We are thrilled to have Adam Marino join our team here in Los Angeles as an Area Manager & Instructor. As a native Californian, Adam brings to Soccer Shots the most important component for your children’s success…Passion.
With extensive experience in elementary schools, Adam will focus on introducing our unique “older” kid” skills program* (designed specifically for kids ages 6-8) to elementary schools throughout Los Angeles. He graduated with a Bachelors Degree in History and went on further to obtain his Masters Degree in Education from UCLA. Since 2009, Adam has worked in public schools teaching grades 6th through 12th and coaches his niece’s under 6 soccer team. He expands his passion and skills for teaching into every child he coaches.
With his diverse background, Adam looks to spread the name of Soccer Shots, and bring the program to grade school age children throughout Los Angeles.
“I feel very fortunate to be able to bring my love of soccer and teaching to the Soccer Shots team. My philosophy in life is to find your passion and give everything you have to make that passion a reality.”
From this philosophy, Adam strives to ensure that his students and players practice honesty, perseverance, teamwork, and patience. Above everything else, he aims to have kids understand and embrace these beliefs.
* Our “older kid” program is an excellent compliment to AYSO and other soccer leagues. We recommend at least one season of Soccer Shots before beginning a competitive league.
(Guest post from Coach Matthew at Soccer Shots Los Angeles)
Character Word of the Day: Sharing
The class with “SHARING” as the character building word is one of my most rewarding as well as one of the most challenging. Many 3-5 year old children are at the stage where everything is “Mine”. To reinforce the concept of SHARING, I instituted two exercises back to back. I began with explaining the definitions of SHARING. In one instance, a child (who we will call “Danny”) who typically grabs for the white soccer ball and never gives it up, explains to my surprise that SHARING IS CARING. I initially wondered if this would actually translate into practice for this little boy.
That day, I started out with a Halloween game where I throw all the cones onto the field and tell them that all these colorful cones are treats and their job is to dribble to each cone, control the ball, and pick it up. The object is to pick up the most cones. When all the treats are collected we sit in a circle and count how many cones each child has. “Danny” happened to pick up the least amount of cones and was visibly upset. So I said to the group, “who wants to share”? Three children gave him cones! Then I had each child share a treat with another child. Of course after someone shared, the recipient had to say “thank you” and give a high five. We kept doing this until everyone was laughing and high fiving one another.
The next game was going to be the big test. This was the exercise called “Switch” where the children dribble, and when I whistle, everyone runs to another soccer ball because we all SHARE. “Danny” was a little hesitant in giving up his ball until we reminded him about our friends that shared their cones. After that reminder “Danny” enjoyed sharing with his friends because SHARING IS CARING! His Mom even reported that “Danny” shares better at home with his siblings.
(Guest post from Coach Paul at Soccer Shots Los Angeles)
At Creative Children Preschool, Soccer Shots had a new child this Fall whose parents (or at least one of them) thought their son to be “too fragile” for soccer, but whose other parent enrolled him anyway… Well, when the parent concerned about their son’s “fragility” was surprised to see him participating in class #1 when she arrived to check him out, that same parent’s surprise was equaled only by observing his obvious joy to be in class.
After a conversation with the parent who enrolled their son, the concerned parent admitted that they didn’t have the heart to request to have him withdrawn from Soccer Shots because, contrary to their impression of he perceived, fragile condition, he was indeed one of the most engaged children who showed himself not only to be robust and equal to the task of participating fully, but that he was actually, fully enjoying Soccer Shots!
Wow. What a way to build stronger, healthier, capable and confident children! Chalk one up for belief in potential and the efficacy of Soccer Shots!
We are extremely pleased to announce that Paul is now the West San Fernando Valley Director! For the past two years Paul has coached and managed the Soccer Shots program in the San Fernando Valley at an extremely high level. He truly represents the absolute best of what Soccer Shots is all about. Kids, parents and the staff at our schools all love Coach Paul!
Check out Coach Paul in action as he leads a group of 30+ kids with creativity and imagination! The kids have a blast using their giant bucket of water (soccer ball) to put out the fires (cones) as they fly (dribble) around the field in their helicopters!
Paul brings 25 years of experience working with children in sports and recreation for organizations including non-profit organizations, public schools and with the Disney Company. Additionally, he also operates a robust children’s party entertainment company with his wife. During Paul’s career his certifications have included youth sports coach and personal trainer and his lifetime of experience coaching youth soccer for preschoolers and older children began in 1986!
After the birth of his second son five years ago and following the acquisition of two additional party companies, Paul resigned from his role as an Executive Director with the YMCA to spend more time with family and with the family businesses. With his youngest son beginning kindergarten he took on a part time management role as Coordinator of the Topanga youth sports program in 2009 involving 200 children ages 3 to 13 in various sports including a rapidly growing soccer program in which he continues to coach several teams each season.
With a diverse and enriching body of experience well suited to coaching and working with young children, Paul began coaching for Soccer Shots at the beginning of 2010. His experience with sports and working with children has been a great match!
“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.
We are extremely pleased to welcome Ali Lawson to the Soccer Shots Los Angeles team! Ali joins us having been highly recommended by a member of our very own Soccer Shots team. With the very busy fall season upon us, Ali is a much welcomed addition and we look forward to her experience, dedication, positive attitude and warm personality.
As the top PreK enrichment program in Los Angeles we strive to maintain a high level of program quality and service to the families and schools that we serve. Ali will play an important role in maintaining and enhancing these relationships. Ali will be in the Soccer Shots LA office Monday-Friday from 9:00 AM – 6:00 PM, unless she is out with the kids coaching a session.
Please join us in welcoming Ali to the team! She can be reached by email at losangeles@soccershots.org or by phone at (310) 857-6560.
Ali is a native Oregonian that has recently relocated to Southern California. She brings with her a diverse range of experiences. Some of her favorites were when she traveled the world as a Corporate Flight Attendant. She also earned her degree in psychology which she believes has helped her to become the well rounded person she is today.
Through life experiences, Ali has developed the tools to deal with whatever comes her way. She embraces life’s challenges and looks forward to the future. She is thrilled to be employed with Soccer Shots and can’t wait to work with everyone, including parents, school staff, coaches and of course, the kids.
She enjoys many sports, including soccer and loves working with and being around kids.
“I find it so rewarding to see kids having fun playing while increasing their fitness levels. That’s one of the great things about kids, they don’t know that they’re actually getting a work out, because they’re too busy just having fun.”
She feels that their energy and zest for life is infectious, which is a great reminder to not take yourself or life to seriously.
In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her fiancé Neil and hiking with their Mini Australian Shepard, Maile.
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
Parents are constantly asking us to refer a soccer program as a “next step” for their child beyond Soccer Shots. These parents believe in our philosophy of offering a non-competitive, high energy, fun, age-appropriate introduction to the wonderful game of soccer and trust our experience and values. There are typically two reasons that parents ask us for our recommendation:
1) Their child is graduating from preschool where Soccer Shots is being offered and they want their child to continue with soccer OR
2) They are a fan of our program but their child is too old for our program which primarily serves 3-5 year olds.
Because of this we have been seeking a partnership with a local soccer academy that matches our philosophy. I am pleased to say that we have found the right match. “The Los Angeles Soccer Academy believes in technical development over the current trend of winning-at-all-cost found in many youth programs. We are dedicated to reversing the kick-and-run approach used to attract families and generate revenue at the sacrifice of player development… These are the years we want our children to play with confidence and control…”
In addition to the LASA programs for U6 and up, Soccer Shots will now be offering our program at the Los Angeles Soccer Academy by offering the 3-6 year old program.
The following is an excerpt from losangelessoccer.org:
At most youth clubs, if a child does not make the team he is left with only recreational options such as AYSO. At LASA we don’t marginalize children who are not ready for the club level. We place them into our academy program so they can train alongside our club team and develop the skills needed to eventually reach their goals. Each player has an opportunity to play on one of our club teams when ready, or play in our academy to attain the skills needed to reach the competitive level. We also start our services at 3 years-old, to give every child a head start through our affiliate program, Soccer Shots. We firmly believe when you nurture the love for the game first at this early age, the skills will follow.
We are dedicated to development over winning-at-all-cost. We are a possession-minded academy and club. We do not subscribe to the kick-and-run game played in many youth leagues across the US and England. We combine the possession principles of Spain, the 4v4 foundations of Holland, the flair and creativity of Brazil, and the determination, hustle and pride of US soccer.
In addition to developing individual skills, our USSF licensed coaches also teach principals of shape, teamwork, attack, vision, penetration, support, mobility, width, improvisation, pressure, cover, balance, delay, compactness, restraint and the counter-attack. At the end of every practice we incorporate match free-play to insure we allow the game to teach our players. All of our practices are founded on simple soccer, played smart.
Soccer Shots (Ages 3-6)
This is an exciting introduction to soccer for 3, 4, 5 and 6 year-olds, with a focus on nurturing a creative environment through engaging and fun practices. Our partners, SOCCER SHOTS will provide all the fun, in keeping with the LASA Mission Statement and Philosophy. Graduates from the Soccer Shots program can then advance into our U6-U8 program with confidence and a developed set of skills. This program runs one day a week. Practices are held on LASA fields alongside our other programs. To register for Soccer Shots, click on your age group here: 3-4 Year Olds | 5-6 Year Olds
U6-U8 Academy
This is the second stage of development for ages 6, 7 & 8. This is for players who have shown progress at the recreational level (AYSO) or at an introductory program such as SOCCER SHOTS. This is a fun but challenging training program to help younger players realize their potential and help them develop the skills needed to reach the club level. All players will be taught through guided discovery by NSCAA and USSF licensed coaches. Our focus in this age group will be on dribbling, control, creativity, confidence and fun! This is also an excellent supplement for club or AYSO players looking to add additional technical development into to their season. This program runs two days a week.
U9, U10, U11, U12 Academy
Academy players in U9-U12 train alongside our club teams of the same age groups. This is an excellent opportunity for players to bridge the gap between AYSO and competitive club-level soccer. Our goal is to help players develop and integrate into our club system. This is the first step on that journey. To join one of our club teams instead, please contact coach Alveraz for try-out opportunities and details: info@losangelessoccer.org.
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
