Level 5

I spend my time training elite players at Wake Forest and youth players. What strikes me every year at all levels in the American game is the gap in technical skill and lack of initiative. If players want to enjoy the game more, progress and play at a higher level, they need to show initiative in self training and work toward mastering the ball. What I like about the Captain Elite program is players cannot advance to higher levels without proving they mastered lower levels.

Captain Elite is not about reinventing the soccer wheel. It is about building a mastery environment where the focus is on the individual player and his/her internal motivation. Each player is encouraged and directed to establish individual goals that are realistic, specific, measurable, adjustable, and to be achieved within a defined time-frame.  Mike has created for the player a learning reality based on time on task, descriptive visual feedback, and incessant positive reinforcement. Thank you Coach Mike!

Captain Elite has given me the opportunity to control my development.  My speed of play has improved greatly allowing me to play in tight spaces while under pressure and I feel more confident with the ball at my feet.

The improvement in my son’s level of play over the past 8 months in the Captain Elite program has been amazing! He now has the confidence to take control of his own development and fully grasps the importance of consistently demonstrating a high work rate. The dedication of my son to become a better player has been an inspiration to me as a parent.  The accomplishment in making a two level team jump in a short amount of time would not have been possible without the Captain Elite program.

There was a time when getting to a soccer game or practice was a parent’s chore… Captain Elite changed that for my 13 year-old son.  I have seen a remarkable change in John-John’s attitude and commitment.  He now (especially over the 2015 summer break) independently practices, researches techniques, and makes sure that he’s prepared for his practices and games for his club team. That frees us from the burden of constantly reminding him of what he’s supposed to do. In addition, we have seen his confidence and love of the ball and love of the game improve.

What I like about the Captain Elite program is players cannot advance to higher levels without proving they mastered lower levels.

Thank you, Mike! I especially love the third video because it says much more eloquently what I have tried to tell my daughter about mistakes. She is only 11 but has always excelled as an athlete and we just try to continue to feed and guide her appetite. But lately I have seen another side effect of her success… her teammates and classmates have an expectation for her to do well, and I see hints that she feels some pressure to perform rather than just to play. She has grabbed on to the statement from your video that  “Mistakes are a biological necessity” and I can feel her relaxing. Well done!

Thanks for preparing this quality training.  We as parents sometimes need to step back and realize that the players are the ones responsible for their own development. We do not need to be a barrier in our child’s development or a reason for them losing the love for the game.  The Captain Elite program has been a huge addition to my son’s training ; the courses , research, presentations, and training sessions keep amazing me!  It has been a joy to watch my son’s love for the game grow. He loves pushing himself out of his comfort zone in training always looking to take his game to the next level. Can’t wait to see what’s coming next. Thanks again Coach K!