Book Lessons with Coach Jayce

My name is Jayce Woodward, and I am a former Division I soccer player who competed at both USC and Kansas State University. I have been around the game my entire life and grew up in a highly competitive soccer environment with my mom serving as a Division I college coach for nearly 30 years. Soccer has taught me discipline, confidence, leadership, and the importance of hard work. My goal as a trainer is to help athletes improve their skills while building confidence and enjoying the process. I want every session to be competitive, positive, and personalized to each player’s goals.

I focus on helping players improve technically, mentally, and tactically. Whether it’s ball mastery, first touch, passing, finishing, movement off the ball, or confidence in game situations, I design sessions that help athletes grow in all areas of their game. I also help players understand the mental side of soccer, including composure, decision-making, confidence, and work ethic. My experience playing at the Division I level allows me to teach players what it takes to compete at higher levels while still making training fun and encouraging.

A typical session with me is high energy, organized, and focused on improvement. We usually start with technical warmups and ball mastery before moving into position-specific drills, passing patterns, finishing, footwork, or game-like scenarios depending on the athlete’s goals. I like to keep players constantly moving and engaged while also teaching the “why” behind different movements and decisions. Every session is personalized to the athlete’s age, skill level, and goals so they leave feeling challenged, confident, and motivated to keep improving.

Former Division I soccer player at USC and Kansas State University

Competed in elite youth club systems including Crossfire, Seattle Reign Academy, and Pac Northwest (2019–2022)

Named ECNL All-Conference in 2021

Selected for National Selection Games in 2020 and 2022

Participated in U.S. Youth National Team camps at the U-15 and U-19 levels

Scored 57 goals and recorded 26 assists in three varsity seasons at Seattle Preparatory School

Two-time All-State selection

Two-time Conference MVP

Two-time Gatorade State Player of the Year nominee

Played in the High School All-American Game in 2022

Earned All-Metro League First Team honors all four years

Years of experience training and competing in high-level environments with top coaches and players

The best coaches I’ve had were the ones who pushed me to improve while also believing in me as a person. Growing up with my mom as a Division I college coach gave me a unique perspective on leadership, communication, and player development from an early age. I also learned a lot from the coaches I played for at the ECNL and Division I levels, especially about discipline, confidence, and competing at a high level. The biggest thing I took away from great coaches is that building a player’s confidence is just as important as developing their skills, and that’s something I try to bring into every training session.

I want athletes and parents to know that I genuinely care about player development both on and off the field. I bring high energy, positivity, and a competitive mindset to every session while still making training fun and encouraging. Having played at the Division I, ECNL, and national youth levels, I understand what it takes to improve and compete at a high level, but I also know every player develops at their own pace. My goal is to help athletes build confidence, sharpen their skills, and develop a stronger understanding of the game in an environment where they feel motivated and supported.