There will be two practices with Chase for the week of August 25th. We will hold the normal Wednesday 5:00 practice focusing on ball mastery and finishing. We will also be holding an outdoor practice on Thursday at 6:30.
We may only have 40 minutes on the field, so we’ll move with purpose. Plan to arrive ready to go.
⚙️ 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
Stepover + Touch Into Space
Stepover (Opposite of Scissor)
Shield + Turn Into Space
Weak Foot Only
Free Combo – Player’s Choice
🎯 Focus Moves of the Day
We will highlight and review these two skill moves during our warm-up and drills:
Matthews Move – Fake inside, push outside
Ball Shift + Feint – Shift ball laterally and fake with body
Each player should try to use at least one of these during the 1v1 game.
⚔️ 1v1 With Finishing Drill
Players must perform a Focus move of the day to get past defender and let off a shot.
Coach can be defender, or offensive player can rotate to defense.
Offensive player moves to defense; defender moves to the back of the line.
⏱️ If the field is available we will scrimmage. If not, we will move to box drills.
Box 1 – One Player Per Box:
Wide V Cuts then bounce off wall, using 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 30 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
We had a great practice yesterday, thank you to everyone who showed up! We know it’s a busy week with back to school schedules for many of our athletes, and we appreciate the effort.
These are exactly the types of drills most players need right now. During our short scrimmage, the kids really started to put things together, we saw some excellent long crosses across the field and forwards in position to receive them. Remember: when in scoring position, you have about 3 seconds to shoot or pass.
We also did a short possession drill to help players get comfortable with contact. Toward the end of practice we did a quick demo on setting up a wall. We will practice these drills again in future weeks.
Weekly Routine 🏋️♂️
We want players improving, but also staying fresh. With multiple sports going on, please allow time for recovery. Aim for 3–5 days per week on the following: These moves are demonstrated on the skills page.
Matthews – 10 reps with the right foot, 10 reps with the left
Maradona – 10 reps with the right foot, 10 reps with the left
Scissor – 10 reps with the right foot, 10 reps with the left
➡️ Also, work on bounce juggling — 100 touches.
Next Game 📅
Tonight at 7:00 PM
Swope Soccer Village , Field 3
Let’s carry the hard work from practice into the match. Go Liverpool! 🔴⚪
We had a great first practice. Lots of credit to our two new players, they are picking things up fast.
Our goal is to build great habits with the ball through short, daily practice. Kids should use a stopwatch (or phone timer ⏱️) to see how many touches they can get in 60 seconds. Try to practice at least 5 days per week and write down scores to track improvement.
Please view the Skills page for a demonstration of the first 3 drills.
Daily Drills
1. Toe Taps (1 min) 👣
Tap the top of the ball quickly with alternating feet.
Count touches in 60 seconds.
2. Tik Toks (1 min)
Pass the ball back and forth between the inside of both feet.
Keep it under control. Count touches in 60 seconds.
3. Bounce Juggles (1 min)
Let the ball bounce once, then kick it back up with the laces.
One bounce between touches. Count how many you can do.
4. Wall Training / Partner Passing (5 min) 🧱
Pass with the inside of your foot and receive it back.
The ball should stay on the ground.
A concrete wall, garage door, or house siding works great.
Starting from a goal kick or anytime your keeper has the ball in your defensive third can feel like you’re handing the initiative to your opponent. Instead, treat it like a strategic reset. This is your team’s chance to regroup, control the ball, and build an attack with purpose. The 2-3-1 formation is the perfect shape to make that happen.
1. Shape First, Kick Second
Before the keeper even puts the ball down, the team should already be organized:
Goalkeeper: the base, calm and in control.
Two defenders: spread wide to create passing lanes.
Center midfielder: drops close to offer a safe outlet.
Two wingers: push high and wide to stretch the field.
Striker: stays central and high to pin back defenders.
This setup creates a diamond in your own half, which is the key to building safely.
2. Options Over Distance
From the kick:
Play short and safe to a defender or the center mid.
Switch sides if one lane is blocked.
Avoid rushing to boot it long—patience gives your team better control.
The goal is to create time and space, not chaos.
3. Midfield and Defensive Movement
Once the ball is rolling:
Wingers push wide and higher to open lanes.
Center mid or CB drops deeper, linking defense to attack.
Defenders position side-on so they can pass forward or switch play.
Striker stays active in the middle, ready for through balls or quick link-ups.
Everyone’s movement should connect, creating angles instead of straight lines.
4. Adjusting to Pressure
If the opponent presses high:
Use quick switches across the back or back to the keeper.
Reset and change direction to beat the press.
Mix in the occasional long ball to keep defenders honest.
This forces the opponent to chase, while your team keeps control.
5. Simple Coaching Points
“Two or three calm passes beat one panicked punt.”
Always look for the diamond: keeper, defenders, center mid.
Defenders should receive side-on so they can see the field.
The keeper is the director, guiding movement before the kick.
Bottom Line
A goal kick in 7v7 isn’t about distance, it’s about control. The 2-3-1 formation gives your team options, builds confidence, and starts your attack on the right foot. When players trust the shape and stay patient, the build-out becomes one of the most effective weapons in your game.
We will be moving the Wednesday 5:00 indoor practice to Thursday at 6:30. I will be coaching our Rec team from 5:30-6:30. KCL Liverpool from 6:30-7:30.
Mighty Kicks: 5:30-6:30
Liverpool: 6:30-7:30
Loation: Swarner Park, Shawnee, KS (North Field)
Coming off the Mariachi Tournament we are focused on improving off ball movement. Instead of being in a position to receive a pass, players are bunching together. We will focus on making passes in front of the other teams goal, and acting quickly when in scoring position. There are 5 drills below that we will be choosing from to improve in the needed areas. We also have to spend some time on basic fundamentals.
Try to pass or shoot within 3 seconds of getting ball when near the goal
Keep head up when running drills or performing moves
Pass before going in for the 1v1
Always be scanning… What does scanning mean? Not just the ball but where your teammates are, and where the defenders are.
Soccer Fundamentals
We will try to focus on some fundamentals from time to time. Hopefully we can work on forming a wall this week and work on the other the following weeks. If there are any other fundamentals that we need to work on, please let me know.
We won’t have time to focus on all of these on Thursday but these are some basic fundamentals for our 7v7 league.
Here are 5 drills that we are going to be choosing from to focus on off ball movement. Ideally we will have 2 or 3 coaches helping run at least 2 drills at once on opposite sides of the field.
Drill 1: Overlapping Run & Through Ball
We are going to add finishing to this drill.
Coaching Points:
Keep your head up to see passing options.
Communicate with hand signals or verbal cues.
Pass/shoot within 3 seconds
Finish with shot on goal
Drill 2: 3v3 Live Scenario
Setup:
3v3 with neutral balls at the coach’s feet.
Execution:
Coach plays a live ball in.
Players play normally, but on the whistle, freeze play.
Adjust positioning:
Where should support runs be?
Who should check to the ball?
Who should stretch the field with depth?
Coaching Points:
Emphasize movement into space, not just standing still.
Look for triangles of support.
Reinforce head-up decision-making: pass, dribble, or move.
Drill 3: Básico Drill
Starts at 3:09
Execution:
Receive ball across body (down field foot)
Game speed
Lots of talking from player receiving pass
Drill 4: Scanning before receiving Pass
Starts at 3:03 (Demo at 4:00)
Drill 5: 4 Points 3 players, center defender
We ran this drill last week. Players needed to slow down and actually move to receive a pass, instead of just moving because they are going in a rotation.
We had a small number of players that were playing extremely physical. Others still need to work on positioning. Here is a drill that we will be running in the coming weeks.
One observation from the 2025 Mariachi soccer tournament is that KCL Liverpool needs to work on penalty kicks and how to form proper walls. Here is an overview of what we will be focusing on in an upcoming practice.
1. Organize Quickly
As soon as a foul is called near your goal, defenders should run into position.
The closest defender can start setting the wall while the keeper directs adjustments.
2. Keeper Controls the Wall
The goalkeeper should line up the wall, using their angle on the ball.
A good rule: the wall should block one side of the goal while the keeper covers the other.
3. Proper Spacing
Players should stand shoulder to shoulder, with no gaps.
Each player turns slightly sideways to cover more space with their body.
4. Correct Number of Players
Usually 2–5 players depending on distance and angle.
More players if it’s central and close to goal, fewer if the angle is wide.
5. Player Roles
End player: Brave, quick to jump or block a low shot.
Middle players: Strong, willing to take the ball directly.
End nearest the goal: Can peel off to close down a short pass if needed.
6. Body Position
Stand on the balls of the feet, slightly bent knees.
Protect yourself (hands in front of the body, elbows tucked).
Stay balanced so you can jump or block quickly.
7. Jumping vs. Staying Grounded
Decide before the kick who will jump.
Sometimes one player stays grounded to prevent a low “under the wall” shot.
The wall must stay disciplined—don’t flinch or turn away.
8. Don’t Break Early
Stay in place until the ball is struck.
Rushing too soon can open dangerous gaps.
9. Be Ready for Deflections
After blocking, defenders should immediately track the rebound or runner.
This was our first real chance to play together as a team, and we’re still learning our players’ strengths and positions. Unfortunately, this tournament didn’t have the level of organization we would normally expect. We also ended up facing 2015 teams, and it seemed like some guest players may have been even older. Player cards were not required, so anyone could go onto the field. There was also some inconsistencies with the officials.
That said, our boys played incredible soccer this weekend. They gave everything they had, and we saw major improvement, especially when we faced the same team again on Sunday after playing them Saturday.
My coaching focus has been on building a solid defense. We’re putting stronger players there. They are learning how to move the ball to the outside, when to delay versus when to press, and how to stay focused on the whole field, not just the ball. Moving forward, we’ll shift more attention to striker and midfield roles. We experimented with both a 1-2-3 and a 1-3-2 formation, and may continue trying different setups.
Thank you to all the parents who braved the parking, the schedule changes, the delays, and the extreme heat. I wish we had better information regarding game times and field locations to keep everyone up to speed. Your support means a lot. Look forward to seeing everyone at practice this week.
This weekend threw us a bit of a curveball with rain on Sunday. Short-handed on Saturday, we need to give a big shout-out 👏 to the players who showed up, dug in, and gave their best in a tough 1–3 loss ⚽.
Many of our athletes will be starting school 📚 this week, and some will be adding extra activities or sports 🏃♂️🏀 to their schedules. To help balance it all, we are personally scaling back our at-home routine and adding more recovery days 🛌💧.
I came across a great video on 7 lessons footballers learn too late 🎥, and I think it’s worth sharing. Here’s a quick overview with the video below:
Confidence is a skill 💪 – You’re not born with it. Confidence must be developed, just like mental toughness and ball mastery.
Consistency over motivation 🔄 – Don’t rely on feeling motivated. Build systems and routines you follow every day.
Basics before flash 🎯 – Passing and mastering your first touch might not be as exciting as flashy tricks, but they win games.
Recovery is training 🛌💧 – Rest days matter. Drink plenty of water throughout the week, especially before games or practice.
Fascia training 🦵 – This helps improve explosiveness, balance, and reduces the risk of injury. (We’ve got a section on this in our training resources.)
Talent is built 🛠️ – Skill comes from hard work and development, not just natural ability.
Promote yourself the right way 🤝 – Be the kind of player everyone wants to play with. Be a good teammate, respect your coaches, and lead by example.
Let’s keep learning, improving, and supporting each other—on and off the field. 🌟
