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South Jordan Journal

Former Royals player highlights online soccer training

Feb 22, 2021 10:07AM ● By Catherine Garrett

Former BYU soccer player Alyssa Jefferson will be featured in a virtual six-week training program of world-class instruction for female soccer players, ages 13 to 17, that begins March 15.

By Catherine Garrett | [email protected]

Professional soccer player Alex Kimball, who returned to her Salt Lake roots as a member of the Utah Royals, headlines a new six-week online training program that will begin March 15. Ultimate Virtual Soccer Training for Female Athletes is aimed at training young female soccer players, ages 13 to 17, the skills and knowledge needed to improve their performance. The first week is being offered for free to give those interested a glimpse of the program.

“We are so excited for this program,” Utah-based Sport Ready founder Robin Cecil, a physical therapist of 25 years, said. “To have a strategic advantage, one must train all aspects of the game and be available to train. This course provides a holistic approach that includes the soccer specific and physical aspects of training, along with other aspects, such as core values, and how behaviors affect an athlete’s performance.”

Kimball, who splits time living and training in the Salt Lake area and North Carolina where she played collegiately for the storied Tarheels program, said she is excited to share her experiences with younger players. “We’re going to educate and help you train yourself in ways that you’ve never probably learned before,” she said. “I wish I knew then what I know now.”

Cecil said the program will give a comprehensive outlook and “some real takeaways” to educate youth athletes and empower them to know what to do to take care of their bodies. “We’re not trying to take away from club soccer, just enhancing their knowledge base and overall experience to play the sport as long as they can and in the safest way possible,” she said.

Other professional soccer players, including 2019 FIFA World Cup player Jessica McDonald, Manchester United player Alesia Russo along with former BYU player Alyssa Jefferson will also be featured in the training.

The online training course will be also be taught by other sports professionals, including RSL nutritionist Michelle Meinking and sports endocrinologist Nicki Keay who has worked with elite athletes for more than two decades. The focus of the program will be on learning what type of training and recovery to do; in what season of play, and how much; strategies to train mental strength and improve well-being; proper nutrition; tools to help you communicate effectively with coaches and parents; increasing awareness of female physiology; learning how to listen to your body; and decreasing injury risk.  There will also be weekly competitions and interactive activities.

 “Our staff understands what it takes to make it to the top and can guide athletes in their journey,” Cecil said. “With our expertise, our hope is to give every female soccer player an equal playing field and provide a virtual conduit to sustained development.”

Kimball will lead athletes through training drills while athletes will additionally be involved in live question and answer sessions, among other aspects of the program. The training will take about one hour per day, 4 to 5 days a week, depending on the individual schedule of each participant.

The cost of the online training is $199. Enrollment can be secured and more information can be found at: 

https://sportreadyacademy.com/p/ultimate-virtual-soccer-training-for-female-athletes-with-alex-kimball

The first 100 girls to sign up will receive a free KT Tape kit (retail value $56).  Teams that are interested in signing up can reach out to Cecil at [email protected] for special pricing.

Plans are also in place to expand this type of training to other sports, including football this spring.