LeftFoot Coaching Academy

Summer Intensive 2011

2011-03-16T12:47:00.000-07:00

What is LeftFoot Coaching Academy?

2011-01-12T19:33:00.001-08:00

A Different Choice

2010-11-02T23:16:00.000-07:00

What is LeftFoot Coaching (LFC)?

Another State Title!
Photo by Jeremy Olson – www.digitalgopher.net

LFC was created by Christian Isquierdo, M.A., as a solution to player development that allowed players long term professional training options.

This was to offer more than the general clinic or club training that met only one night a week with their team or general clinic in the area.

The problems were that players could only go to one club training, one coach or team and only one night a week with their team or clinic in the area. Or there were 15-20 players per coach in each session.

LFC players wanted more training, more nights and better quality coaching. They wanted a long term relationship with one coach that wasn't based on winning, playing time or tryouts.

The LeftFoot Coaching Academy based in Minneapolis, off of Highway 62 and 35W offers more than just a once a week clinic, but a 10,000 sq ft facility and over 20 hours a week to schedule small group player sessions. LFC is a unique and different experience outside of the clinic and camp models offered by many Minnesota clubs and programs. A limited number of players are accepted each semester to train together. Additional players are allowed in seasonally. Learn More.

Coaching Matters.

2010-10-14T13:23:00.000-07:00

LeftFoot Coaching(LFC) is a player development academy for soccer players to develop fascinating footwork, phenomenal ball skills and deadly ball striking abilities.

Through the Academy format players can have a soccer home that is based on a small group, long-term private coaching engagement with one coach who can progress them from where they are to where they want to be. The Academy is your own soccer community that's multi-gender, multi-level and mutli-aged. LeftFoot Coaching Academy is based within a 10,000 sq ft. facility specially designed for training soccer players to be great.

LFC is not a camp, clinic or club. It's a soccer home where dedicated kids come to train to get better, be better and know better without having to leave their community based team, but that in the process of being and becoming stars.

Coaching Matters.

We've all been places where coaching either has an impact for the best or for the worst with our children. What I try to create at LeftFoot Coaching Academy is a passionate environment where players can be challanged to go beyond the basics to try and then master new tasks and skills. I try to create great players, not great teams.

At LFC players are not satisfied with just doing the easy thing, we strive for excellence in everything: we compete, we study technique and we work hard. Players at LFC study and train for and average of 2-4 years in a dedicated environment designed around them, not team or club success, but player success. And the best thing is: you can stay at your community club and then still get 2-3 days a week of quality professional training without leaving your friends.

The psychological, physical, and technical tools that I provide my players and families have helped every kid take the next step in their development no matter where and what level they play.

Having a coach that teaches a high level of technical quality, tactical awareness, mental skills and a passion for the game as well as cheers them on off the field is what players love when they come to LFC.

Welcome to our soccer home,

Christian Isquierdo, M.A., Y.F.S., YSAS

From Great Teams to Great Players

2010-10-14T07:40:00.000-07:00

State Champions 2010 U12C1 Girls

Several years ago I wanted to create great teams. I enjoyed watching the success of the players grow, compete and win tournaments. But then something happened-- I began to watch players that I had once coached successfully fall by the wayside with other coaches.

Or get cut and thrown away. (Read No Throw Away Kids.)

And I started working with them on the side, growing them and still coaching teams. After awhile I experienced that you can't do both.

You either create great players or great teams, but the attention dedicated to building teams at young ages can hinder the development of the individual based on playing time, aggression, tactics and their effectiveness within the game.

You have to teach to the middle. And in the 1:16 model of team development you can't always coach one or two players. And you can't create 15 center mids or strikers, you can only really develop two or three at the most.

In order to address the individual I knew I had to change gears and work with the most players I could outside of the club system--that if I was to truly change the focus to long term individual development and growth that I could not do that at any club.

I'd have to create something completely different and innovative. That's why LeftFoot Coaching Academy is for the most part: completely club neutral and changing how we develop players one player at a time.

LeftFoot Coaching Academy Registration

2010-09-15T12:06:00.000-07:00

Winter Pre-registration is currently closed. Please sign up on the LeftFoot Coaching blog to get access to openings as they arise.

A new scheduling process is about to be implemented. New sessions are also being added. Sign up to the blog to get up to date information that is not on the website!

or email me or call me to get the newest updates.

Read why Player Development Needs to Change!

LeftFoot Coaching Skillzy

2010-06-04T14:44:00.000-07:00

I'm super excited to announce a new project for the LeftFoot Coaching Academy and all of the players involved in the Dedicated Level 1 and Level 2 groups starting today!

One of best coaches in Minnesota began using a progam several years ago that highlighted players earning skills cards upon completing a unique move or skill in the game. His new business has expanded to included promoting his "brand" of player development, termed "Skillzys" to include club promotions yet most importantly, player confidence and skills development technique.

LeftFoot Coaching will now begin using this approach in a one of a kind way. For the general numbers of players that are coming to me for skills development I have been able to implement my own "brand" of Skillzy with the moves that I teach and encourage on a daily basis.

Dedicated Level 1 and Dedicated Level 2 players will now be able to use the Skillzy program like this:

1) Learn and develop technical skills at training and at home.

2) Select in your Skillzy book 1-4 skills to demonstrate in your game with your club team. Give mom or dad your personal Skillzy book for them to document and "check off" that you performed the skill in a game.

(Be sure to set your game goals before hand with mom and dad and show them the skill you'll perform, so they know what to look for.)

3) Have mom or dad keep track and sign your book.

4) Bring your Skillzy book to any LFC training and show it to Christian.

5) Get your Skillzy card. If you earn multiple moves or Skillzy's in one game you can add Star Stickers too!

Can you collect all 12 Skillzys this summer?

Players will get their Skillzys books all this weekend as well as a bag tag and Skillzys ring.

I also have a limited amount of Juggling Skillzys available too!

LFC Academy Update

2010-05-20T11:37:00.001-07:00

Greetings and Salutations!

I just got back from some much needed R&R in New Mexico and couldn't be more jazzed about the next couple of weeks and months! It's totally soccer season! You gotta love it!

I wanted to announce a great update to the schedule and the Academy format as it works today. Over the past few months I've been experimenting with moving toward a drop-in schedule, in fact, I've been preparing my Winter '11 schedule to accommodate a more flexible training rhythm but decided that the summer would be the best chance to try it out!

So, here's the deal.

Starting TODAY if you have signed up and are current in your payments for Dedicated Level 1 or 2 training you will now get an additional 14 sessions for no additional cost!

Yes.

14 extra sessions free!

But wait ....

My other two groups get more too! Limited and Development level 1 players, if you've paid already, you get 8 extra sessions for free too but yours will be in a mixed group environment! Your free sessions will be Wednesday's 8am-9:20am.

WHY? What's the catch!?

Here's the scoop. Each group will expand to 12 players instead of 8. This is because there's been so much demand and great word of mouth (thank you!) that I don't have time or space to fit new players in and not every player shows up for training. So even though only 8 players are in a group, an average of 4-5 are there each session!

Also, I've really disliked the practice that players can't train with me because of a scheduling conflict, etc. so I decided to move to a more user friendly option that allows every player the freedom to choose when and how much they want to train. I've also wanted to offer a program that allows a player to train as much for as little as possible. So I decided to experiment with this model and offer it to you for free!

Here is the new program for Dedicated Level 1 and Level 2 players:

For your Summer Academy tuition of $500 you get access to over 44 sessions, that's an insane $11 per session if you make each and every one.

The new training sessions will still be on the Friday/Sat/Sunday rhythm, plus, starting June 29th will move to the 8am to 9:30 drop in slot on Tuesday, Wednesday AND Thursday! until August 19th.

That's almost like going to a summer camp each week for only $33 a week!

Plus on Wednesday you can do two sessions!

Limited Level 1 and Developmental Level 1 Players:

You've been given Wednesday from 8am-9:30am as your additional training slot starting June 23rd through August 18th.

You also now have the option to upgrade your membership and still be in your same Tu/Th group but still come to the Dedicated groups too!

Don't expect this price to last!

What will change?

Part of my learning has noticed that players are struggling incorporating their new found techniques into real games. That they lack both the technical execution and the tactical speed of play that playing at a higher level demands. Several players over the winter requested more tactical teaching and since I tried to limit groups I couldn't help the player get better faster!

So part of the format change will include more instructional games that help the player execute their new found techniques within a games format while also still emphasizing skills instruction. Also, more time with the player over the week will also allow me to spend more time building a better athletic foundation for the player in terms of speed, agility and coordination.

The amount of players per session will be the most obvious change during the times, but I've found that having multiple levels of players, multi-age and gender is actually beneficial as long as it is long term and low stress. Still the benefit is that the same coach is leading the individual players! As in basketball, one coach will have twelve different players of different ages all working on similar skills, but with enough individual attention. The older players mentoring the younger ones, while continuing to push each and every player!

What if I miss a session?

A common question but it's easy to answer. You're really only buying access to training and getting the value as it is spread out through the session's attendees. If three players show up it's a $45 cost for 1.5 hours (90/hr divided by 3 players) If one player is there it's a $90 cost, if 8 players are there it's a $17 cost. Over the course of the summer it all balances out by paying $125/month and making some sessions more than others in your group. If you absolutely need a session, drop in to any academy session during the week.

With the new dates added, you're receiving more access for less cost. What I'm receiving is more experience and knowledge for my next years' winter program which will allow players to train with me four nights a week for five months, which is unheard of!

So be sure to complete your registration and complete your first payment if you haven't done so,

This offer is only for existing and current clients!

If you have any questions please feel free to ask!

Training Levels

2010-03-03T12:20:00.001-08:00

Progressive Skill Development

LFC training is now divided into three programs based on specific skill sets that combine multi-directional movements, ball striking, ball mastery and the players vision and emerging self-awareness. Recognizing that the “level” of play as it relates to age group, C1, Premier, C2 and Recreational have only a general orientation to what a player should have learned or brought to the training program --most players demonstrate a lack of technical skills that are consistent to others who are asking to become better players and seeking training.

The organization of these levels of training comes from the martial arts style that I study which demands excellence in technique of basic stances, kicks, blocks and strikes before advancing to new and more advanced techniques. Also, mixed age and gender groups are accepted since technique is the priority outcome while older and younger players help each other through the learning process.

Level 1 Training

Level 1 training is the basic entry point for players starting to work with me. We focus on specific movements related to a clean driven ball, both in terms of their general athletic skills but also build on their self-awareness, discipline and attitude to improve and focus on task-related learning. Level 1 players will aim to master and demonstrate proficiency within small sided games of the following technical skills: the low instep drive, the slap roll, lateral deceleration, attitude to score and win 1v1s. Players will need to have learned how to ‘snap their knee’, ‘lock their ankle’ and be able to ‘aim their plant foot’ in the desired location away from the ball consistently without reminders to be able to advance to Level 2 training.

Level 2 Training

Level 2 training is the next progression of skills mastery for players. Having mastered or demonstrated proficient skills with the low instep drive players begin learning how to drive the ball with a wide angle instep drive that will loft the ball with backspin. Players will also advance ball mastery skills to include fakes and feints that include striking the ball and setting up their shot or clearance. Movement skills will include the cutting circle that will include all directional stops and acceleration techniques. Level 2 players have taken their basic skills mastery and added another level of complexity to already learned skills. Level 2 players are beginning to self-correct, become aware of new possibilities and have learned 2v2 and 2v1 skills in training, team coaching and demonstrate within small sided games.

Level 3 Training

Players who are in Level 3 training have already demonstrated proficient skills in ball mastery, multi-directional movements, ball striking and are ready for more gameplay and application. Level 3 training is still individual focused but will phased into the calendar as players progress.

Skill Progressions

Multi-directional movements

linear and lateral deceleration skills combined with balance, rhythmic and running technique

level 1 skills are: basic athletic stance, lateral deceleration, linear lunge stop, back-peddling, hip turns
level 2 skills: active stances, lateral crossover, lateral deceleration, linear split stop, t-step, plyo-step, hip turns
level 3 skills: jumping, landing, single legged hops, olympic squats & olympic cleans

Ball Striking

The ability to cleanly strike with superior technique in a variety of movements, angles, and approaches. Includes heading and passing, but primarily driving the ball.

level 1: low instep drive, prep touch following the ball, push pull & drive
level 2: wide angle instep drive, low instep drive left and right footed
level 3: both feet, both high and low, moving onto bending balls, chips and volleys

Ball Mastery

More than just “footskills”, these skill sets are developing, coordination, rhythm and speed with the ball and the visual cues off how to beat opponents, set up a shot, and accelerate

level 1 skills: deceleration & changes of direction, slap rolls, dribble cuts, first touch on the ground, ball across the body
level 2 skills: fakes and fients, stops and starts, first touch turns and in the air
level 3 skills: double moves

Vision and Awareness

The ability to see and understand how and why on the field with the ball and with opponents. Vision as it relates to seeing and attacking space both on the ball and with specific runs. Awareness as it relates to self, technique and the learning process.

Level 1: Seeing and attacking space-first touch moving
Level 2: Awareness of technical errors and ability to self-correct
Level 3: Vision and Awareness of others

Fun too!

2009-07-30T23:03:00.000-07:00

Christian has been a coach for our daughter and it was a great experience for her. He is one of the most organized and dedicated coaches that we have ever had. He also is very easy to communicate with from a parent standpoint.

He will listen to reasonable concerns and keep you abreast of any changes or decisions that involve your daughter. We felt very comfortable handing over the responsibility of our daughter’s development because we knew that he had the technical background and coaching experience that could support her in the best way.

He really cares for the girls and gives the team his total focus and energy. We would certainly recommend him as a high-level and conscientious coach. In addition, he allows the girls to have fun!

Commitment is a two way street.

2009-07-30T22:29:00.000-07:00

I wanted to take a moment to thank you and make some comments/observations. When Maia was added to your Bangu 96 White team the 07/08 season I made the comment to you that I believed that you would become one of the great teachers/mentors of her life.

That season and our continued involvement with you beyond that team with private coaching has proven my statement correct. Maia has said numerous times and it is also my strong committment that as long as she plays soccer, she will remain under your instruction and guidance. I do not believe there is anyone more committed to his kids or better qualified to develop outstanding players and character than you. My initial opinion has only been confirmed and reinforced.

I am extremely proud of Maia as I watch her grow in so many areas under your tutilage. I would encourage any parent to get their child involved with your coaching at any level they can and as soon as possible, from team play to private coaching.

I have personally used coaching/mentoring in my own businesses for over 20 years and can speak from experience that the better the coaching, the better the results, and you are the best. Any parent that would like to talk to me about our experience with you can certainly call or email me at any time for a reference. Please feel free to forward my contact info to anyone.

Dr. John Lundstrom
651-235-1403
teamchiromn@aol.com

Decisions, Decisions

2009-07-30T21:31:00.000-07:00

As in many decisions we make as parents, we value references from people we respect. In some instances our daughters will take the lead and find opportunities we hadn’t considered. Such is the case of my daughter, Lily, who met a girl at the Footholde clinics last winter. At first my daughter was a little intimidated by the physical play of this girl and her foot skills, but soon they became friends and Lily was invited to play a few games in her indoor league. Then Lily’s new friend’s Dad let me know about an opportunity to form a small, private group for intense skills, tactical and psychological training led by a young man who had worked with his daughter. That young man is Christian Isquierdo.

My daughter has been training with Christian’s private group for two months although she was on a service trip for part of the time. In this short time, her foot skills have improved tremendously. Where she formerly would never even have tried a new move in scrimmages and games, she now has the confidence to use them to her advantage. She is excited as I am about what she will learn from Christian in the off season and how it will help her attain the next level. My wife, Cherry, was watching Lily on Tuesday in a small sided game at the tryout clinic and Cherry said Lily made a couple of “Christian” moves around two other girls and easily scored on them. I can’t imagine her soccer growth with a year under her belt with him.

Christian not only teaches soccer skills and tactics, but seems to find the right buttons to press to get the best out of the girls. Our group of eight goes from U13 –U16 (2010 ages), C2 to Premier and is highly motivated and competitive, but Christian has made the intense workouts fun and the girls are very at ease with each other. Lily tells me he is the best soccer coach/teacher she has had and that includes her former coaches, Coerver, Thunder and Footholde trainers (although she is in love with Jonathan S.). [editors note: aren't we all?]

Christian is highly trained and motivated himself. While the girls have fun at his training sessions, he expects them to listen, respond and work hard (boy does he work hard!). He takes the time to give each player individual attention so each can take something valuable away from every practice. As Lily knows too, he will not mince words if she needs a boot to get her going in the right direction.

I highly recommend Christian Isquierdo as your coach. Unfortunately, Lily is now U15 so he can’t coach her team, but she has him for a trainer which keeps her motivated for the next training session.

Thanks,

Dana Marcelius

American Agency, Inc.

Thanks for the insight!

2009-07-30T21:16:00.000-07:00

Christian was our U12 team coach for the 2007/2008 season. It was our daughters first experience on a Bangu team. He put a lot of effort into the planning of each practice. Our daughter developed as a soccer player and enjoyed learning the technical aspects of the game. Christian was dedicated to the team, is a very observant coach and really gets to know the girls strengths and weaknesses. Your daughter will grow and develop as a player with Christian as her coach. If we could we would want Christian to coach our daughters team again. And about our year in 07/08, our team developed as a whole and surprised many by making it state at the U12 C1 level.

As a parent with very little soccer background, I enjoyed the insight Christian provided in post game summaries. Emailed synopsis analyzing the strategy of our opponent and how we defeated them. He also encouraged our daughter to watch as many professional soccer games as possible, to better understand how the game is played. Now as a family we watch soccer on ESPN whenever we get a chance.

James and Kristin Schoffman

Among the best!

2009-07-30T21:06:00.001-07:00

Being the Vice President of the Minnesota Thunder Academy, and playing soccer through the collegiate level in Minnesota, I know many of the best coaches and trainers in Minnesota, and when I had to choose a trainer for my daughter, I chose Christian. While Christian is one of the best in Minnesota at developing technical skills, it is really his understanding of the psychological component of the game that sets him apart. My daughter understands the game differently and plays with more confidence after training with Christian. He has and continues to help with her development as a soccer player and as a person.

John M. Jerabek
Vice President
Minnesota Thunder Academy

Thanks for a great season!

2009-07-30T20:54:00.000-07:00

Hi Christian,

I just wanted to take this opportunity to say "Thank You!" again for a really fun and exciting season. We never imagined going in that we could have this successful of an outcome. Walmart Cup, Woodbury, and USA Cup Champions! Who would have thought!

Hayden has loved having you as a coach and I can tell you from our perspective as parents that we have seen great improvements in her level of play since you've taken over the team. Not only have her tactical skills improved, but her entire sense of the game has improved by leaps and bounds. We know that this is because of the training you've provided this team. She has gained skill, confidence and an overall love of the game this past season and we really look forward to what the next year will bring.

Thank you for always keeping the parents involved in your development plan. This is been so helpful in understanding what the expectation should be for a player in this age group. The evaluation you provided early in the season and then again at the end was such a great way of getting the players involved in their personal goals and a great tool for them to measure their progress on and individual level. Hayden read her evaluation over a dozen times and continues to talk about how she wants to master new skills going into this next year.

It is a rare gift that a coach can capture this kind of enthusiasm, respect and admiration from a group of pre-teen girls and you have done that with great success!

Thanks again for all you've done for this team and for Hayden!

Sincerely,

Carolyn & Mike Johnson

Given the responsibility and opportunity

2009-07-30T20:49:00.000-07:00

My daughter has played with Minnesota Thunder Academy (MTA) and Bangu-Tsunami for the past two-plus seasons; she was initially identified as a player who could benefit from the academy-style training (offer by Bangu/MTA), and would be a strong player with Bangu. We hesitantly yet adventurously gave it a try. There was never any pressure to join or make a commitment, but were positively encouraged to go through the tryout process. We went through this, my daughter made the team, and has been there since.

What has made the transition and development possible is the desire and commitment of the program and coaches to develop their soccer players -- as soccer players and growing kids/young adults. Skills are continuously taught, shared, and developed in safe, positive settings. Team concepts are incorporated to further develop soccer strategies, and the success has been very high both at practice and in games.

The players on my daughter's team have had high levels of success on the field; their records speak highly of their development -- at their age level and above. For my daughter, it is important and meaningful (to her) that she be challenged at high levels; MTA provides strong avenues for this -- be it in league, tournaments, international play, and of course training. Additionally, my daughter has made many new friends, and has developed some wonderful friendships. As I write this, she had a team party last night, and some of the girls decided to have a sleepover; they really enjoy being with each other, and MTA has been a great avenue for this. To put this in further perspective, we do not live in the same community as the majority of the team, so it would appear that we are the "outsiders". We are nothing close to that with this team and program. New friends and friendships can only enhance one's life, and it has been a blessing to meet, know, and be with people from MTA.

As for the coaching, we have been blessed with strong values and commitment. Christian Isquiardo has been my daughter's coach this past season. While it was a change in coaches, and there was a level of unsuredness, Christian set forth with his plan for the girls. He has taken the time to get to know them individually and as a team -- on personal and professional levels. As the girls patiently worked with Christian, they soon realized that he was there to best develop their soccer skills and become even better young adults. The season has been extrememly successful record-wise, developmentally, and positively. Even though a goal is to win, it is the training and development that continues to shine as outcomes. There have been many situations that a certain "stronger" lineup would be conventional wisdom, but Christian comfortably and confidently used different girls in vaious positions in game situations. As a coach and parent, I have witnessed the comfort and confidence grow in the girls who have been "given the responsibility and opportunity" to lead their team. This is further proof of the team development, along with the development of each girl's character.

Yet, at the same time, when there were tight situations in games, the team wanted to win, and Christian gave them the best opportunities for this via strategy, skills, confidence, and positive encouragement.

My daughter plays a very high level of soccer, and has had numerous opportunities to play elsewhere in the past and for next season. She and I have both agreed that she would sooner play for Christian and MTA. She appreciates Christian's desire and attitude to this level of play, along with his continued dedication to making her (and the team's) soccer experiences the best possible. Christian works very hard to have the best players/people for the best results -- on and off the playing field.

If you have any questions that I may be able to answer on any of the above, please feel free to contact me.

Thank you,

Rick DuBois

Hudson, WI

The Top 10 Reasons Why Christian Is A Great Coach

2009-07-29T20:48:00.000-07:00

1. He taught me how to Maradona around opponents.

2. He taught me how to bend corner kicks into the goal.

3. He taught me how to visualize my game beforehand.

4. He coaches me on how to handle pressure.

5. He never goes easy on me.

6. He made me only use my left foot for an entire week during a camp that was too easy for me.

7. He improved my technical skills (speed juggling, footskills, shooting.)

8. He met me on a soccer field 4 years ago and has kept in touch with me ever since.

9. He comes to my games to watch, then calls me afterward.

10. He doesn't get mad at me when I beat him. :)

Dana Buckhorn

u14 MTA Blue

1995 ODP Regional Pool Player

Private Lessons

2009-06-03T21:50:00.000-07:00

1)Private small group training which is technical training specific to the player in a small consistent group of players that want to work with me.

Private Groups are held Monday and Thursday evenings. All groups are currently full. Spring sessions are being scheduled.

2) Private training sessions that are planned in one hour blocks at the Burnsville Blast. Sessions are $75/hour minimum six sessions. Session can include up to 3 players per one hour block.

My first Regional ODP player

2008-07-16T19:23:00.000-07:00

Three years ago my daughter, at age 10, was practicing on her own at a local field. She was on her millionth thigh juggle when a boys’ HS Varsity coach stopped her and told her to get juggling with her feet.

Fast forward to this week, when she called me from ODP Region II camp in Illinois to say she was 1 of 2 Minnesota players put onto the 1995 regional team that would scrimmage the 1994 regional holdover team.

In the 3 years between these events, Christian has coached my daughter from thigh juggles to foot juggles, from Coerver to BSM school camps to Bangu clinics, and has called her up a bunch of times to guest play with his girls’ and boys teams. He has helped her transition from a soccer-loving kid to a skilled young athlete.

He’s challenged her to win, laughed with her when she loses, and the last time around he even beat her on bending corner kicks into the goal, cutting her no slack at all. (But she’s been working on it, and she’s quite certain she’ll take him in a rematch. She wants him to know, too, that there are serious paybacks for nutmegs.)

Thank you, Christian. You’ve really made a difference, and it’s been a ton of fun.

You are, truly, the very best.

More than soccer

2008-07-03T20:46:00.000-07:00

Christian

I [wanted to send this to you] because it is an excellent example of some of the concepts you and I were talking about during our conversation last week.

"M" played for [another coach] last weekend. As I watched her move to the player group to play with her third Bangu team this year, I saw her move and interact with the team with confidence, not apprehension over meeting yet another new group of players.

In the first half, as PSA took a shot, "Meg" reacted (in the goalie box) by lifting a hand to block the shot. She immediately covered her face and began crying. "M" ran over, put her arm around her and (I later found out) told her it was OK, not to worry.

On the way home she told me this part. She said she watched the shooter look and then put her head down, at which point "M" committed and went to her left and blocked the shot with her left hand, deflecting it out into the goalie box and falling down in the process. She rolled to her feet, jumped forward and took out the second PSA player moving in to shoot (using the technique she learned from Anne), again deflecting the ball, now toward the outside. She rolled over and lept out to push the ball out of the reach of the third PSA player coming in to try a shot, at which point a Bangu player cleared it. When halftime came I watched as "Meg" ran over, put her arms around "M" and lifted her up and spun her around.

This one play represents most of the concepts of development that I had mentioned were important to see in my kid, because, while many want to play pro sports, few ever do.

In this play she showed huge heart, focus, determination, compassion, fearlessness, confidence, action, skill, knowledge (I know she learned the shooters head down thing from you and she also said she could tell by the hip alignment) and execution.

I couldn't be happier or more proud. This one play and Maia's discussion of it in the car on the way home, including her ability to discuss it in terms that expressed a knowledge of what she needed to do and observe during the play, confirmed what I told you earlier this year. That this club and your technical training had the potential to be one of the great learning experiences of "M"'s life. This is more important to me than any win ever could be.

So, I thought you should know, because you should be proud too.

"I would hope that, as parents, we all take the time to recognize and appreciate the truly remarkable developmental changes that are happening to our children in a program of this caliber."

" Soccer Dad"

Trying out?

2008-07-03T20:39:00.000-07:00

Christian, "S" just returned from Az. She was confidentially told she made the team. Her AZ coach was so impressed with her striking. I asked her where she learned how to do strike so well and she said CHRISTIAN! Thank you!

"J" --private client

Teaching the parents too...

2008-01-22T08:44:00.000-08:00

I appreciate you taking the time to explain what you are teaching the girls. Although you are not getting paid to teach the parents, they know little of soccer, and by you taking the time to explain things it all makes more sense to everyone.

I feel like I have learned the most about soccer by watching lots and lots of games....but I know nothing about teaching young kids how to play soccer.

Just wanted to thank you.....I haven't paid any attention to how [my daughter] was playing, as I'm always chatting at practices (my kids joined [the club] so I could have a social life :) but I watched her today and I saw considerable improvement in her play since last summer. She is trying new things and was not afraid to "take on the big girls". She may not look like a different player to the coaches since you actually do pay attention to the practices and see her play a few times a week, but I was pleased at her progress.

Thanks for the good stuff! Thanks for all the coaching!!!

Letter from a Soccer Granddad

2007-10-31T12:26:00.000-07:00

I am a parent of a child that is coached by Mr. Isquierdo. This letter comes as a result of the immeasurable job that he has done. I am not new to [the club]. In fact I would consider myself and my child "old hands". Christian is the best coach my daughter has had and this season has been her best experience. The coaching has been superb. I base that solely on how much her game, as well as the teams game, has improved. In addition, he has assembled a fantastic group of girls who adhere to his disciplined approach.

"N" has scored 9 goals and is having an exceptional season, thus far. She is the second leading scorer. We know were her improvement came from. No doubt she has blown every ones mind with her play, which of course includes the opposition. Even though she is marked, she is still able to score. She's playing very well.

And thanks! You know that she has the least experience of all the players. I know and I might be repeating myself here, but her development is a direct result of playing for you.

Thanks, T

Letter from a Soccer Mom

2007-10-18T14:36:00.000-07:00

Dear PSA,

My daughter (K.) played on a U12 team last fall. Her name was passed on to Christian [Isquierdo] as a possible sub willing to play in the Harvest Cup 2005. I encouraged her to play in this tournament thinking it would be a good experience plus all of her friends were going to be busy over MEA so it would give her something to do.

She didn't really want to, but she was talked into it. She went to the couple of practices that his team had to get ready for the Cup. And she went to the Harvest Cup. At the finish of that weekend, her attitude had changed 100%. She was excited about soccer and wanted to get better.

I believe that Christian was a large part of her new love for soccer. He is a person that took the time to explain and practice what was expected from the player. He showed and had other players help Kara learn foot work. Kara had gotten positive feedback from other coaches that she had (being in PSA since U5) but teaching and challenging her to make her become a better player and person has made her want to play harder. This was the first time that she asked if there was soccer opportunities for her over the winter. She was able to be involved with Ralia and Coerver training this winter with Christian as he welcomed her to train with the team even though she was not part of the roster.

Christian demands that the girls work and train hard. He teaches individual skills to better each player. He teaches that soccer is a "team sport" with each girl having an important part and that playing with a positive attitude is a must. But his team players are there because they want to be and are having fun learning and growing in skills and sport's personship. After the practices and games, he would talk with the girls about the game- good and bad and what to expect at the next time they got together. (The team had both wins and loses during the season, and his attitude was the same after the games.)

Kara will have another coach this summer, but I am sure I will continue to see her practice and use the skills that Christian has taught her. I think that Christian has been a great influence in her life and a valuable addition to the club.

S.C, mom 2005