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Champions Soccer School training, philosophy, coaching, and mission is to educate young soccer players Recreational, select, premier and college players are all welcome to join and develop their game to reach their goals. 

 

Our Motto is "For The Players"

 

Champions Soccer School was founded by Australian Mark Calleja. 

 

I grew up in West Sydney in an area dominated by European immigration Mark's first experiences of soccer was watching the Serie A - Italian league championship with his grandfather.

 

I saw the skills and tactical battles being fought out on the pitch and having his grandfather explain the game on a regular basis game Mark an exceptional culture of football.

 

I played youth football in Sydney till I was 18. I continued to play club football for another 4 years. I always took an interest in the skills and tactics of the game. I enjoyed learning how a player could be developed, how a team could set up and play vs another one. I actually enjoyed the coaching and developing part of the game more than being a player. 

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When I was 22 years old travelled through South America and Europe to train, develop and fine tune my coaching philosophies because I loved the game that much I wanted to see how professional team taught their youth players in those parts of the world. It was very different and later in life it helped to enhance the Champions Soccer School curriculum.

 

An emphasis on skillful and creative play, a culture of football based on a relationship with the ball and the emphasis on trying to play with an understanding of how to solve soccer problems individually and collectively and not just rely on the athleticism of individuals was one simple thing I learnt. The little details are very important as well as there are no short cuts. Excellent players put in many hours a week of work to perfect their game.

 

I moved to Seattle, WA in 2009. I found many young American soccer players were not being educated with the same international football maturities, culture and best practices. So I decided I would help teach the game through team coaching at clubs in Washington State as well as set up a Soccer School which I would be able to help manage a player through their journey. Below are just some of the services we offer our players to help improve their game...

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1:1 sessions

Small group sessions

Video analysis 

Attend live games 

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Below are some highlights of mine, but the main thing in youth football apart from learning to win is did the players progress and grow their game while they were with me. How many play at a higher level now because of the things they learnt with me. It is more important than wining at youth because missing the chance to learn the game and just trying to win at all cost is damaging in future years because you wont have developed the ability. A bit like going through school and had poor teachers that didn't teach the right things at the time but you still got an A. Then when you get to the next year you struggle because there was a gap in the content you learnt in the past.

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In 2012, as Assistant Coach with The Overlake School in Redmond, Mark was a major contributor as the varsity team became 1A State Champions in Washington State.

 

In 2015, as Head Coach of Select side Newport FC Boys 2000 (U15) Mark's team was crowned fall Champions without losing a game. 

 

"The most important aspect for us becoming champions with Overlake and Newport was the way the team actually played football. With an importance on correct technical execution, controlling the game with possession of the ball, creating goal scoring opportunities with good combination play with the ball and smart runs off the ball.

 

With Newport FC what was so pleasing was those boys were such quick learners and very coachable. We only had 6 weeks before the beginning of the season to lay a foundation with all the technical and tactical work for how they would play. None of the boys had played with such a deep understanding of the games tactics and they didn't have any confidence either. But somebody has to show them even if we did in fact come last trying to learn it. To their credit they performed exceptionally well!"

 

Link to Academy Philosophy

 

Link to Newport FC Highlight Videos

 

Link to 1:1 Lessons

 

Link to Small Group Lessons