Self-Employed

The main advantage to private training is that it is very flexible and tailored to the specific needs of the individual, which has wonderful benefits as well as limitations. 

I typically work with players at least once a week, one hour per session when they are in season to compliment their club or team schedules, and up to three times per week when they're off season depending on the level of commitment and desire. 

The main advantages to private training is the technical proficiency (I like to add the creative elements and more of a guided discovery approach) of ball mastery. 

The repetition with foot skills, finishing, first touch, varying equipment (e.g., small balls for foot skills or futsal balls for finishing).... and the most important in-depth assessment for me which is player psychology -- whether it's the simple fun and passion of a young child or commitment and work ethic of a young professional. 

MA Industrial/Organizational Psychology (GMU, 2004)
*Focused on the practical applications of organizational performance such as leadership theory, motivation theory, training theory, team dynamics, etc. I also taught advanced research methods and statistics to graduate psych students as a GTA. I applied research-based lessons of OD concurrentl with grad school by working for Tamir Linhart as he transitioned to become Golden Boot Soccer Training and stayed on as Technical Director  

BS Paychology (GMU, 2001)

*Focused on developmental psychopathology to work as a counselor for at-risk youth with Family Preservation Services in Fairfax. I found my niche working with Prince William County probation and parole on high-profile cases of minors found guilty of a crime and in need of intensive intervention strategies I managed  in tandem with parole officers upon their request. Depending on an in-depth assessejent of Individual needs, generaly provoded community/home-based support through parent counseling, family group therapy, individual cognitive therapy, anger management, positive coping mechanisms/referrals for depression and anxiety disorders, goal-setting, mindfulness practice, etc  

4.0 Scholar Athlete, Verizon All-American Student-Athlete, Hofstra Invitational MVP, Who's Who Among Teachers in America, USYS "Coach of the Month"....  other humbling honors as both a player, a student, a teacher and a youth coach,

But what I value most is my experience around other professionals at hone and internationally who are the best at what they do to learn and share ideas constantly.  I believe in the humility and openness needed for constant growth while never sacrificing the core tenets and convictions of my own philosophy (guided discovery, creativity, purposeful yet unpredictable/adaptive style of play, and ultimately empowering the players to take their own lead more and more 

The game is a beautiful art, and art has many expressions and trends that are constantly changing. It's not about my accomplishments in the past. It's about being a student of the game and surrounding yourself with diversity of perspective from quality professionals -- and above all remembering the players come first.

It is my personal conviction that we need to do better to give the game back to our youth and the players.  That entails a coaching philosophy it is facilitative and based on the research surrounding guided discovery and a growth mindset. 

I charge $50-$75 per hour pending travel, but I never let money get in the way if there's financial need. 

and I always go above and beyond one hour intervals as many of the players I have trained on and off starting as young as nine years old I am still in touch with today. One is a starter at UVA, another has become a coach after mentoring him and surrounding him with amazing professionals who once mentored me.

One who is a father, a husband and a public servant in a different domain who I enjoyed the hike with recently. I'm that old in my 40's having lived the beautiful game my entire life. ;) 

The life lessons transcend the game. 

I am the son of Peace Corps volunteers who met and married in Ethiopia and went on to work for the department of education and childcare. 

One could say I was born into this, but the best teachers are students as well. 

I began teaching as a student in college in many capacities, from training and coaching youth soccer as a player under Gordon Bradley, to counseling high-profile cases of at-risk youth for Family Preservation Services, to running the lab section of a graduate course in "advanced research methods and statistics" for graduate students of psychology at George Mason University as a GTA, to developing and managing my own service-oriented 'businesses' focused on both player and person development as well as a long-term vision of what youth player development looks like at the highest levels. From Spanish futbol methodologies to the cultural norms/youth professionals of Brasileiro futebol to German investment in youth fussball to Belgium's youth voetbal  development paradigm today....

My international cohort of dear friends colleagues and former teammates have blessed me.  

-Tamir Linhart (Isreal) at Golden Boot Soccer Training for example, who I was lucky to work with throughout my playing career at GMU as a part-time trainer, but in grad school took it to another level. Tamir was my first mentor and remain family to me today. He is the reason I chose to pursue my passion as a career public servant in soccer while turning down money in HR Consulting out of grad school. He welcomed me as Technical Director of his organization during a shift from 'Tamir Linhart' to 'Golden Boot Soccer Training'. I applied my focus and expertise in the organizational development and performance side of I/O psychology (leadership theory, motivation theory, training theory, team dynamics/performance, etc.), to helping him any way I could. And he helped me earn my reputation in the soccer community. 

-Eduardo Lima (Brazil), considered along with Tamir Linhart to be one of the best players ever to wear the George Mason uniform under Gordon Bradley, my former teammate, partner, colleague and friend. 'Dudu' played for São Paulo in Brasil with pro prospects before recruited by our college coach Gordon Bradley (a legend to us having coached NY Cosmos in 70s with Pele on the roster). I've been blessed to travel and work with Eddie to take UEFA/CBF-approved courses and take HS players to Brasil to compete against youth professionals from São Paulo to Santos to Palmeiras. 

-To be cont'd

Every level, gender, ethnicity, and international cohort imaginable

One of the most beautiful lessons we see in Northern Virginia is the diversity coming together and learning life lessons through team sport, which for me is a way of life, not just a game. 

I'm extremely proud of one of my former players from Ghana. He still pursues some professional goals overseas, but has worked with me as a coach as well. As he developed, I began exposing him to better perspectives than my own to become his own.

He is now autonomous and successful as a player and coach and a wonderful role model.  

His success I feel as one of my greatest successes, whatever small part I played. 

It is very important that the fit is healthy and you're not just jumping into what comes first. 

I believe diversity of perspective is very important, and although I've worked with a lot of kids from the time they were up to my waist to the time they graduated college, I've never been their only coach. I would refuse it. 

It is also important that you remember Soccer in America is a big business and some motives are pure while others are not. I'm sorry that's the sad truth. 

Afain the best way to gaurd against being misled is diversity of perspective, and it is a major goal of mine to educate parents as much as youth players in the process of providing resources to help. 

I might recommend researching the youth systems in Belgium and Spain which are major influences in my life as of late. 

Great question. That depends on many factors. For children 12 and under, questions should be guided from parents directly to instructor as well as helping the child think about what they want to gain out of the training. Younger they are the more I get feedback from parents and of course there is chronological age and cognitive age so depends on how mature the player is and how advanced they are in their level of play. 

performance goals rather than outcome goals are important to consider in private training such as wanting to juggle a certain number of times alternating both feet or with other surfaces; beating the instructor in a fun cool down game of soccer tennis or soccer golf etc. I sometimes play against or with students for fun; striking a set piece with strong foot hitting upper side net on the fly at least 5 out of ten times; mastering 2-3 moves at game speed both directions flawlessly without/with light pressure; etc. 

Note these performance goals are measurable depending on where the player is and within their own control. Outcome goals such as making the high school team or collegiate/professional level; or winning a state championship; or working into the starting lineup on the "best team" in one age group of one of a myriad of leagues claiming elite status today.... these are fine aspirations but far less important. 

in fact they often get in the way interfere with the predictors we know are best for long-term individual development. It is based on a myopic vision, poor parent education, and yes business interests still too common and involved with decisions at the top from those who only know entrepreneurship, little about the world's game, and immersed in a culture that reinforces our pay-to-play model. It is difficult to make a living otherwise in what I view more as a public service for youth enrichment as a career youth coach/educator.

That is not necessarily anyone's fault, it's just a culture that reinforces the wrong habits and long-term vision too often. Is a young professional I have opened and managed my own LLC's, we never with a profit motive. I have been focused on cross cultural education with trips overseas to Brazil for example. My partner and I saw it as necessary for both player in person development, and some of the most valuable lessons I had as a player growing up immersed in Bolivia, and my partner from Brazil now living in the US, both of us competing with/against internationals for most of our playing careers through college. 

I digress, but these are the type of questions I recommend both parents asking of educators of young children -- ask about their history and philosophy. For players generally in their teens and up, think about stating what your goals in training are and setting performance goals with some guidance after an assessment. be open to the professional trainers feedback and what they say no matter who they are because different trying to see different things and it's important you get diversity of perspectives you have the humility to learn from each  

Even the best coaches/trainers I know ask colleagues to assess them and provide feedback into retirement based on my experience with those I've learned the most from  

Ultimately, private training is the most in-depth, player-focused environment for development. My approach is a guided discovery one. The more the players in control and taking his or her own lead the better they are prepared for future success through self-leadership.

All of us, from a Messi to a Salah to a Peps to (fill-in-the-blank) A piece of those with influenced us in someway to excel. Coaches, teachers, parents, teammates, heroes that we emulate.... The more diversity from professional perspectives the more likely it is that we find the tools that can help us build on our strengths and succeed in life  

Success for me is simply finding one's true potential by honing one's gifts and talents with a passion and joy that rewards itself.

It certainly takes being a part of the process and asking as many questions as you are able to learn and grow through the process.

I personally offer free consultation to any player or parent in need. Many of those relationships are my own greatest reward from players and families I worked with since 9 or 10-year-olds. Some are now playing collegiate, others wonderful coaches of their own making in the community, still others who are wonderful husbands and fathers contributing to their community in their own way... Many of whom I stay in touch with today as an extended soccer family. 

Get to know those professionals who are selfless and the right fit for your needs. They want you to get the most out of them as much as they want to get the most out of you. ;)