Behind the Ball: An Interview with the Founder

To help you get to know the heart behind our program, I sat down to answer a few questions about Kids Kicks, our coaching philosophy, and what parents can expect.

Q: What inspired you to start Kids Kicks specifically for the 2 to 6 age group in the Philadelphia area?

Mike: 

Honestly, it came down to a perfect overlap between my life as a dad, a teacher, and a lifelong soccer guy.

As a former player and coach, I love the game, but as a fourth-grade teacher, I know exactly how kids learn and develop. I saw that sports programs for toddlers and preschoolers in Philly were either way too intense or just total chaos. There was nothing that hit that sweet spot of actual development wrapped in pure fun.

The 2-to-6 age group is this magical window where kids learn entirely through imagination. Using my education background, I designed a curriculum where we wrap fundamental footwork inside fun storytelling—like saving soccer balls from "space monsters." They have an absolute blast without even realizing they’re learning.

As a dad raising two young kids under four right here in the city, I also knew exactly what local families were looking for. It’s about more than soccer; it’s about social-emotional growth, sharing, and building confidence. Kids Kicks was born to give our Philly community a high-energy program that builds those life skills and feels like a joyful neighborhood hang.

Q: Many parents worry their toddler won't focus or will be too shy for a structured class. How do your coaches handle the weekday and weekend sessions to keep everyone engaged?

Mike:

I completely get that worry—as a dad of two toddlers, I know how intimidating a new environment can be, and as a teacher, I know exactly how short their attention spans are!

We design our sessions specifically around how young minds actually work. We don't expect kids to stand in lines or listen to lectures. Instead, imagination is our superpower. We wrap every skill in storytelling—if we tell them they’re driving a spaceship through an asteroid field, they’re instantly locked in.

We also keep the momentum moving fast so there’s no downtime for focus to drift. On Wednesdays after daycare, we focus on high-enthusiasm encouragement to lift their energy. On Saturdays, we harness that big weekend energy into active, high-octane fun.

Most importantly, we meet every child where they are. If a child is shy and needs to watch from the sidelines at Hancock Playground for the first ten minutes, that is 100% okay. Our coaches focus on social-emotional comfort first. Success to us isn't a perfect pass; it's seeing that shy child take their first step onto the field with a smile. We build the confidence first, and the soccer skills follow naturally.

Q: Beyond learning how to kick a ball, what are the main developmental milestones or life skills you want kids to take away from your program?

Mike: 

Beyond learning how to kick a ball, our program is really all about social-emotional development. As a teacher, I see every day how critical these foundational life skills are, and as a dad, I want my own kids practicing them too.

First and foremost is confidence and independence. For many of our 2-to-6-year-olds, Kids Kicks is their very first experience with a structured environment outside of the home. Learning to step onto the field, listen to a coach, and try something new is a massive milestone.

Second, we focus heavily on cooperation and community. We use our story-games to teach the basics of sharing, taking turns, and learning how to celebrate a teammate's success.

Finally, we want them to build a positive relationship with movement. We aren't trying to map out a path to the pros; we want them to leave Hancock Playground or Liberty Lands realizing that being active is joyful. If a child leaves our program feeling confident, knowing how to be a good friend, and loving physical activity, that’s a massive win that will serve them long after they leave our field.