Author: Coach Gary

Parent Resources

A Message From The DOC: Let The Players Think

August 6, 2026 by Coach Gary

A Preseason Reminder For Parents, Coaches, And Everyone On The Sideline There is a drum I have beaten before. It is one that shows up in almost every coaching license, diploma course, and serious conversation about player development. It is also one built from thousands of games watched over the past 20 years. And as […]

Parent Resources

First-Time Travel Soccer Parent Guide: What To Bring To Training

July 31, 2026 by Coach Gary | Leave a Comment

Helping Your Player Show Up Prepared, Confident, And Ready To Train Joining a travel soccer team is exciting. It can also feel like a lot at first. New schedule. New coaches. New teammates. New expectations. New gear. New communication systems. New routines. Suddenly, what used to be “grab some cleats and go play” starts to […]

SPARK #1: Ball Mastery at Home

July 20, 2026 by Coach Gary | Leave a Comment

Great players are not built through team training alone. Team practices give players coaching, competition and opportunities to learn alongside their teammates. However, confidence with the ball is also developed through repetition. The more time players spend touching the ball, experimenting with movements and solving small challenges, the more comfortable they become when those same […]

Soccer Coaching Articles

Why Small-Sided Games Should Be One of Every Coach’s Most Valuable Training Tools

July 20, 2026 by Coach Gary | Leave a Comment

At Cleveland Futbol Club, we believe every activity in training should accomplish multiple objectives. We don’t want players running laps simply to get tired. We want every minute on the field to develop better soccer players. That’s one of the reasons small-sided games (SSGs) are such an important part of our coaching philosophy. A growing […]

Soccer Coaching Articles

Why Team Still Matters

June 24, 2026 by Coach Gary | Leave a Comment

There is something unique about growing up in sports. The practices, the bus rides, the tournaments, the wins, the losses, the friendships, the difficult conversations, the shared goals. Long after the scores are forgotten, those experiences stay with us. For many of us, the most important thing sports gave us wasn’t a trophy or a […]

Indoor Soccer Training: Simple Ways Players Can Keep Improving at Home

June 24, 2026 by Coach Gary | Leave a Comment

Player development doesn’t stop when practice ends. In fact, some of the biggest improvements happen away from the field. Whether it’s winter weather, a busy schedule, or simply a day without team training, players can continue developing technical skills, coordination, and confidence from the comfort of home. The best part? You don’t need a full […]

Understanding Soccer Positions: A Guide for Developing Players

June 24, 2026 by Coach Gary | Leave a Comment

One of the most exciting parts of soccer is that every player contributes to the game in a different way. Some players stop goals. Some create chances. Some control possession. Some score goals. While each position has unique responsibilities, every role is connected. Successful teams depend on players understanding not only their own position, but […]

The Art of Defending: Building Great Defenders in Soccer

June 24, 2026 by Coach Gary | Leave a Comment

Great defenders do far more than stop goals. They organize teammates, win battles, protect space, start attacks, and provide the foundation that allows a team to succeed. While goals often grab the headlines, strong defending wins games and helps teams compete at the highest levels. At Cleveland Futbol Club, we believe defending is a skill […]

How Soccer Players Can Improve Speed and Quickness

June 24, 2026 by Coach Gary | Leave a Comment

Every soccer player wants to be faster. Whether it’s winning a race to a loose ball, creating separation from a defender, recovering defensively, or exploding into space, speed can have a major impact on performance. But becoming a faster soccer player isn’t just about running more. True soccer speed is a combination of acceleration, agility, […]

Training the Mind: How Visualization Can Improve Your Soccer Performance

June 24, 2026 by Coach Gary | Leave a Comment

Every player spends time training their body. They work on ball mastery, passing, shooting, speed, and fitness. They put in hours on the training field trying to improve their technical skills and understanding of the game. But one of the most powerful tools for development requires no soccer ball at all. It’s the mind. Learning […]