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Golden Trout Cup + Simple, Effective Drills to Maintain Skill
Inside: 15+ practice drill ideas, a 15-minute home-training routine, Golden Trout Cup details, and spotlights on Net Ninjas & Handlebar Heroes.
Colin Gorini
February 03, 2026
Good morning,
My goal with every email is simple: to share my passion for youth soccer and the community that makes it thrive.
I hope you enjoy it, and I’d love to hear your feedback.
Coach’s Corner: Ball Mastery & Finish Drill
Purpose: Coaches, watch this video that has a bunch of different, simple drills that will help your players develop basic coordination, dribbling control, passing accuracy, and confidence in finishing on goal in a fast-paced activity.
There is minimal setup for each of the drills, and you only need a small area for each of them. These are a bunch of simple, light-work drills that will keep your players’ skills fresh and ready for gameday!
Parents’ Corner: Consistency Beats Complexity
You do not need fancy equipment to help your player improve — just consistency. Encourage your kid to do this 15 minute simple skilled routine, in the yard, driveway, or living room, focusing on control, first touch, and using both feet. The goal is not perfection, but overall just comfort on the ball.
For parents, the biggest role is support. Help build the routine, keep it fun, and celebrate their efforts and accomplishments. Those short, daily touches add up a lot faster than you think they do — and they show up on game day!
NEW: 2026 Golden Trout Cup, Petersburg, West Virginia - June 7, 2026
 | Kick off your summer at the 2026 Golden Trout Cup in Petersburg, West Virginia, on June 7, 2026! This tournament is open to U8-U16 boys and girls. This fast-paced event delivers high involvement and nonstop action. This event is partnered with Raptors Soccer Foundation, which supports soccer in rural West Virginia. |
Girls Team of the Week: Net Ninjas - U14 Girls
The U14 girls bracket at last year’s 2025 Kicks 4 Canines was an exciting one. Net Ninjas had two wins and one tie in group play before advancing to playoffs! They won their championship game with a 2-0 shutout victory over Playing With Fire, in all showcasing their strong teamwork and determination. Good job, ladies! |
Boys Team of the Week: Handlebar Heroes - U14 Boys
Handlebar Heroes battled through a very competitive U14 division at the 2025 Kicks 4 Canines Soccer Tournament, showing their grit and high-end composure all weekend. They rose to the top in the championship match, grinding out a hard-fought 1-0 victory over the WBSC Gunners to claim their title. Congrats to the Handlebar Heroes! |
Nominate Your Team for a Spotlight
We feature two programs every week — reply with your team’s story.
Community Spotlight: Raptors Soccer Foundation
Raptors Soccer Foundation is growing the game of soccer in rural West Virginia by creating new opportunities for young athletes. Serving the Potomac Highlands and other surrounding communities, the Foundation brings affordable, year-round, European-style soccer training to young athletes who might otherwise lack access to competitive play.
Raptors Soccer is not replacing any existing programs — it is reviving opportunity where it has been limited in the past, ensuring that every child has a pathway to learn, compete, and fall in love with the game of soccer.
Join Us in Growing the Game
If you know a coach, parent, player, or fan who would enjoy this, please forward it along and invite them to subscribe.
And if you ever want to share feedback, reply to this email — I read every response.
Here’s to Building American Soccer Together.
Warmly,
Colin Gorini
Founder, UnitedGoals USA
[email protected]
unitedgoalsusa.com
