Book Private Soccer Lessons with Coach Richard

I am a dynamic soccer coach and player with extensive experience in exercise science, psychology, and performance coaching. My career is defined by a deep commitment to both the technical and mental aspects of the game, equipping athletes with the skills they need to reach their highest potential.

Playing Experience: My journey as a player includes competing as a student-athlete at Wheeling University, where I sharpened my skills and gained insight into high-level competition. I also played pre-professional soccer during summer seasons, further honing my abilities in real-world competitive environments. My foundation in the sport was built during my time at the FC Barcelona Academy, where I developed a deep understanding of the game’s principles, tactics, and style.

I can help athletes Improve their game by providing a holistic approach that combines physical, technical, tactical, and mental elements. Here’s how I can help:

1. Technical Skills Training

I focus on enhancing essential skills like dribbling, passing, shooting, and ball control. Tailored drills and repetition are key.

2. Tactical Awareness

I help the player understand positioning, game strategy, and decision-making. Analyzing game footage and conducting tactical exercises can build this.

3. Physical Conditioning

Designing strength and conditioning programs that target speed, endurance, agility, and sport-specific fitness to ensure peak performance.

4. Mental Preparation

Providing techniques for improving focus, confidence, and resilience, like visualization, goal-setting, and managing pressure.

5. Personalized Feedback

Analyzing performance together and providing constructive feedback. Highlighting strengths and areas for improvement and adjust training accordingly.

6. Game Analysis

Breaking down match play, identifying patterns, strengths, and weaknesses to develop targeted training that sharpens performance during games.

7. Position-Specific Training

Tailored training to the demands of the player’s position, whether they’re a striker needing sharper finishing or a midfielder needing better vision and passing.

8. Recovery and Nutrition Guidance

Education on proper recovery techniques and nutrition that fuel performance and reduce the risk of injury.

1) Warm-Up (10-15 minutes)

Dynamic stretches: to activate major muscle groups and prevent injury.

Mobility exercises: to improve range of motion.

Ball-related activation: Light dribbling and passing drills with increasing intensity to prime the body for more demanding work.

2. Technical Skills with Anaerobic Focus (15-20 minutes)

Ball mastery drills: High-intensity touches that engage the phosphagen system, with short bursts of effort (5-10 seconds).

1v1 and Quick transitions from defense to attack to stimulate both the phosphagen and glycolytic systems.

Dribbling through cones at pace: Emphasizing sharp changes of direction, which engages anaerobic systems to mimic match situations.

3. Tactical and Conditioning Work (20-25 minutes)

Small-sided games or positional drills: Focus on game-like scenarios to blend tactical decision-making with high-intensity efforts.

Interval sprints: High-intensity sprinting (10-20 seconds) followed by short recovery to target the glycolytic system and simulate match conditions.

—Position-specific drills with fatigue

Forwards: Repeated explosive sprints for finishing.

Midfielders: Continuous movement patterns that combine ball work with decision-making.

Defenders: Recovery runs and 1v1 defending under fatigue.

4. Aerobic Capacity and Endurance Work (10-15 minutes)

Focusing on the oxidative system for sustained energy production, with moderate-intensity work (1-2 minutes) followed by active recovery.

Ball possession drills: Incorporating aerobic conditioning with continuous movement, focusing on maintaining intensity and sharpness while fatigued.

5. Cool-Down and Recovery (10-15 minutes)

Static stretching: Targeting muscle groups heavily used during the session.

Foam rolling and recovery techniques: To aid muscle recovery and reduce DOMS (delayed onset muscle soreness).

Breathing and relaxation exercises:To enhance recovery and shift the body back to a parasympathetic state.

This approach ensures players develop peak physical performance while maintaining technical and tactical sharpness throughout the session. The varied intensity levels effectively target all energy systems, preparing players for the demands of competitive soccer.

“The best coach I’ve ever had was a mentor who focused not only on skill development but also on the mental aspects of performance. They created a challenging yet supportive environment where every session was purposeful, instilling discipline and a winning mindset. Their emphasis on resilience and tactical intelligence shaped how I approach the game today.”

As a coach and former student-athlete, I bring a unique blend of experience, from playing at a high level to studying exercise science and psychology. I understand what it takes to help athletes reach their full potential, both physically and mentally. My coaching focuses on individual growth within a team setting, emphasizing discipline, confidence, and strategic thinking. I’m committed to helping athletes develop not just skills but the mindset needed to succeed on and off the field. Parents can trust that I prioritize their child’s long-term development and well-being, tailoring my approach to fit each athlete’s unique strengths and goals.