️ Home Assignments: 2-5 Times per week

    • 100 Wide V Turns – Alternate sides (50 left / 50 right)
    • 50 Scissors – Alternate left and right
    • 100 Bounce Juggles – Inside of foot only

  • ⚽ Weekly Training Plan – Sept 24, 2025

    Quick skills-first session with fast decisions and accurate finishing.

    What we worked on (60 min total)

    • Ball Mastery (20 min): Footwork and control to stay comfortable under pressure.
    • Skill → Scan → Send (20 min on field): Perform a skill, immediately scan, play the pass, receive across the body, then finish. Emphasis on shooting low and to the edges—not at the keeper.
    • Small Boxes (20 min):
      • 3-Wall game for quick combinations and clean first touches.
      • Back-Wall challenge: partners competed to “wall” the ball so it bounced to the back wall for a point (focus on pass weight, angle, and body shape).

    Notes

    • The Legends owner observed and recorded the session and shared concerns through Mark. I’m open to direct, professional feedback and will keep sessions aligned with a skills-first approach. We will not be focusing on drills, passing, shooting, or scrimmages. If we want to improve in these areas, we will need to work at in on the extra outdoor practices.
    • As for a follow up on the sideline conduct for the parents. The best way to help is to get kids to practice consistently and support the weekly skill work at home which is listed below.

    Next Session (Outdoor)

    Focus on defending: pressure–cover–balance, 1v1 body shape, win it and play the simple pass out.

    Level 1 Routine

    ✅ 100 toe taps moving
    ✅ Skill of the week: Matthews — 10 left, 10 right
    ✅ 100 bounce juggles

    Do this 2–5× per week depending on overall activity load.

  • 📝 KCL Liverpool Game Recap – Sunday, Sept 14th

    Thanks to everyone for coming out today. We lost a close one, 2–3, against a strong opponent with a winning record. This was a competitive match that showed we belong at this level. We’re not placed too high in the division, we can compete here.

    ⚽ Key Takeaways

    We’re playing at a high level and will continue to focus on the attacking portion of the game. This means the players need to have a strong understanding of two important habits:

    • Offsides – forwards and midfielders must be aware of positioning and timing runs.
    • Scanning – players need to constantly scan:
      • Before they receive the ball
      • After they receive the ball
      • Even when they don’t have the ball

    These small habits will create better awareness, spacing, and opportunities to attack.

    🔄 Coach’s Note

    I want to apologize to all the parents for the first goal we conceded — that one was on me. We’ve been working with defenders and the goalie to play the ball out of the back instead of just kicking it down the field. In that situation, I should have had the goalie play it to the outside.

    I will continue to coach this, because it’s an important part of developing our team’s style of play. Here is a link to our goal kick strategy:
    https://youtu.be/BjZ6oNk9Dnw?si=ZK9tz3E4RgtWCpEC

    📅 Looking Ahead to Practice

    Next week’s practices will be similar to what we ran last week. One of the highlights was the breakaway drill, which gave players repeated 1v1 opportunities to finish with a shot.

    📌 If your child plays forward, Thursday’s practice is especially important to attend.

    🏆 Upcoming Tournament

    For our next tournament, we will be playing in a lower division. This will give us a chance to build confidence and put together wins. I fully expect us to come away with some victories next weekend.

    Weekly Training Program for September 15

  • ⚽ Weekly Training Plan – Sept 15, 2025

    This week, all players will continue with the Level 1 routine at home 2 to 5 times, depending on their schedule and other sports. Players do not need to complete the routine on days they have a team practice or a game. The goal is to build consistency and keep developing good training habits through the fall season.

    🥅 Practices This Week

    There will be two practices with Coach Chase this week and one practice on Monday with Coach Mark.

    Here are links to the practice plans:

    • Wednesday, Sept 17
    • Thursday, Sept 18

    If you would like to review earlier sessions, you can find them here:
    👉 Practice Recaps

    🟢 Level 1 Routine

    ✅ 100 toe taps (stationary)
    ✅ Skill move of the week — Cryuff Turn (10 left, 10 right)
    ✅ 100 bounce juggles (ball can bounce once between touches)

    📌 Skill Move of the Week: Cryuff Turn

  • 🗓️ KCL Liverpool Practice Plan – Thursday, Sept 11

    1. Basico Drill – 15 min

    • Passing rhythm, spacing, and ball control. Increase distance

    2. Split Groups – 15 min

    • Group 1: Finishing Drills
      • Quick release shots, use both feet, focus on accuracy and pace.
    • Group 2: Overlapping Passes with Finish
      • Work on timing overlaps, passing into space, and finishing runs.
    • Rotate groups halfway.

    3. Shoot, touch post, then go to defense.

    Drill #1

    4. Play Through Thirds game scrimmage

    Drill #5

  • 🗓️ KCL Liverpool Practice Plan – Wednesday, Sept 10th

    We’ve got two practices with Chase this week. Our normal Wednesday practice will be held indoors at 5:00 PM, focusing on ball mastery and finishing. On Thursday, we’ll have an outdoor practice at 6:30 PM.

    We may only have 40 minutes on the field, so we’ll move with purpose. Please arrive early so we can maximize our time together.

    ⚙️ Ball Mastery – 30–60 Seconds Each

    • Inside Ball Taps (TikTok)
    • Ball Shift – 3 Taps Left / 3 Taps Right
    • Rolls – Left to Right (Stationary)
    • Moving Rolls – 2 Left / 2 Right
    • Ball Shift (Stationary + Feint)
    • 2 Outside Touches / 2 Inside Touches – Right
    • 2 Outside Touches / 2 Inside Touches – Left
    • V Cut – Right, then Left
    • Wide V Cuts – Inside of foot, pivot to open
    • Short V → Touch Into Space
    • L Drag Behind – Alternate feet
    • 180 Turn Into Space
    • Scissor + Touch Into Space
    • Ball Shift + Feint (La Croqueta)
    • Stepover (Opposite of Scissor)
    • Shield + Turn Into Space
    • Weak Foot Only
    • Free Combo – Player’s Choice

    🎯 Focus Moves of the Day

    This week we’ll highlight and review two key skills during warm-up and drills:

    • Cryuff Turn
    • Finishing Drills

    Our finishing work will be inspired by a training video, emphasizing game-like actions:

    • Cryuff turn into a finish
    • Two rolls left or right into a finish
    • Two inside touches and two outside touches leading into a finish

    ⏱️ Scrimmage or Box Drills

    If the field is available, we’ll close practice with a scrimmage. If not, we’ll move into box drills:

    Box 1 – One Player Per Box

    • Wide V Cuts then bounce off wall, alternating feet
    • Wall Juggling: Inside of foot only, catching the ball every other bounce

    Box 2 – Two Players Per Box

    • Wall Passing Challenge: See how many clean passes pairs can make in 60 seconds
    • Point Battle: Compete to bounce the ball off the wall and past the defender. If the ball hits the back wall after passing the defender, it’s 1 point for the shooter.

  • 🏟️Youth Soccer tryouts in Kansas City for 2026

    What the Switch from Birth Year to Grade Level Means for Families

    Over the next couple of years, youth soccer will see an important shift: teams will begin organizing by grade level instead of birth year. While this change may look small on paper, it’s going to affect how teams are built and how families think about tryouts.

    Why the Change Matters

    • Birth year today – Players are grouped by the year they were born, which often mixes two grade levels on one team.
    • Grade level tomorrow – Teams will align more closely with what kids experience in school. A team may be primarily 3rd graders or 4th graders.
    • New opportunities – The change means more balanced teams and a chance for kids to play alongside classmates.

    What Parents Should Expect

    1. Tryouts will feel different – Teams may shift around as clubs and coaches adjust to the new rules.
    2. Closer peer groups – Grade level rosters will make it easier for kids to play with other kids of the same maturity level.
    3. Roster changes – Some players may play up, others may stay with their grade, and in many cases new rosters will be created.

    What This Means for Players

    For some kids, this will mean staying on their current team. For others, it could mean joining a newly formed roster or finding a better fit within their grade level. Either way, families can expect more movement than usual at the next round of tryouts.

    Preparing for Tryouts 2026

    • Stay informed: Ask your club how they plan to handle the change.
    • Talk early: Connect with other parents in your child’s grade to understand their plans.
    • Keep an open mind: The change may feel disruptive at first, but it also opens doors to new friendships, new teams, and fresh opportunities for development.

    At KC Kick, we’ll continue sharing updates and resources as this transition gets closer. Tryouts in Summer of 2026 will look different, but with preparation, families can turn this change into a positive step forward for their players.

  • 🔴 Liverpool Game Recap – Sept 6

    There was a scrimmage on Wednesday, Liverpool had a double digit victory at Soccer Nation. Today dropped a tough one today 2-3 loss, one of the closer matches we’ve had. The kids played hard, and there were plenty of chances to take control.

    There was an early penalty kick that felt a bit harsh in the moment, but after reviewing the video, it was actually the right call. The foul wasn’t on #14 it was the initial contact by another player that triggered the call. The whole game was uploaded to our private Facebook group for anyone who wants to take a closer look.

    At halftime, I made it a point to keep things focused. We weren’t behind because of the ref, we were behind because of missed opportunities. And we had plenty. The size of the field is still something we’re adjusting to. With only six players on the field, covering that much space requires stamina, awareness, and smart positioning.

    📋 What’s Next

    I’m working on individual feedback reports for one or two players each game that I can. These will include what your kid did well, and a few areas we might want to focus on. It won’t be a list of negatives. There will be a short highlight of the players performance. I will also provide a separate report for the parent on things to focus on.

    🟢 Looking Ahead to Practice

    Next outdoor practice, we’re going to introduce a new drill focused on 1v1 breakaway situations. We are 90% there but just not getting enough good shots.

    We ran a 2-3-1 formation in this game:

    • 2 defenders
    • 3 midfielders
    • 1 forward

    That means our outside midfielders need to cover the entire length of the field. If we find that’s asking too much, we’re open to adjusting back to a 2-2-2 or even experimenting with a 2-1-3. The formation should fit the players not the other way around.

  • 🟢 Mighty Kicks Weekend Recap – Sept 6

    We got off to a rocky start down 0-2 just a few minutes into the first game. But the response from the kids was exactly what you’d want to see. They regrouped, found their rhythm, and poured in six unanswered goals. Final score: 7-3.

    One of the main things we talked about during the game was staying on your line. That means playing your side of the field and not drifting too far out of position. In our 2-3-1 formation (2 defenders, 3 midfielders, 1 forward), spacing matters. If one player gets pulled out, it throws off the balance for everyone.

    When we got the lead, we shifted into a 3-2-1 to strengthen the back line. That adjustment helped settle things and gave us more control late in the game. The center mid moves to center back.

    📍 Focus for Thursday’s Practice

    We’ll be working on a few things this week:

    • Touches for newer players: We want to build confidence and comfort on the ball. The more reps they get, the faster they improve.
    • Short scrimmage: This will help with positioning especially learning where to be and when to apply pressure.
    • Defensive approach:
      • Push attackers to the outside.
      • Delay, don’t dive in especially when we’re outnumbered or playing up.
      • Never pass across the middle in front of our own goal.
      • And yes, kicking it out of bounds is smart play when we’re under pressure.

    ⚽ Keep It Going

    Stick with the weekly routine at home touches, turns, and scanning. We’re making steady progress, and it shows on the field.

    See you Thursday!