Age has NOTHING to do with the ability to improve

Some people ask me at what age a player can start training in soccer. My answer is whenever the player decides they want to do it. Training will look different depending on the player's level and age. I’ve trained children as young as three years old in private sessions, which involves a lot of games, imaginative play, and very basic dribbling and kicking. I’ve also trained older and more experienced players in college and professional settings, where we spend an hour or more on high-intensity functional and positional training. Regardless of age or skill level, a player can improve as much as they want to, depending on how much they want to.

Of course, a three-year-old has no mental capacity to understand progress or improvement. I would say that by the age of six, if the player is mature enough to recognize their improvement and genuinely enjoys the sport, they will try to improve and see progress.

Foster and Gianna: From Early Beginnings to Mastery

I met a player named Foster when she was four years old. She is a unique player. She inspires me, and players like her help me maintain my love for the game. Her focus and intelligence are far beyond any player I have coached, even at the elite club level. She was four when we started training, so I didn’t expect much or think much of it until I noticed that she started picking up things quickly and had a genuine interest in the game. Her effort level was unmatched; you could tell she was having fun and wanted to be on the field with the ball. Foster will be eight years old in a few months (in 2022), and I am so proud of the player she is becoming. She fights hard and does not give up. She is an example for all players. Even older players can be inspired by this little girl.

Gianna was one of my very first clients, and I met her when she was seven years old. She was another special player and a special child in general. She was uber-focused, extremely smart, loved the game, and had an understanding of her ability to improve. I remember training with Gianna at 8 a.m. routinely on Sunday mornings. At one point, that was the best time that fit both her dad’s and my schedule, and we never forced Gianna to train. Her dad would always ask her if it was okay with her in front of me, and she always answered eagerly. At the time I was training Gianna, I was also playing professionally. Her love for the game was refreshing and reinvigorated me. Like her, I was young at one point and in total awe of the possibilities of the game. I was obsessed with it, and Gianna reminded me of a young me. I remember when she was either 10 or 11, she told me that if she got 500 juggles, her dad would get her an iPhone.

She gave him a run for his money! At the time of writing, Gianna is 12 years old (this was in 2022) and is a far better player than I ever was at 12. With a deep understanding of the game tactically and positionally, her technical ability is exceptional. She can bend balls, strike, dribble with flair, chip balls, and take them out of the air with ease. I want to emphasize that Gianna was not a superstar player when she first started. She needed a lot of help. Her willingness to improve was remarkable for her age. I have never met a more determined and focused player. She trained a lot on her own without a trainer’s help, and she trained consistently.

I am incredibly proud of both players. I learned so much from them, and I hope you took something away from their stories as well. I want everyone to know that it does not matter what age you are; if you DESIRE something THAT MUCH, you will have the MOTIVATION to fulfill your desires.

Age as a Mindset

Age is a state of mind. Some people believe that they cannot achieve their goals because they are too young. Others believe they cannot achieve their goals because they are too old. No one limits you but your own mind and the choices your mind makes based on your beliefs of limitation. I believe that there are no limits in this life and that boundaries do not exist in terms of my achievements and self-growth. I can do anything in this life if I set my mind to it. My age has nothing to do with my ability to achieve. Everything starts and ends in the mind. What you think creates your reality. You can start improving yourself now. Only you have the power to do this. You can go to others for help, but at the end of the day, you are in control of how far you are willing to go.