Youth Soccer Technical I pathway
Technical I Soccer at-home Schedule
Duration: 8 Weeks
Frequency: 1–3 Sessions per week (recommended: 1x for club players, 2–3x for non-club players)
Session Length: 50–60 minutes (1 on 1 & groups).
When your child has already mastered the basics, the next step is helping them understand the more technical components of soccer. We put handles on the techniques.
This technical course at In Home Soccer helps kids ages U9-U16 develop sharper skills, mindfulness, and a better understanding of mechanics and technique.
Focus Areas:
- The mechanics of passing
- The rules of defending 1v1
- Penalty kick theory
- Aerial foundations
- The art of shooting
- Directional first touch
- The art of scanning
Technical I Soccer Training for Kids, small groups or TEAMS
The player has gone through our more drill-based beginner course and is ready to learn the principles behind good and great soccer. The intensity of the training shifts to mindfulness and working on mechanics & habits that can be perfected in group setting. We really focus on the mind in our intermediate-level soccer training course.
The Mechanics of Passing
Ball Point of Contact
Think of the soccer ball like it has secret buttons on it. Where you press that button with your foot decides exactly what the ball will do.
Backswing & follow Through
A great pass is like a superhero punch—it has two parts: the wind-up for power and the follow-through for direction.
Heal & Body Post-contact
Have you ever seen a gymnast do a flip and land perfectly still? That’s what we want to do after a pass.
Tempo & Rhythm
Not every pass should be a rocket ship! The speed of your pass—its tempo—is super important. Passing is like playing music.
Find Your Target
This is the final secret that separates good passers from GREAT passers. Don’t just pass to your teammate. Pass to one of their feet.
The Rules of Defending 1v1
Close Down Space (Quick to Slow)
Don’t be too tight or too loose with your defending – find the appropriate distance. Keep your feet active. Sprint quickly toward the attacker to eliminate time and space as the ball travels to them or as they receive it.
Delay and Be Patient (Don't Dive In)
Don’t enter the hallway, stay balanced and in control. Match the speed of the attacker. Slow the attacker’s progress and force them to make the first move.
Dictate Direction (Angle of Approach)
Stay to one side. Get side on. Dictate the direction the attacker will be able to attack. Use your body position and angle of approach to steer the attacker into a less dangerous area.
Focus on the Ball (Maintain Stance)
Keep your eyes on the ball, not the attacker’s body feints, feet, or eyes.
Win the Ball (Tackle with Confidence)
Wait for a big or a bad touch – and then confidently make the tackle.
Penalty Kick Theory (4 variables)
Distance
Short, medium, long.
Foot
Insole, instep, laces.
Angle of approach
Slant, straight, curved.
Speed
Slow, medium, fast.
Shooting
Mix and match to find your best combination.
Aerial Foundations
The Art of the Unseen Work
Pre-Jump Positioning and Body Manipulation
This is about what happens before the ball arrives. Players need to move beyond simply reacting to the ball’s flight.
- Scanning and Anticipation: Constantly scan the field. Before the ball is played long, anticipate the likely target area based on the passer’s body language and the striker’s movement.
- Subtle Body Contact: Learn to legally use your body to unbalance your opponent. A slight lean, a well-timed step across their path, or using your arms to create a frame can be the difference-maker. This is about being smarter, not just stronger.
- Creating Separation: Practice subtle movements to create a yard of space just before you jump. A quick check-away motion or a slight push-off (within the rules) can give you a clean leap.
Explosive Ascent
Mastering the Biomechanics of the Jump
A powerful and well-timed jump is non-negotiable.
The Penultimate Step: Focus on your second-to-last step before takeoff. A powerful penultimate step allows for a more explosive vertical leap.
Arm Drive: Actively use your arms to propel yourself upwards. A coordinated arm swing can add valuable inches to your jump height.
Core Stability: A strong core is essential for maintaining balance and power in the air. Incorporate planks, Russian twists, and other core-strengthening exercises into your routine.
Targeted Impact
The Nuances of Ball Contact
It’s not just about winning the header, but what you do with it.
Eyes Wide Open: A common flaw is closing your eyes on impact. Train yourself to keep your eyes open to track the ball and accurately direct your header.
“Neck like a Hammer”: Generate power from your neck and upper back muscles. This allows for a wider range of motion and greater heading power and accuracy. Practice by heading a stationary ball to focus on this muscular engagement.
Varying the Contact Point: Understand how to use different parts of your forehead to achieve different outcomes. The center of the forehead is for power, while the sides can be used for glancing headers to redirect the ball.
The Second Ball Mindset
Playing the Next Phase
Winning the initial duel is only half the battle. The best players are already thinking about what happens next.
Read the Knockdown: As you go up for the header, anticipate where the ball is likely to land if neither you nor your opponent wins it cleanly.
Communicate the Outcome: As you’re in the air, shout instructions to your teammates. Let them know if you’re going to win it, where you’re trying to head it, or if it’s a “second ball” situation.
Quick Recovery: Whether you win or lose the duel, your immediate recovery is crucial. Be the first to react to the second ball.
Situational Dominance
Adapting to the Context of the Duel
A defensive clearance header is different from an attacking header on goal. Players must recognize and execute based on the situation.
Defensive Headers: Height and Distance: When clearing your lines, the priority is to get the ball high and far away from danger. Aim to head the ball up and out.
Attacking Headers: Power and Placement: When attacking a cross, focus on heading the ball down towards the goal. These are much harder for goalkeepers to save. Practice timing your runs to meet the ball at the optimal spot.
Flick-ons and Link-up Play: In midfield, a deft flick-on to a teammate can be more effective than a powerful header. Develop the touch and awareness to play one-touch headers to players in better positions.
Joga Bonita Workout
Instep, insole, lace touches. Thigh touches. Thigh to foot. Chest touches. Chest to thigh. Head touches. Head to chest.
The Art of Shooting
The Foundation: Your Plant Foot
This is the anchor for your entire shot. If you get this wrong, everything else will be off.
- The Principle: Your non-kicking (plant) foot dictates your balance, power, and direction.
- The Mechanics: Approach the ball at a slight angle. Place your plant foot beside the ball, not behind or in front of it. Your toes should be aimed directly at your intended target. This stable base aligns your hips and body, naturally guiding the shot.
- The Art: A well-placed plant foot allows for the explosive hip rotation that generates true power. Rushing this step is the primary cause of a scuffed, weak, or inaccurate shot.
The Engine: Your Hips and Core
Power does not come from your leg alone; it originates from the center of your body.
- The Principle: Power is generated through a rapid, coordinated rotation of your hips and core.
- The Mechanics: As you swing, your hips should snap through towards the target in a whip-like motion. Crucially, keep your chest and knee over the ball at the moment of impact. Leaning back is a natural tendency, but it causes the ball to sail high over the goal. Staying compact and over the ball keeps the shot low and driven.
- The Art: This is what separates a “pushed” shot from a “struck” shot. You are transferring the rotational energy from your entire body into the ball, not just swinging your leg.
The Impact: A Locked Ankle
The point of contact is where technique meets the ball. A weak connection will waste all the power you’ve generated.
- The Principle: Your foot must be a firm, solid surface at the moment of impact to transfer energy effectively.
- The Mechanics: To strike with power, you must lock your ankle, keeping it completely firm with your toes pointed down. You want to strike the horizontal midline of the ball with the hard, bony part on top of your laces.
- The Art: A locked ankle turns your foot from a soft paddle into a hard club. It’s the difference between a thud and a crack. This single detail is often what separates amateur shooters from semi-pros.
The Finish: The Follow-Through
The shot is not over when the ball leaves your foot. The follow-through is the natural continuation of a good swing and the key to accuracy.
- The Principle: The motion of your leg after striking the ball ensures you commit to the shot and guides it to the target.
- The Mechanics: Allow your kicking leg to swing smoothly through the ball and continue in the direction of your target. Your kicking foot should often land on the ground in front of your plant foot, creating a slight “hop” that helps you maintain balance.
- The Art: Like a golfer’s swing or a pitcher’s throw, the follow-through is a guarantee that you’ve transferred maximum energy and guided the shot with your entire body, rather than just stabbing at it.
Shooting
Lateral, behind, & horizontal deliveries.
Directional First Touch
The Look
Awareness & Decision: This is the most crucial, yet often overlooked, variable. The touch itself is meaningless without knowing why and where you’re going. Scanning & intention.
The Setup
Body Shape & Approach: How a player prepares their body determines the quality of the touch. Get in line, Open body shape, On your toes.
The Touch
Contact Technique: This is the physical execution of the skill. Surface selection (inside, outside), Contact point, Cushion vs. guide, Ankle lock.
The Result
Direction & Weight of Touch: This is the outcome of the first three variables. Escape touch, distance, angle.
Putting it all together
Wall pass drills, gate drills, defender drills.
The Art of Scanning
The Picture Rule
Scan before you receive.
What to look for:
The location of the nearest defender.
The location of your closest teammate(s) for a potential pass.
Any open space you can move or pass into.
Shoulder Check Rule
What to look for:
Is a defender pressing you from behind?
How much space is there behind you to turn into?
Are your center-backs or goalkeeper available for a safe back-pass?
The Full field Rule
What to look for:
The positioning of the opposition’s defensive line.
Large, open spaces that a long diagonal pass could exploit.
Teammates who are making runs into dangerous areas.
Zone of confrontation, near zone, far zone
The Give and get rule
What to look for:
Did your pass successfully break a line of pressure?
Is your teammate who received the ball now under immediate pressure?
Is there an open space to move into to receive a return pass?
The Three Pillars of Effective Scanning
Frequency and Timing, Information Quality, and Body Position.
Putting It All Together
The Mechanics of Passing
Our 5 principles.
The Rules of Defending 1v1
Our 5 principles.
Aerial Foundations
Our 5 principles
The Art of Shooting
Our 4 principles.
Directional First Touch
Our 4 principles.
The Art of Scanning
Our 4 rules and 3 pillars.
Completion & Rewards
After 8 weeks, players earn an Technical I Pathway Headband as recognition for mastering knowledge, mechanics & technique. 
They can then move into the Technical II Pathway, which builds on these mechanics with added speed, complexity, and pressure.
Advanced program also includes progression rewards (headbands for completion).
Technical-I pathway enrollment
Turn your child’s potential into an actual performance to open doors of opportunities.
Parents at this stage usually notice their child has interest and talent, but they need sharper skills to really stand out. The Technical Pathway focuses on taking natural ability and turning it into polished play.
Your child gets advanced knowledge on the techniques of passing, shooting, directional work, and in a format to facility knowledge transfer to your player. Parents/coaches choose this pathway because it gives their child:
An edge in competitive play, by covering advanced topics.
Game intelligence, we share the mechanics behind a successful soccer action.
Confidence on the field comes when you know what you’re doing.
Consistent coaching feedback so they don’t stay in one place or get overlooked.
The Technical Pathway is to unlock your child’s next level and giving them the tools to progress at the perfect time.
8 SESSIONS (1 on 1)
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Includes 8 sessions/prog
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60-minute session
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Curriculum program
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Flexible scheduling
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Kids U9-U16
8 SESSIONS (3-6 kids)
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Includes 8 sessions/prog
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60-90 minute session
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Curriculum program
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Flexible scheduling
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Kids age U9-U16
Not Sure yet? Start with an assessment.
It all starts with a player assessment. Tell us about your child’s goals, and we’ll help map the right pathway. You’ll also have an idea how much time each session may take. It would possibly finish right before the meal time, so your child can eat and gain back the energy.
