Book Private Soccer Lessons with Coach Kenliana

I currently play two sports (soccer and basketball) while attending college in Wilmington, NC. I have a passion for sports and have a good game IQ for both sports that I use in my training sessions. I am energized by working with youth athletes to instill in them the confidence, skills, and desire to be successful at their highest level, both on and off the field.

In addition to being an athlete, I like to spend time with my large family, travel, and enjoy being outdoors—either at the beach or in the mountains. I also have a love for animals and have a dog named Tato and a bearded dragon named Willow.

I work with soccer players on enhancing their skill, self-belief (confidence), and understanding of soccer (soccer IQ). These three areas of player development serve as the foundation for their improvement.

When training soccer players in different skills (first touch, ball control, passing, finishing, footwork, and speed of play), I try to break down the game so that each player can understand not only how to execute these skills but also when and why to use them effectively in a real game situation.

In addition to focusing on technical skills, I also focus on developing decision-making ability, proper positioning, and mental endurance, which help players:

Think faster and make better decisions

Have the ability to stay calm in a high-pressure environment

Mentally-ready for competition

Finally, I attempt to create players who are disciplined, knowledgeable, and fearless so they have the potential to compete at a higher level.

When you train with me, the sessions have a lot of energy (physically and mentally), are structured, and have an emphasis on applying what you learn in the context of games. All of our training sessions begin with a dynamic (movement-based) warm-up, which builds coordination and speed; we then transition into working on technical skills (first touch, ball control, passing, dribbling, shooting); once players have developed their technical ability through the drill process, the goal is to create drills that simulate real-game scenarios so that players not only learn how to technically perform the skills but also have the opportunity to learn when to apply them (i.e., making good decisions). Player decision-making, positioning, and playing under pressure are also taught through competitive, game-like scenarios. Our goal for each session is to develop individual player technique, increase their soccer IQ, and improve their confidence on the field.

My mom was my best coach. She coached me in soccer and basketball when I was young and continued to support me through middle school and high school. Even though I had several great coaches while playing rec, school, and travel sports, my mom influenced me the most. She constantly encouraged me to do my best, pushed me to work hard, and believed in me even when I didn't believe in myself. She taught me discipline, confidence, and resilience—lessons that helped shape who I am as an athlete and as a person. Her influence is a big part of why I have such a passion for coaching and mentoring young athletes today.

As both an athlete and parent, you will find that I offer a unique combination of exceptional playing experience with a well-developed character, strong leadership skills and a true passion for helping young athletes achieve their goals. As a collegiate, dual-sport athlete, I know how hard the road to success can be and I believe I possess the necessary qualities as a coach to provide my athletes with the mental and physical preparation they will need to compete and perform at their best. I am committed to fostering an environment that encourages hard work, discipline, and confidence—traits I learned from an early age—as well as providing a positive atmosphere to support, challenge and motivate athletes to perform their best possible.