“Coaches are, first and foremost, teachers; they are among the most influential people in a young athlete’s life. Because coach’s are such powerful role models, young athletes learn more from them about character that about athletic performance.” – Unknown
In addition to teaching basic soccer skills, our newly designed curriculum places a high emphasis on character building and even offers a Character Word Of The Day. In this short clip Coach Alyssa demonstrates her creativity in reinforcing the “word of the day” as part of the team cheer at the end of the session.
It may come as a shock for some of you who know me, but I have not always been a confident person. I went through the dreaded “preteen girl phase,” where I struggled to embrace my crooked teeth, oversized pink glasses and a haircut that was identical to my mother’s. When we got to the age where cheerleading was everything at our school, I was one of the few of my friends who opted to play what I called “real sports.”
In other words, I never felt that I fit in with that “pretty girl” crowd. And at the age of 12, fitting in is HUGE.
That sentiment persisted through high school and continued into my college years when I joined a sorority. Outward appearance and the latest styles (somehow, on a college budget) were important it seemed, to most everyone but me. I felt like I was constantly being forced to play “dress up.” Many of the friends I made were and are as beautiful on the inside as they are on the outside, but I can’t deny that the experience made me waste a lot of time and energy trying to be someone I was not.
Photo courtesy of http://static.oprah.com
Currently, I have two amazing opportunities to use sports and the lessons learned in these sports to leave a positive influence on children. As director of Soccer Shots Harrisburg/York, I teach mostly preschoolers. I wanted to reflect on the importance of instilling confidence in our kids because it’s the character trait we focused on at many of my sites in the past week. Rewarding a child’s every accomplishment is massively important at this age in order to increase a child’s confidence. With a curriculum that focuses on fun over competition, Soccer Shots instructors and parents are never without an opportunity to praise and reward the children whose little minds they are shaping.
I’ve read that at preschool age, it takes six positive reinforcements to erase every ONE negative statement. This is just how important it is for us as parents and coaches to encourage our kids constantly in these early years.
However, it can’t stop there. In my role as director of Capital Area Girls on the Run, I also work with girls who are primarily in grades 3 through 5. At that age, they still possess that innocence that allows them to laugh at me when I’m silly or celebrate an achievement without any self-doubt. However, in just a few years time, that could change if they are not given the tools they need to overcome a lack of confidence. Without self-esteem, or the ability to say, “I love who I am and I’m okay with the decisions I make,” the media messages, peer pressure and bullying young girls face have an enlarged negative impact. When a girl cannot accept herself, she is then more inclined to do anything to gain acceptance from her peers. That could mean engaging in risky behavior, substance abuse or development of an eating disorder. All a result, in huge part, of lacking the confidence to say, “That’s not who I am and I’m okay with choosing NOT to do that.”
Photo courtesy of http://www.soccerdrillstips.com
When I seriously took up running after grad school is when that confidence in myself, not just in my abilities, truly hit me. On a run, my mind is typically blank, save a few thoughts that pop in every few minutes. I can’t say the exact moment or location I realized it, but I remember thinking, “THIS is who I am and I love it! It doesn’t matter what everyone else thinks.” Since that point, I can honestly say that I’ve had the confidence to try to live my life to impress no one but myself.
So why am I divulging all of this?
As parents and instructors, I believe it is our responsibility to create and encourage confidence-induced realizations like this for our kids each and every day.
Celebrating the scoring of a goal into an empty net from two feet away may seem trivial. Just keep in mind that the confidence it will give your child will erase any self-doubt that may come along with trying again, eliminate the fear of tackling a bigger goal and/or encourage them to celebrate their talents and achievements. All of which, evident now or not, have far-reaching implications for many years to come.
Rian Heim, the director of Soccer Shots here in Los Angeles was recently asked to participate in a conversation aimed at exploring the “entrepreneur as a phenomenon”. The focus being on experiences associated with entrepreneurs, entrepreneurial thinking, entrepreneurial acting and entrepreneurship in all organizational settings — large, small, public and private.
This conversation was initiated by Mark Khouzam. Mark is pursuing a joint MBA and MA in International Trade and Investment Policy with a concentration in International Business at George Washington University. He also happens to be a native Southern Californian and hopes to return at some point in the future. His goal is to work somewhere in the International Business space, and hopes to have a job that would be more meaningful than just a “job,” as Rian has shown to be a definite possibility!
Below is the article written by Mark, inspired by their conversation.
Scoring By Leading
By Mark Khouzam
“We made the decision in 2004 not to work for someone else and just to get out there and figure out a direction, and we knew somehow that we would make it work.” Just a few months after getting married, Rian Heim and his wife Alyssa decided that ordinary desk jobs were not for them. Rian sought not only financial security, but also creative freedom for him and his wife.
“What you are taught in school is to follow all the rules, go out, get a nine to five job, do what you are told, check-in, check-out, which are none of things that you do when you start your own business” asserted Rian.
When Rian, a designer, and Alyssa, a teacher, set out to start their own business, they knew that they had to commit themselves 100% or they would fail. After working as a free-lance designer for a few years, and looking for new opportunities, in August 2007 Rian heard about Soccer Shots from a friend and began to do some research.
Soccer Shots is a youth soccer development program for children, ages three to eight, which offers an innovative curriculum combining both fundamental soccer skills and character development. Two professional soccer players founded Soccer Shots in 2000 when they were looking to earn some extra money in the off-season. Their goal was to inspire and motivate children to be physically active, and Soccer Shots was their avenue for doing so. Their passion for soccer and entrepreneurial mindset came through in their efforts, and the success of Soccer Shots in Charlotte, NC and Harrisburg, PA inspired many of their friends to want to get involved. They began offering franchised businesses in 2005 and Soccer Shots quickly spread across the country.
Rian and Alyssa spent the next four months contemplating the opportunity to buy a Soccer Shots franchise. They conducted many financial and business plans, and thought not only about the financial investment but also about the time and energy they would have to commit to this endeavor for it to be a success. As Rian explained, he knew that this was not just any ordinary decision that he and Alyssa would make. This decision would change their lives and they had to commit to it for at least two or three years before revaluating their position. After plenty of thought and deliberation, and many forecasts of where they would be in a few years, Rian and Alyssa decided to go for it, and knew that they “had the freedom to succeed or not succeed.” They purchased the rights to start a franchise in the Los Angeles area in December 2007. With low overhead, support and direction from successful franchise owners, and flexibility, they felt like they had the tools they needed to succeed. However, they knew that the first few years would not be easy. Alyssa continued teaching for the first three years as they began to get the business off the ground and laid the foundation to make the Los Angeles Soccer Shots a success.
Starting only the second Soccer Shots franchise in California and the sixteenth nationwide, the Heim’s did not know what to expect. The Soccer Shots business model, originally built for the East Coast, had not been extensively tested in California, and there was no way of knowing how successful it would be. As Rian described it, there were three things that led to the success of their franchise: smart decisions, hard work, and luck.
“We take more credit for the success of the franchise, but with regards to the founding of it and what we had to work with, there was a fair amount of luck involved” stated Rian.
In a city of over twelve million people, the Heim’s felt very lucky to find good people to work with whom shared their same vision and were eager to see the business succeed.
Rian and Alyssa built the Los Angeles franchise from the ground up and began partnering with daycare centers, schools and parks across the county in order to offer and market their program in different locations. Soccer Shots gives parents the opportunity to enroll their children in school-supported programs where they know their children will not only learn fundamental soccer skills but will also learn to be a team player, and respect their peers while also having fun. It is impressive to see how such a small but energetic and enthusiastic staff of about fifteen, including directors, managers, and coaches was able to increase business by fifty percent in each of the four years since its conception. This December will mark the franchise’s fourth anniversary, and the team has managed to deliver its programs to over eighty schools, and is one of the top five most profitable Soccer Shots franchises in the country.
Rian expressed that at first he and his wife were not sure if they made the right decision to purchase a franchise, but now they know that they did. The success and growth that Rian’s franchise has experienced in the past four years motivates him to keep working hard and always striving to improve and expand the business. He jokes that some of his extended family and friends ask him when he is going to get a “real job” and stop teaching soccer to four-year olds. However, all joking aside, Rian and Alyssa spend little time worrying about other people’s perceptions, and feel lucky to have the autonomy and freedom to be their own bosses and be in control of their fate.
The Heim’s feel very fortunate to be where they are, and believe that the strong network of franchise owners has truly helped them navigate the process of starting their own franchise. Rian stressed that having the network of other franchise owners to share the experience with, and the opportunity to meet with them and share ideas and strategies at the corporate meetings has been one of the biggest advantages of purchasing a franchise.
Rian emphasized that the other franchise owners have been great mentors to him, and that he also gains continued inspiration and ideas from best-selling author – Seth Godin’s podcasts, books, and blogs. However, what is refreshing about the way that Rian and his wife started their business is that they did not just embark on an entrepreneurial journey with blindfolds on and hope for the best. They conducted extensive due diligence and equipped themselves with all the tools and resources they needed to succeed, including hiring the services of a professional mentor.
When the general public thinks about entrepreneurs, they often think that they are individuals who take on excessive amounts of risk and somehow manage to succeed. Although Rian and Alyssa are entrepreneurs, I would venture to say that they are at the exact opposite end of the spectrum. On the contrary, the Heim’s have channeled their entrepreneurial spirits into thorough business plans, well thought-out investments, and calculated decision-making. Although Rian asserts that luck played a big part in the success of his franchise, I would argue that “well-managed risk” and educated decisions played an even bigger role. Rian approaches entrepreneurship as a science, not a guessing game. Yes, luck may play a role, but if all the pieces are properly put into place and backed by solid principles, then everything has been done to give the business the competitive edge it needs to succeed. For example, when asked about how he approaches the competition, Rian stated that he is always aware of what they do, but doesn’t need to dwell on it.
“I like to think that the competitors are looking to us to see how they can be a better organization.”
Moreover, the Heim’s mindset in approaching their business and managing their team is unlike any ordinary small business owner who is simply focused on the bottom line, and somehow manages to fit their employees into that puzzle. On the contrary, when asked about his management style, Rian said with confidence that at Soccer Shots, he and Alyssa don’t manage, but they lead. In the words of one of his mentors he explained,
“Leading, is finding the right people, agreeing where you want to go, then getting out of the way.”
This has been a successful model for the Heim’s given the structure of their company and their business model. In order for their business to succeed, Rian and Alyssa have hired individuals who are self-starters and are willing to take initiative and make decisions with the best interests of the company in mind.
The Los Angeles Soccer Shots franchise is an evolving organization, and moving forward Rian and Alyssa strive for strong yet sustainable growth. To the Heim family, Soccer Shots is more than just soccer, it is an opportunity to positively impact the lives of children at a young age and get them excited about school and learning.
“Our true passion is with education and kids, and less with soccer,” stated Rian
as he described the possibility of incorporating more of an education component to their programs or perhaps starting another business more focused on education. The key is to get involved in the lives of children at a young age in order to give them a strong foundation that will benefit them down the road.
As their one-year-old son Charlie grows up, the Heim’s feel that an opportunity may arise to get more involved with their son’s education and improve the learning environment for all children. Again, Rian expressed that he doesn’t know what that might entail, but expressed that the most important thing is
“knowing where we want to be, and along the way identifying those things that are going to help us get us there.”
To four year olds soccer might be a game, but to an entrepreneur it can be an avenue by which to do what you love while making a difference.
In 2009 Soccer Shots’ Global Goals, a non-profit organization, was born out of a vision that our soccer communities could band together and provide growth and opportunities to disadvantaged children. Through the “Beautiful Game” we want to reach out to children across the USA to create a healthy, productive environment in which kids can play, learn and develop.
We have partnered with the U.S. Soccer Foundation who’s goal is to provide affordable access to quality soccer programs that support children’s physical and personal development. The U.S. Soccer Foundation’s programs are designed to keep kids active and healthy.
They guide children away from negative influences by providing them with safe and healthy places to play after school – the most dangerous hours of the day.
Players receive attention and support from caring mentors and coaches who work to ensure that they develop into healthy and successful young adults. The foundation is working to build safe playing fields and bring the “Soccer For Success” model to economically disadvantaged communities nationwide.
Soccer Shots has embraced this cause. To that end, our Soccer Shots Los Angeles has committed to donating a portion of your child’s registration fee to the Global Goals/U.S. Soccer Foundation’s efforts to construct playing surfaces within various cities throughout the U.S.
Thank you for signing your child up for Soccer Shots and for your support of the Global Goals campaign! Every child should have a place to play, a place to learn, and a place to grow!
• Our Fall Season starts this week! Contact your school to see if Soccer Shots is already a provider of fine games and good time! Otherwise, please let us know you’re interested! We’ll contact your school and set up a FREE DEMONSTRATION for the kids!
• The Soccer Shots Los Angeles office is now located at: 8055 West Manchester Avenue, Suite 310, Playa Del Rey, CA 90293. Phone: (310) 857-6560 Email: losangeles@soccershots.org
At Soccer Shots, it is part of our mission to impact youth in a positive way, but there are times when the depth of that impact is more profound than we could have hoped for. The following is a letter from a parent of Soccer Shots participants. We have changed only the names to protect the family’s anonymity but the rest is a copy/pasted letter that we wanted to share. Let it be a reminder to all who work with children that the time we spend (even if it’s only 40 minutes, one day a week) can be deeply meaningful.
Dear Coach Matt,
I wanted to take the time to write you an email, to thank you for all you do in running the Soccer Shots Program. Both of my boys, Jason, now 4, and Phil, age 3, have benefited from this program in more ways than you know. That is why I am writing you, to give a first-hand account on how your program is serving others.
To many families, signing up their child(ren) may be on a long list of to-dos, a part of “growing up”…a milestone. For my family, it was a way to bring joy to a life that was hanging on by a thread.
When I initially signed Jason up in the Fall of 2009, it was out of my strong desire to engage him in an activity that was positive and promoted teamwork, self-confidence, and encouragement. You wouldn’t have known this, but it was a very difficult time for the boys and me. At the time, we were living in a home with an active drug and alcohol addict–my husband (and their father.) As you can imagine, this made it very difficult to have a “normal” life and marriage, as life with an addict is very far from that. I was also praying that the soccer program would bring a positive male influence into my son’s life, even if it was only once a week.
Last Spring, you were one of those people. I appreciated your commitment to Jason, especially when you engaged him back “into” the activity and really worked with him, encouraging him to have fun and participate. Your effort was to be commended. You always gave him special attention, and he still talks about playing soccer, and his coach was “Coach Matt.”
This season, Phil was old enough to start the program. He has had Coach Brad, and again, what a wonderful experience it has been. Brad is just wonderful with the kids, and I have tried to thank him on several occasions, knowing that he really has no idea just HOW thankful I am. One particular moment sticks out.
Early in the season, Coach Brad called Phil, “Phil the Thrill” and the name stuck with him. I know to Brad, it may have been an off-hand comment, but to Phil, it meant the world. After all, his coach gave him a special name!
At night, when I tuck him in, sometimes he waits for me to say, “I love you–Phil the Thrill–my little soccer man!” As a teacher, I have served so many families, and have had the pleasure of knowing their stories and sharing in their lives. I really feel God has gifted me in this way of serving others. Please know that I feel you have this gift, too, and THANK YOU for bringing together such an amazing team of people to do this work.
I think those of us in service positions don’t realize the magnitude of the work we’re doing at times, the lives we can be touching and not even know it, even through the game of soccer. The way we react to a child; an encouraging word, a happy disposition, a hug or high-five, even an off-hand “nickname” can go a long way in the life of a child. So today, I want you to know how much you and Brad have meant to my boys, and for that I am forever grateful.
Melissa
We hope this parent knows how much letters like this mean to everyone in Soccer Shots. This is why we do what we do.
Soccer Shots is a youth soccer program for toddlers to elementary school children where we use soccer to teach more than just fundamentals of the game.
Our curriculum also works on character development such as teamwork, and appreciation plus physical development like coordination and motor skills.
We do this through fun, noncompetitive games that use imagination and creativity.
As a leader in the field of soccer for toddlers to 8-year-olds we know the importance of continuing children’s physical education at home and want to share a game that parents can do with their children. This at-home game will help your child not only learn to pass the ball with control but will also get them running around and having fun.
Passing is a basic skill that is simple to learn and practice. First step is to dig out a soccer ball (or one of similar size) and show your child that when passing, it is best to use the inside of your foot. Doing this allows for a straighter, more controlled pass. If you kick with your toe, there is less of a chance the ball goes where you intended because you have less control.
Now it’s game time! Here’s a simple exercise to help your child practice their passing: Tunnel Game.
The idea is to have your child properly pass the ball between your legs, or “the tunnel”. Once they pass it, it’s their job to run past you to retrieve their ball and do it again. You can vary the distance depending on your child’s ability and make sure they continue to use the inside of their foot. You may also try using the other foot too, that way they start learning to use both feet.
Take turns with your child so you can be the passer too.
Spending time playing with your child is quality time that is more meaningful and profound than you may think. Beyond bonding, you will be instilling the importance of an active lifestyle plus, we bet you’ll have fun too!
(Guest post from Coach Matthew at Soccer Shots Los Angeles)
One little girl spent an entire season sitting on the sidelines. In fact, she would complain of being too tired to play and ended up lying down most of the class. I had a meeting with her teacher and discovered this behavior occurred in class as well.
Along with the Director of the school, we spoke to the parent as to our concerns of her daughter’s well-being. We suggested that she first have her daughter checked out by her doctor.
After finding out that she had no physical issues, we all encouraged the mother to enroll her daughter the following season of Soccer Shots.
At this time, I told her mother not to push too hard because children, with a little encouragement and patience, have a way of turning things around in their own time frame.
I reinforced that children learn and engage differently and this is not a reflection of her parenting. I remained very patient and gave her the space that she needed while continuing to offer encouragement.
This little girl ended up being the first to volunteer in every class. She was fully engaged and we could not get her off the soccer field after class ended.
All that was needed was patience, a little time and encouragement from a team that cared deeply about this child.
Don’t let all the fun and games fool you, no matter how much your kids love Soccer Shots and entertain you with tales of all the fun games we play, Soccer Shots is also a SKILLS program! Studies have shown that a spoonful of sugar helps the medicine go down! And, 9 out of 10 singing nannies recommend it during all household chores for children 3 years and up!
But seriously, we all learn better and retain more when we are enjoying the activity. We also retain more when doing vs. just being lectured or reading about something. Learn while you laugh!
Keeping this premise in mind, Soccer Shots has created non-competitive games that incorporate ball skills, imagination and FUN!
Our kids are astronauts one day and superheroes the next, shuttling their precious cargo from planet to planet protecting it from asteroids or the cookie monster! Sometimes they are bears or tigers searching for food after a long sleepy winter. They are encouraged to make up their own games and exercise their creativity as well.
What our Soccer Shots kids don’t know is that through it all they are learning to dribble, properly kick the ball, pull back, protect the ball with their bodies when they play keep away and also score goals. They are learning teamwork and sharing the ball when they pass it one another. Soccer Shots is their introduction to organized sports in a positive, fun filled environment.
As they grow older they will already be equipped with the skills necessary to participate in other soccer programs such as AYSO, city leagues, club soccer, etc. They will be able to acclimate into more competitive programs with the skills they have “inadvertently” learned through Soccer Shots.
So as we enjoy the summer fun outdoors and all the activities it has to offer, keep in mind fall is just around the corner! Our fall season will be starting up sooner than you think at your local preschool or local community park. And if you know any schools that would benefit from a program like this, please let us know! We will come in and do a FREE demonstration for the children 3-5 years old and set up a fall season of soccer fun!
(Guest post from Coach Karthik at Soccer Shots Los Angeles)
Recently I began coaching at a new school in Mar Vista. When I got to my first session I noticed one of the kids crying because I was new to her and she couldn’t associate me with a familiar face. To make myself more approachable to her, I noticed she was wearing a South Africa jersey and a polka dot hat.
During the walk over from the classroom to the playing area, I complimented her jersey by saying, “I loved it!” I asked her if she watched the World Cup last summer. We proceeded to chat as she told me that the jersey belonged to the “Bafana, Bafana.” I asked her if she knew what it, “Bafana, Bafana” meant. She was unsure of the meaning, so I told her it meant “the boys, the boys” in Zulu. She got a kick out of learning something new. I joked with her asking if she’d give me her hat because it was so cool. She smiled through her fading tears and said, “it’s a girls’ hat and you’d look silly in it!” I replied by just taking a hi-five, which she happily gave me.
By the time we started the session she was very comfortable being around her new coach. I even made her my helper for the warm-up, which proceeded to help the situation. At the end of class she even gave me a hug.
A week later (today), she was really excited to see me and couldn’t wait to get started with soccer.
Not to sound cheesy, but days like that will make your week!
July 4th, Independence Day, is almost upon us evoking images of red, white and blue banners, parades down Main Street, apple pie and baseball, our national pastime. But what about soccer? People outside the USA can’t believe we don’t eat, sleep and breathe it like they do! It’s not just a sport to them, it’s a culture!
Those of us who love soccer and want to introduce our children to the “Beautiful Game” often are hard pressed to do so.
“Kids everywhere else grow up living, breathing, dreaming soccer. Here, kids in the suburbs go to regimented practice twice a week, play a game in front of screaming parents on the weekend and that’s it. No soccer on TV. No pickup games on the neighborhood vacant lot, honing their skills on a bumpy dirt field while dribbling around cinder blocks and tree roots.”
We create a fun, non-competitive atmosphere to introduce your children, ages 3-8 to the wonderful world of soccer!
We incorporate games they already know such as freeze tag, duck-duck-goose, red light green light, keep away and incorporate them with soccer skills such as dribbling, passing and scoring goals. We encourage them to use their imagination and dribble as fast as rabbits or as slow as turtles or be spacemen exploring new planets, collecting space rocks.
Here are some sources and events that will introduce our youth to Soccer Culture in the United States:
The FIFA Women’s World Cup is now playing from June 26 – July 17 in Germany. Team USA already won their first match against North Korea 2-0!
JULY – Several Club Friendly Games are being played all over the United States in Seattle, Washington DC, Chicago and right here in Los Angeles. Our own LA Galaxy is hosting Real Madrid on July 16th and Manchester City on July 24th! Here’s a great chance to catch Soccer Fever! For a full soccer schedule online or tv, click here.
Check out our Soccer Shots’ Fall School and Park Programs (park schedule will be announced on Facebook)! It’s a great skills program that compliments AYSO and other City and Club Programs!
Soccer Shots is a leader in youth soccer development for children ages 3-5 & 6-8.
Offered at preschools, daycare centers, and parks, our nationally recognized non-competitive skills program offers a high energy, fun, age-appropriate introduction to the wonderful game of soccer.
Soccer Shots is owned and directed by Rian Heim and his wife Alyssa. Their passion for soccer and working with youth was their motivation for bringing Soccer Shots to Los Angeles. 2011 marks the fourth year that Rian and Alyssa have been running Soccer Shots here in Los Angeles. Together they make every effort to deliver a solid program that children, parents, and schools will benefit from and enjoy. They currently live in Playa Del Rey with their one year old son Charlie and dog Buddy.
Soccer Shots Los Angeles Blog
