Book Private Soccer Lessons with Coach Willem

I began my soccer journey with Yardley Makefield Soccer Club in Bucks County, gaining valuable foundational skills and experience. This led to a successful stint at Pennsbury High School, where I was a varsity player for three years, honing my competitive skills and tactical understanding of the game.

During a gap year following high school, I had the opportunity to both coach and play club soccer in Kenya and Tanzania. This experience exposed me to diverse playing styles and a different soccer culture, enriching my understanding of the game on a global scale.

Upon returning, I played for Bucks County Community College for one year. In this period, I led the team in assists and was the second-highest scorer, demonstrating my technical and strategic capabilities on the field.

1)Mastering touch is crucial – it's the most important skill in soccer. We'll focus on making it instinctive, ensuring continuous improvement at all levels. Even professionals never stop perfecting their fundamentals.

2) Using both feet effectively is essential for a well-rounded game. Our training will concentrate on perfecting shooting, touch, and dribbling with both feet to enhance versatility and playmaking ability on the field.

3) Positioning is key. If you have highlight tapes, I'll review them. Otherwise, our focus will be on body positioning for shielding the ball and spatial awareness on the field, including movement without the ball.

4) Playing with your head up is vital. We'll work on constantly scanning the field, taking 'mental photographs' to maintain awareness of everyone's position, which is crucial for receiving and dribbling effectively.

In our sessions, I'll utilize a variety of drills to reinforce these skills and ensure quality repetitions. This approach is designed to help these skills and understandings translate into game scenarios. After each session, I'll provide a review with drills that the player can practice independently, ensuring continuous development and skill refinement.

In my training sessions, the primary focus lies in mastering basic skills to the extent that they become almost reflexive. This is crucial for adeptly handling any situation during a game. The drills I design are not only high-energy and enjoyable but also meaningful. Each drill's purpose and relevance to the game will be emphasized, as I firmly believe in the importance of understanding the rationale behind each exercise. Hard training is beneficial, but without comprehension, it may not effectively translate to success on the field.

I am fully aware of the value of your investment in these sessions and, therefore, approach each training with the utmost seriousness. Prior to meeting, I prefer to engage with the player to gauge their specific needs, areas for improvement, and overarching soccer goals, whether it's securing a spot on a team, increasing impact on the field, or aspiring to play at the college level.

Transformation in soccer is a process, not a single event. It demands time, dedication, and continuous practice. My lesson plans are individually tailored based on your goals and initial skill level. Following each session, I provide drills that can be practiced independently or with friends, facilitating continuous development.

Expect a typical session with me to be high-intensity, with a significant focus on repetition. It's not solely about the physical aspect; there will be continuous dialogue to cultivate an in-depth understanding of how these skills are applied in real game situations. This approach ensures you're not only physically ready but also mentally prepared to excel on the soccer field

During my time as a player at Pennsbury High School under Coach Mike Lindaman, my approach to soccer underwent a significant transformation. Coach Lindaman was instrumental in evolving my style from one that predominantly relied on my physical attributes, such as size and speed, to a more strategic approach. He focused on enhancing my game-reading ability, teaching me the importance of intelligent off-the-ball runs, and refining the skills I frequently used in matches. This shift allowed me to use my physical strengths effectively, without over-reliance.

He often shared insights from his time under his coach at Penn State, emphasizing structured, purposeful training sessions and the importance of clear communication. His approach went beyond physical training, focusing on developing a growth-oriented and competitive mindset.

Balancing fun and discipline, Coach Lindaman taught us to enjoy our moments off the field but to maintain a laser-focused attitude during training. This approach instilled in us the importance of fully engaging with each task, a lesson that resonated both on and off the field. Under his guidance, I not only honed my physical skills but also deepened my understanding of soccer as a sport and a discipline, learning invaluable lessons that extended beyond the soccer field.

The journey came full circle in 2020. Coach Lindaman reached out to me, expressing the need for a coach and revealing that I was on his shortlist of former players to contact. This is one of the best calls I have received to date and I have never looked back.

Outside of coaching, most of my time is devoted to my university studies, where I'm working towards obtaining my Pharma D. A significant part of this journey involves delving into ADHD research, a field that both challenges and fascinates me with its complexities and potential for impact.

Traveling's been a big part of my life too. After high school, I backpacked through East Africa, an experience filled with unforgettable people, places, and a totally different way of life. Those adventures are among my most cherished memories.

These days, I'm more of a local explorer, finding joy in discovering new spots closer to home.

As a kid, I was all energy, all the time, giving my parents their fair share of headaches. I was fortunate to have crossed paths with some amazing teachers and mentors, including my coach, Mike Lindaman. They helped me channel my energy positively, shaping the person I am today. That's why I'm into coaching – to pass on that positive influence and guidance that was so crucial for me.

Side note: I am 25 years old now, you don’t realize how much your parents did for you till you leave your house. I promise that you will regret the times you gave your mom and dad so much attitude when your struggling to find your backpack when you have class in 10 minutes. If your parents are willing to invest their hard earned money to help you achieve your dreams be thankful.