Rethinking Soccer (a return to chaos)

We’ve all seen it—straight white lines painted on the grass, over-organized drills leaving straight lines of kids waiting for their turn to kick the ball, and well-meaning coaches giving tactical advice to a bunch of bored youngsters who are confused because they thought this “game” they signed up for was supposed to be fun. You can find this picture of classic youth soccer every Saturday morning across the country. It is an engineering formula for the game of soccer.

More than a Formula

The problem with this technical soccer formula is that it has reduced the world’s most beautiful game into just that—a formula! Youth soccer coaches have been working diligently for years to develop the most efficient process to reach the ultimate goal, winning. But in striving for efficiency and winning, we’ve lost what the game has to offer our youth. We’ve missed that soccer can be one of the best developmental tools for preparing our children for life. Now we all know that winning isn’t everything, right? I mean that message is far from revolutionary. But it is also far from actually being implemented. Not that we don’t want to instill in our children that there is more than winning. It is just that actually putting that message into practice is so much harder than simply preaching it. Every time you read a news article or turn on the TV you are bombarded with winning. The stories are all about winning: who is likely to win, what are their chances of winning, who won, how they won, why they won. (And these “winning questions” are in no way limited to just sports…business deals, legal battles, political elections, foreign policy…the list goes on.)

Our Programs

Everything we do, from HappyFeet classes and birthday parties to Legends skill sessions and games, is designed to teach and encourage our players to take a risk, try a new skill—and when they do, we celebrate it as if that risk or attempted skill was in fact winning the game! It is our mission to build into our coaches, parents, and players the understanding that the process—practicing, attempting new skills, developing mental and physical coordination—is the win, not simply the means to a win.

So try one of our HappyFeet or Legends programs. Don’t come expecting white painted lines or even players standing in lines. Come expecting organized chaos on the field where your child will have a blast while getting hundreds of touches on a soccer ball. Expect a coach that knows how to teach and encourage your child to take a risk and try a new move or shot. And remember when your little soccer star takes that risk—that’s your cue to throw your hands in the air and celebrate like crazy!

Benefits All Around!

Convenient! Working parents rejoice! 

No need to leave work early to get your child to organized sports. We come directly to your childcare center, which saves you time and money. In this fast paced world filled with after-work and after-school activities, HappyFeet alleviates the stress of traveling and packing up your family during busy traffic times. That means more time at home as a family.

Gives kids the edge!

Kids are starting sports earlier and earlier. In this ultra-competitive environment, HappyFeet gives your child a decided advantage and a head start. At an early age, your children will begin to form positive feelings toward exercise, goal setting, confidence, and muscle memory (firing those neurons & exercising brains).

Your children are in good hands!

Our coaches are professionally trained and experienced in soccer and early childhood education. They have a game plan for every scenario and are Kids-Safe Certified with extensive background checks.

A program like no other!

HappyFeet's unique philosophy and innovative curriculum is ground-breaking. You won't believe what your children can do until you see it for yourself.

I am the former CEO of the La Petite Preschool chain, a tenure that lasted 14 years. Over fifteen years ago, Andy Barney started running HappyFeet style classes for the La Petite preschool chain that I ran. Our local Kansas City schools bussed children to these classes at the indoor soccer facility Andy managed. Our pupils and their parents really enjoyed the "nursery rhyme, song & story time" soccer program and its tremendous associated fitness/soccer benefits.

When he was 4, I enrolled my second born son Michael in the Legends Soccer club program that Andy Barney founded. In the beginning, he experienced Andy's "HappyFeet" approach and soon fell in love with the game. He played for Andy and the Legends until he went to College. At age 16/17, Brian Tompkins, the head coach of Yale University, scouted him and identified him as a player he wanted to recruit for the varsity men's soccer team. If it hadn't been for a serious foot injury that ended his soccer career, Michael may well have played his college soccer career at Yale as two other Legends players Ryan Raybould (KC Wizards, MLS) and Jordan Raybould (Current Yale player) have done.

As a consequence of my own family's experience and the involvement of my preschool chain with Andy's approach, I am perhaps uniquely situated to recommend Andy Barney and a HappyFeet/Training Soccer Legends class or franchise as the very best introduction to soccer for 2, 3, 4 & 5 year olds and as the most incredible creative skill builder and developmental philosophy for players between the ages of 2 & 18 years. As a consequence of Andy's unique "HappyFeet/Training Soccer Legends" approach all of my son Michael's teammates who started with him at age 4, 5 & 6 developed into excellent soccer players with unusually dangerous deceptive dribbling and finishing skills who were offered scholarships to play in College. There were 8 players including Michael who started at that age. When they were high school seniors, every player on the 18-man Legends squad was offered a college soccer scholarship.

As a consequence of my family's experience, I would not hesitate to recommend your involvement in this unique, totally original, pioneering fitness concept for 2, 3, 4 & 5 year olds.

Sincerely,
Jack Brozman
Founder La Petite Preschools, Concorde Career Colleges & Streetside Records