Skills Institute

Skills Institute at Tacoma Soccer Center

Skills Institute is where soccer takes center stage.  Rooted in child development theory, kids have a blast learning and improving technical and tactical soccer skills.  Players will walk away more confident, equipped for their next right step, and ready for life’s challenges on and off the field.  Players enjoy 30 minutes of age-appropriate instruction and 20 minutes of small-sided scrimmaging.

Classes meet weekly for 50 minutes.

Open Enrollment, Join Anytime!

Educate. Develop. Inspire.

Summer Registration is Now Open!

Classes Start June 20th.

COVID-19 Updates for Lil Kickers and Skills Institute Classes

We are strictly adhering to the phased guidelines set forth by the government to ensure a healthy environment and our programs will be modified accordingly.

  • We are not currently requiring masks in our facility. If you or your child is sick or experiencing symptoms of Covid-19 we ask that you please stay home and schedule a make-up class to make up for the missed day. 
Try A Free Class

Wondering if Skills Institute is the right fit for you? Give us a try! New customers can sign up for a free 50-minute class to experience the program firsthand. We think you’re going to love it!

Register Today

We have open enrollment so you can register any time using our convenient, online process.

View Class Schedules

Our convenient class times provide families options to accommodate multiple children and busy schedules. Find a day and time that works for you!

Skills Institute Level Descriptions

Skills Institute Level 1 Class

AGES 5/6, 7/8, 9 – 12
8:1 CHILD-TO-COACH RATIO

Try A free Skills Institute Level 1 class

Classes focus on the fundamentals of player development: dribbling, passing, shooting, trapping and how to use them effectively in a game. Level 1 will take players through weekly sessions of fundamental skill building and competitive drills/games to build confidence and competence.
Skills Institute Level 2 Class

AGES 5/6, 7/8, 9 – 12
BY RECOMMENDATION ONLY
8:1 CHILD-TO-COACH RATIO

Try A free Skills Institute Level 2 class

Players well-suited for this class have level 1 or prior club experience. Classes focus on refining individual technique, positioning, strategy, speed and agility. Two things come together here; honing personal strengths and understanding how to use them to enhance team play. Coaches guide players towards mastering fundamentals, understanding correct field positioning and developing a strong Soccer IQ
Skills Institute Level 3 Class

AGES 5/6, 7/8, 9 – 12
BY RECOMMENDATION ONLY
8:1 CHILD-TO-COACH RATIO

Try A free Skills Institute Level 3 class

Find your place on the field. Whether you prefer a single position or want versatility, this challenging 50-minute class focuses on position-specific training. Players learn tactical insight and systems of play while building speed and agility. They will master fundamentals, position responsibilities, tactical approaches, and attacking/defending skills.

Skills Institute Level Descriptions

Skills Institute Level 1

  • AGES 5/6, 7/8, 9 – 12 YEARS
  • 8:1 CHILD-TO-COACH RATIO

Try A free Skills Institute Level 1
Classes focus on the fundamentals of player development: dribbling, passing, shooting, trapping and how to use them effectively in a game. Level 1 will take players through weekly sessions of fundamental skill building and competitive drills/games to build confidence and competence.

Skills Institute Level 2

  • AGES 5/6, 7/8, 9 – 12 YEARS
  • BY RECOMMENDATION ONLY
  • 8:1 CHILD-TO-COACH RATIO

Try A free Skills Institute Level 2
Players well-suited for this class have level 1 or prior club experience. Classes focus on refining individual technique, positioning, strategy, speed and agility. Two things come together here; honing personal strengths and understanding how to use them to enhance team play. Coaches guide players towards mastering fundamentals, understanding correct field positioning and developing a strong Soccer IQ.
Skills Institute Level 3

  • AGES 5/6, 7/8, 9 – 12 YEARS
  • BY RECOMMENDATION ONLY
  • 8:1 CHILD-TO-COACH RATIO

Try A free Skills Institute Level 3
Find your place on the field. Whether you prefer a single position or want versatility, this challenging 50-minute class focuses on position-specific training. Players learn tactical insight and systems of play while building speed and agility. They will master fundamentals, position responsibilities, tactical approaches, and attacking/defending skills.

Skills Institute FAQ’s

Participants should wear comfortable clothes and athletic shoes (no outdoor cleats). Shinguards are recommended for Skills Institute classes. A Skills Institute jersey is given to first-time customers for free, and can thereafter be purchased at a low cost. Outfitting your child in Skills Institute garb is a fun way to make your child feel part of a team. Kids naturally appreciate looking like older uniformed kids and role models.

Each of our classes lasts 50 minutes with a water break halfway through. Between classes, there is a 10-minute break.

We offer four sessions a year (fall, winter, spring, summer) that break down into approximately 10-13 week cycles.

No, classes are 50 minutes and require a parent or guardian to be on-site at all times

Yes! We offer open enrollment so that you can join anytime and have your class fees prorated. This means that you pay only for the remaining class and not the full session fee.

The session needs to be paid in full at the time of registration to reserve your child’s spot. Please note that we offer open enrollment, we do prorate class fees.

You are able to make up any missed classes within the session in which you are enrolled.

Yes! We offer a sibling discount of $15.00 for each additional child registered as long as the children are registered at the same time.

No, in order to maintain class ratios and consistency within the program, we schedule children for specific times and days. When registering, be sure to first determine which day best suits your schedule. Of course there may be an occasion when a make-up class is needed. In that situation, you can schedule a make-up class for any day in which class space is available. If your schedule changes during the session, and you need to switch days, we will try to accommodate your needs to the best of our ability. However, changes cannot be guaranteed and are based on space availability.

To allow for quality instruction, Skills Institute provides a low player-to-coach ratio – 8:1.

Lil’ Kickers is a child development soccer program that teaches basic skills through fun, creative, and energetic games. Skills Institute also encourages age-appropriate child development and focuses on teaching more technical and tactical skills through various fast-paced, challenging and structured drills.

A higher level of specialized technical instruction is provided in Skills Institute classes, and the value of this instruction is priced accordingly.