We have been doing Coach Ken afterschool for over 5 years now. I have noticed a big improvement in the program regarding making it easy and convenient for parents. If it rains, instead of cancelling practice and leaving parents scrambling to pickup their children early, Coach Ken's staff will watch the kids and do soccer if there is an indoor space available so normal pickup time is not disrupted. If school has a minimum day, Coach Ken's program will hold practice earlier right after school gets out. Coach Ken also has soccer 1-day clinics on school holidays (half day or full day) which can be signed up for just a day or two in advance. This makes it very easy to have the kids get exercise and get off their screens on those school holidays. Coach Izzy is especially dedicated and good with the kids. read more

This is our first season with Coach Ken and Coach Dorothy and we're big fans. We have tried Soccer Shots and a few other options here in the Peninsula but Coach Ken & Coach Dorothy are by far the best! Big thanks to his coaching staff and especially to Coach Jay! Coaching involves more than designing plays for free kicks or creating team formations. Coaching, especially at the youth level, involves accepting a huge responsibility as you are basically in a position of trust as parents put their kids in your care. The youth soccer coach wears many hats. Jay, in particular: 1) communicates positively 2) teaches soccer fundamentals 3) reviews soccer rules 4) directs kids in games 5) provides a safe environment 6) helps kids develop character (learning, caring, being honest and respectful, and taking responsibility) I hope Coach Ken and the management team can promote Coach Jay for going so far above and beyond a parent's expectations of service quality! Lastly, thank you to Ken and Dorothy for all that you do for our Community! We are grateful! read more

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This is my third season in this program,and like all but one reviewer aptly noted, this is the best recreational soccer program for kids in the Mountain View-Los Altos-Palo Alto area. There is consistency in coaching, which is good since younger kids should form a bond with one person. Coaches are well-trained, knowledgeable about soccer and great with kids. Many of the coaches are ladies, which my daughters love. The coaches run the same program, which to me means the program has a curriculum. My daughter's personality is better suited to female coaches. From my experience so far, I've seen Coach Ken work with the youngest soccer players to the most advanced groups in a three month period. This spring season, he coached the most advanced 4-6 year olds at Hoover for the first 4 weeks,then coached the youngest group for two weeks thereafter.On week 7, he worked with the second youngest group. Hemoves coaches around after kids are comfortably settled in the program. I have also seen coach Ken move kids around to different groups to reflect their development. Not everybody will like that, but as a teacher myself, I think his approach works well for kids learning to play soccer. The program works for kids and is highly-rated. read more

Coach Ken Soccer - Ready for camp! - Soccer Near Me - Los Altos, California

We think the world of Coach Ken's program. We started our daughter at age 4 in his program and she really learned a lot and enjoyed the encouragement as she progressed each week. The next year her AYSO coach had to slow down our daughter from scoring too many goals so as not to run the score up on the other team and simply just dribble all around the field :D. We put her in a top club program later that same year and she has since excelled. This can be attributed to the solid soccer foundation and a love of the game developed through her Coach Ken experience. We also decided to introduce our son at age 4 and he is really developing great skills and enjoying a love of the game as well, and we have been invited to have him play "up" a birth year in soccer with some other boys in a soccer league. Coach Ken has a lot of great assistants who have all played soccer and can provide solid examples of fundamental moves and techniques, and the do a great job keeping them moving through different "skills stations" before ultimately having to utilize these new moves in 1 on 1, and small sided games. They keep them busy and they are always nice and tired when we bring them home :). The coaches are so encouraging and bring an energy that is very infectious, even after all these years, that rubs off on my kids and other children I observe. Our daughter still enjoys signing up for his camps and after school program in between her club seasons as he does a great job pairing her with older groups and boys that challenge her, ultimately making her a better player. Keep up the great work, and our kids looking forward to some fun soccer this summer! read more

Coach Ken Soccer - Our daughter shown in a local paper participating and having fun in a summer Coach Ken camp! - Soccer Near Me - Los Altos, California

1 word...OVERRATED. When I see that this soccer program gets 5 stars historically, it leads me to believe that the program had declined over time. Here's the summary: (1) INACTIVITY: There is a TON of standing around. Some of the assistant coaches are low energy and all they do is talk and say "whoa whoa whoa." Anyone who has or works with 4-6 year olds should know you can't just talk to kids and you need to physically engage them. In the 75 mins of the Saturday class, the kids are MAYBE moving about 30-35 mins. (2) LACK OF DEVELOPMENT: To their credit, Coach Ken is present at every session. HOWEVER, he only works with the most experienced and skilled kids. A direct quote: "I'm going to work with the best players only because I can do more with them." Unfortunately, for the rest of the students they are stuck with subpar assistant coaches that just talk and aren't enthusiastic at all. Basically, if your kid is really good then you get maybe a decent experience. But if your kid is developing or even trying to just have fun, you're stuck with a drab experience...almost like KidzLoveSoccer (without Coach Pedro who btw is the only good coach for KLS). I'm giving it 3 stars which is generous. More like a 2 star. Note: The program has moved to Hoover in Palo Alto. read more

Coach Ken is amazing! A great teacher, motivator, organizer, and all around wonderful presence for the kids. Our kids both take classes/league play and they love it. They're learning some fundamentals and having fun at the same time. One interesting lesson that Ken will impart for parents: Don't cheer / yell / talk to your kids while they're playing. It's hard to resist, but it's an important point--kids should learn to be self motivated and have love for the game, not focused on the attention they receive from parents. Kudos to Ken!!! read more

Fantastic energy, great attitude with the kids while maintaining a strong focus on soccer fundamentals. This is a class for kids who want to actually LEARN soccer skills and not just goof around like other camps/classes offered for under 8 year olds. Coach Ken makes learning fun but does so with drills that teach tactical footwork and agility/quick movement. HIGHLY recommend him for kids of all ages! :) Thank you coach ken! read more

I've seen a huge improvement in my son's soccer technique after attending Coach Ken Soccer last Spring. The instructors really know how to motivate the kids and improve all aspects of their play. And I love that Coach Ken Soccer is offered at my son's school so that they pick him up and take him back to after-school care. My son is now enrolled in their Fall soccer clinic and loves it. Thanks Coach Ken! read more

My boys are 8 and 11 and are both playing competitive soccer and loving it. They are both exceptional soccer players if I may say so myself :) we started soccer with Coach Ken when my oldest was 3 and I give him full credit for teaching my boys to love the game !! His passion for soccer and his amazing ways for passing it on are incredible. He has a very special way with little kids and he makes it all fun !! I cannot say enough good things about Coach Ken. We still join his summer camps at least one week every summer. read more

I cannot express enough how positive of an impression Coach Ken makes on youth soccer players and their parents. My 2 daughters started attending his weekly soccer sessions about 5 years ago at ages 8 and 11. His sessions and his training became a key part of their life that they looked forward to each week. In addition to building strong soccer skills, they established many great friendships with the other players that attended sessions with them over the years. His sessions include different technical and tactical training focus areas each week followed by games where the skills can be practiced. During the games, Coach Ken stops players at key points and helps them understand what the alternatives are for their next move or what they could have done differently to have a better result. Attending this training each week provided my daughters with the extra training and touches that were needed to continually advance their game. And the extra game time really improved their endurance as he always encourages players to give it their all. When my younger daughter started with Coach Ken, she was on a recreational U9 team. Each week she learned important parts of the game including footwork, shooting, shielding, triangle formations, and so much more. She was learning technical techniques and tactical approaches at an early age that were usually taught to older players. Quickly she became a solid competitive player with the soccer smarts needed to play on the most competitive teams. Today she is playing ECNL and looks forward to playing in college and beyond. I attribute much of the skill, passion, and love she has for the game to Coach Ken's teachings and the weekly sessions she attended. Over the years, she had team mates or school friends who wanted to step up their level of play. We would recommend for them to try out Coach Ken soccer. And each and every time they did, within a month their teammates would be asking them what they had done since their level of play was noticeably more competitive. It was really amazing how quickly Coach Ken would make an impact on their game. Part of the success he has with youth players is the incredible rapport he has with children, communicating with them as adults, but at a level they can understand and respond to. And his passion for soccer really is contagious. My daughters also love his accent. I would strongly encourage anyone who has children who enjoy soccer and who want to improve their playing skills and endurance to check out his soccer clinics. read more

Coach Ken is the BEST for introducing a child to and developing them in soccer. He makes it fun but manages to run a real academy with kids who naturally don't have attention spans. He really has a gift for teaching kids! My son just started his weekly academy lessons and I'm very pleased with the quality of the program. I've observed many coaches and programs. I'm picky since his older sister plays comp soccer. His 10 yr older sister plays premier level soccer an age up. She tried 2 different programs at 4 and 6 and hated soccer as a result. I had to force her at age 8 to join a rec team which finally ignited her love for soccer. Her early programs were horrible in comparison. I realize had she gone to coach Ken, her passion for soccer likely would have started much earlier. My son is fortunate to have good coaching and gain the fundamentals early ( he just turned 7). read more

I had a 9 year old and a 5 year old start soccer with Coach Ken camps this summer. They were apprehensive at first, especially the older one, since they were late to soccer compared to kids in this area. The coaches were all so great and really managed to connect with my kids and make them feel empowered. Both girls had a blast, developed a love for the sport and a lot of respect for the coaches. We are looking forward to joining the regular classes in the Fall. read more

My son has been playing for Coach Ken for 4 seasons now, and we could not be more pleased. He gets the instruction that he needs, coupled with the discipline and play time that is required to demonstrate his mastery of the skills that he has learned. Coach Ken is the only serious coach we have found in the Bay Area for younger kids that techies them how to harness their talents and capitalize on their strengths. We are not only pleased with Coach Ken and his assistants, but we feel that he is part of our family and genuinely cares about the welfare and progress of our son. We couldn't ask for a better coach and mentor to our son. read more

Ken is a great coach, he knows what he doing with these kids. I wouldn't be surprised if some of them grow up to professionals. Good job Ken! read more

I have been playing the soccer for almost 40 years now and did some U10 and U12 coaching and youth development in my college years. I know a good coach when I see one. Coach Ken Soccer Academy is the perfect introduction to the beautiful game. Ken's passion for the game AND the kids shows through at every session. He wants to see the kids succeed, not just in soccer, but off the field as well. The atmosphere is laid back, low pressure, FUN and social for parents. My son started at 5 and continued through age 9 to move on to AYSO. I can't recommend this program enough. read more

Coach Ken Soccer is the best in town. When we moved to Los Altos two years ago, all we heard from people was "Coach Ken, Coach Ken...". I enrolled both my boys in his year round sessions and summer camps. My kids skills and thrill improved immediately. In the last year, I even joined Coach Ken for several 8 week 'Mom's Soccer Sessions", and have thoroughly enjoyed myself--I had never played soccer in my life before Coach Ken. I think what makes Coach Ken so successful in teaching whether adults or children is (1) his love/passion for the game, (2) his knowledge of the sport, and (3) his patient and concrete way of showing/teaching the skills. Something that immediately made Coach Ken stand out compared to the other two soccer programs we had tried in other cities was the scrimmaging. I think the secret to teaching/enjoying the game is allowing kids/adults to practice the skills by actually playing the game. No matter if you are 4 or or older, he always reserves time at the end for "play" time so one can actually implement what they have learned. My kids love this part of the game, and truthfully this is always the most fun part for me (not to mention the intense exercise time). I am always recommending Coach Ken, and being a huge YELP user I thought I would announce it to a broader audience. Check him out, you won't regret it. read more

I was first introduced to YDP about 3 years ago and have been impressed with the program, the organization, and the friendliness of the coaches and most of all Coach Ken. I am a mother of 3 and while my first son didn't go through the program I was glad I was introduced to it when my second son was able to join at 4yrs. Coming from other soccer programs, YDP has a different approach and standard which I appreciate since I hadn't seen this level of commitment from other soccer programs. It's really organized in a way that develops the individual player, learn skills and technique while making it fun and engaging. The children are not only broken out by age but also by skill level so while they are in a group setting still benefit from individualized attention. My middle son loved the program. He has since moved in to club level. Now that my third son is ready to join YDP I am excited to go through this program to have him learn and play soccer officially on a team. Our family has been a proud YDP participant now for 3yrs and plan to continue participating in YDP until my younger boy moves on to club level and I have the confidence that he will build the necessary skills through YDP. read more

Coach Ken Soccer is wonderful! Coach Ken works hard and his soccer classes are legit. He has a great staff, especially Diana and Daniella are awesome! We have known coach ken for two years and our son likes his classes. Highly recommended! read more

Yes, Coach K did reach out but I don't check Yelp often. I have responded to him and offered to talk via phone so he can get my feedback directly. I actually tried to use their website to give this feedback (vs. Yelp as I tend to avoid it), but the website wouldn't let me post or send things. My review is real, my kid went the week of July 10, 2017 at Hillview. To be clear, as I thought I was in my review, this was MY experience and 3 other parents agreed with me. Obviously others love this camp which is great, but my experience was not great and my son was exhausted every day. Yes, they did do a snack break every day from 11:00-11:30, my comment was that other breaks were not allowed. Further, the camp description says the kids only play soccer to 11:30, but every time we picked my son up that week, he was scrimmaging and playing soccer so that's a misrepresentation of the schedule. I'm not trying to be harsh on the business, I just thought parents may want to hear about my experience for a 4 year old. read more

My four year old participated in a weekly 45-minute class with Coach Ken and really enjoyed it. My son learned a lot of soccer skills and even got to scrimmage in real one-on-one and team play situations. I liked how Coach Ken is positive and upbeat, teaches real soccer, and uses a call and response method to keep the kids in line and teach them to talk to the coach with respect. read more

This is my 4 year old daughters first time playing soccer and she LOVED coach Ken's classes! She has a great time and it's very well organized. We are for sure going to keep re enrolling! All the kids look like they are having so much fun and she already learned how to dribble the ball! They do a little of everything, skills, one on one, and singles. As good as it gets! read more