Parents | Youth Soccer Learning Center

A father watches his daughter practice first touch against the back wall of an open garage on a rainy evening

How to Improve Your Kid's First Touch at Home

by Matt McWilliams | Oct 10, 2026 | Parents

First touch is one of the most trainable skills in soccer, and you don't need a field or a coach to build it, just a wall, a ball, and about ten minutes.

A 9-year-old boy passing a soccer ball against the garage door in his driveway on an overcast afternoon

Soccer Skills for a 9-Year-Old: What They Should Do and Practice at Home

by Matt McWilliams | Oct 6, 2026 | Parents

A 9-year-old's soccer skills come down to both feet, scanning, and good decisions in small spaces. These are the home drills that build them and what changes once the field opens up to 9v9.

A child dribbling a soccer ball around cones on a basement floor

Best Soccer Training Apps for Kids in 2026

by Matt McWilliams | Oct 3, 2026 | Parents

Five soccer training apps for kids compared on price, equipment, and coach tools, checked on each company's own site on October 1, 2026. I co-founded one of them.

A young soccer player dribbling around cones in a driveway with a kitchen timer on the ground

How Much Should a Kid Practice Soccer Outside of Team Practice?

by Matt McWilliams | Oct 2, 2026 | Parents

For ages 9 to 11, I plan 15 to 30 minutes of ball mastery on days without team practice. I explain the number, my 75% planning rule, and its limits.

A parent watching from a porch step while a child dribbles a soccer ball between two cones in a backyard

How to Get Your Kid to Practice Soccer at Home Without Nagging

by Matt McWilliams | Oct 2, 2026 | Parents

A skill, a count, and a time limit replace "go practice." I show you how to write soccer assignments a kid can finish, and what to say afterward.