First touch, clean passing, and better decisions with the ball at your feet.
Our soccer clinics focus on the technical skills every position relies on: a clean pass, a first touch that sets up the next action, and the habit of scanning the field before the ball arrives. Athletes get a lot of touches in small groups, with coaches correcting the details that matter, like ankle position, body shape, and where the first touch goes. Older players add the 1v1 situations, small-sided games, and evaluation-style drills common at high school tryouts.
Soccer is played at speed, usually with a defender close by. A pass struck with a locked ankle and the inside of the foot goes where it’s meant to, at the pace it’s meant to; a pass struck with a loose ankle or the toe is a coin flip. When technique is solid, a player can stop thinking about the ball and start thinking about the game.
First touch is where this shows up most. A good first touch moves the ball away from pressure and into space, buying time for the next pass or dribble. A poor one gives the ball back or forces a rushed decision. That moment repeats all game long, and it’s a big part of the difference between players who look comfortable on the ball and players who look hurried.
Sound mechanics also matter for the body. Planting the support foot correctly, changing direction with bent knees, and striking the ball without overreaching help an athlete play with less unnecessary strain; questions about pain or injury always belong with a licensed health care provider. At tryouts, coaches typically watch for these same basics: composure on the ball, the quality of passing, how a player receives under pressure, and whether they look up before they play. Those are learnable skills, and we teach them directly.
Each skill is taught with the cues our coaches use at every station — short phrases athletes can repeat to themselves at home.
The inside-of-the-foot pass is the foundation of the game. We teach it for accuracy first, then pace, then on the move.
How a player receives the ball decides how much time they have next. We teach players to receive with a purpose, not just stop the ball.
Scanning means looking over your shoulder to see teammates, opponents, and open space before the ball arrives.
Close control lets a player keep the ball, beat a defender, or hold it while teammates get open.
Scoring is about a clean strike and good placement more than raw power.
Good defending is patient and positional. It is not a lunge at the ball.
Lots of touches on the ball, dribbling games, first passes with the inside of the foot, and learning to stop the ball under control. Everything is game-based and built to keep kids moving and having fun.
Correct passing and receiving mechanics with both feet, first-touch habits, basic shooting technique, and an introduction to positions and spacing. Small-sided games give every player plenty of touches.
Tryout-ready passing and first touch under pressure, scanning, 1v1 attacking and defending, and position-specific work. We include the passing patterns, small-sided games, and evaluation drills athletes are likely to see at junior high and freshman tryouts.
Speed of play: receiving and playing forward quickly, combination passing, finishing under pressure, and defending as a unit. We focus on decision-making and the details varsity-level coaches tend to evaluate.
Most mistakes are habits, not ability. Here’s what we see most often in soccer — and the fix we coach.
Weekend Clinics run Days 1 and 2. The Tryout Intensive adds Day 3: tryout-style drills and game situations.
We schedule soccer tryout intensives in the 2–6 weeks before typical November tryouts, which usually means late September and October.
Full tryout calendar →This reflects the typical CIF Southern Section calendar; LA City Section schools and individual programs vary, so confirm dates with your school’s athletic department.
Clinic dates are being set for soccer. Join the list and we’ll email you the moment registration opens near you.
That’s fine. Foundations and Builders sessions are designed for players who are new to the game or still learning the basics, and coaches adjust each drill to the athlete in front of them. Beginners spend a lot of time with the ball at their feet, which is exactly what they need. Nobody is expected to arrive already knowing the cues.
Rec soccer is built around participation and team play, usually with volunteer coaches, and club soccer is a year-round, tryout-based commitment that often involves travel. Both are good choices for the right family. A clinic is neither: it’s a short, focused block of technical instruction with no team and no standings. Many of our athletes play rec or club and use a clinic to sharpen specific skills.
Yes. Goalkeepers play with their feet constantly, receiving back passes, distributing, and starting attacks, so passing and first-touch work carries over directly. Our clinics are built around field-player fundamentals. Check the event details to see what each clinic covers.
No. Elevate does not field teams, so a clinic is never an evaluation for a roster. The tryout intensive includes a tryout-style day so athletes know what to expect, but no clinic can promise a spot on a team. Our aim is that your athlete arrives at tryouts prepared, with clean technique and a clear sense of what coaches will ask them to do.
Join the list with your sport, age band, and city. We’ll email you when a clinic opens near you — no commitment until you register.