About
My philosophy of training is to enhance skills, speed and endurance while focusing heavily on mentality and well-being. Growing up, I played soccer for Woodbury Soccer Club for many years and then switched to Minnesota Thunder Academy. I received 4 collegiate offers to play and decided to go to Bemidji State University where I was a four year starter as well as the team winning conference and breaking every program record. I have played defense, midfield, and forward although my niche lies in the midfield. When I was 13, I decided to seek a personal trainer so I can improve my skills and give myself a chance to play at a higher level. I choose Christian Isquierdo from LeftFoot Coaching Academy and to this day, he has had one of the biggest impacts on my life. From training footwork, ball striking and injury prevention to spending sessions focusing on mental health, I developed tremendously on the field and with my new mentality became a completely different player. I then went on to play collegiate soccer and worked at LeftFoot Coaching Academy as a trainer myself. I trained youth, as well as high schoolers and players of all different levels. When I lived in Bemidji I formed my own clientele base and coached a group of 10 soccer players in one on one sessions and group sessions. My sessions include injury prevention exercises, reptition on technique for footwork, ball striking and heading the ball, and ending the session with reflection and mental toughness exercises. Most coaches don’t realize the importance of training the mind and body at the same time which often leads to burn out and frustration. My main goal is to not only improve overall technique but to develop a strong mentality for the player.
Working with my clients is very rewarding. These athletes inspire me every day with their motivation and hard work. It makes me smile every time a new skill is mastered and you can see the excitement on their face. These students are much more than soccer players to me and I love the connections I make with each one. Since I've moved back to the cities from Bemidji, I am still in contact with my Bemidji students and love offering guidance and hearing about their new accomplishments. Being a private soccer trainer allows me to share my knowledge and skill set with younger athletes and help them achieve whatever goals they desire.
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Frequently asked questions
What is your typical process for working with a new student?
The first training I do with my students is a basic evaluation on technique, movement and form. I get to know my student and ask questions on their preferred coaching style so they are most comfortable during our sessions. I start with the basics with every student and depending on form and technique I will advance them quickly or continue focus on where they lack to ensure they have a sturdy foundation to build from.
What education and/or training do you have that relates to your work?
My experience started when I was a student myself and was seeking additional soccer training. My club team had just been demoted to C2 and I was discouraged on whether I would ever be able to play college soccer. Not only that but I had just broke my tibia during a game and thought I would never recover from that. My trainer coached me through my injury recovery and helped further my skills that led me to play on a premiere team that next year and get noticed by college coaches. Once I commited to Bemidji State University in 2014, I started my career as a private trainer. I began coaching youth players at LeftFoot Coaching Academy. I completed an internship in coaching when I was a junior in high school and proceeded to coach there for 3 years. While at Bemidji State University, I trained 10 youth soccer players all four years and helped them develop into much stronger athletes.
My personal soccer experience...
I played for Woodbury Soccer Club up until my freshman year of highschool. My team was demoted to C2 and although I had a hard time leaving my teammates, I made the decision to try out for a few premiere teams. After making a premiere team, I commited most of my weekends to traveling to showcases and training. Even though my team practiced 4 times a week, I still continued additional training with my private trainer on the side. I believe this additional training helped me become the soccer player I was in college and differentiated me from other players. I received 4 offers from colleges in the midwest and verbally commited to a college and then decided to follow my heart and decommited and commited to Bemidji State University. This decision was extremely difficult, but ended up being the best decision I couldve made.
While playing at Bemidji, I started all four years as a midfielder. I received NSIC All Conference my sophomore, junior and senior year. NCAA All Central Region my junior and senior year. My senior year I was voted captain and helped lead my team to win conference for the first time in Bemidji State Soccer history.
Setting soccer aside...
I graduated with a bachelor in Psychology and am currently pursuing a Doctorate in Psychology at St. Thomas University. My ephasis on mentality and well-being comes from my background in Psychology. I believe creating a strong mind along with training will create an unstoppable player.
Do you have a standard pricing system for your lessons? If so, please share the details here.
One on one sessions: $25
Group Sessions of 2-5: $20 per student
Each training is one hour long.
What types of students have you worked with?
During my coaching time at LeftFoot Coaching Academy, I coached ages 7-15 both male and female and players of all different levels. While in Bemidji, I trained all females between freshman and senior year of high school. I also assisted with Bemidji Soccer camps where I coached an all male group between the ages of 10-14.
What questions should students think through before talking to teachers about their needs?
I would advise students to discuss with their parents what goals they would like to accomplish. One of my main focuses during our sessions, is working towards specific goals. Although students will have long term goals, my goal is to make small, weekly goals with them to help achieve their long term goal.