A young player dribbling the ball across the indoor turf as an Own Touch coach looks on

Mini Mentee · Ages 4-7 · Saturday mornings

A Better Beginning for Young Soccer Players

A 12-week Saturday program for players ages 4-7, at Huntersville and Pineville. It is its own enrolment, separate from the Mentee programs for ages 6-18.

See dates and enrol Ages 6-18? Mentee Programs

The program

Twelve Saturdays with the ball

Ages 4-712-week programSaturday morningsSmall-sided developmentLimited enrollment

A 12-week developmental program for young players beginning to build their relationship with the ball: no complicated tactics, no pressure, just the technical foundation they'll rely on for years.

Start with Mini Mentee, a 12-week Saturday introduction to the ball.

See what they'll learn →

Choose Mini Mentee if…

Players just beginning soccer
Recreation players who want more technical development
Young travel players who need additional work with the ball
Players who love soccer and simply want more chances to train
Families looking for an age-appropriate introduction to Own Touch

A young player moving with the ball during a Mini Mentee session

The curriculum

What Mini Mentees work on

Five fundamentals, revisited and reinforced across the 12 weeks as sessions gradually become more challenging.

A young player dribbling through a drill on the indoor pitch

First touch & ball control

Players learn to receive and control the ball instead of chasing it: different surfaces of the foot, receiving movements, keeping the ball close.
1v1 confidence

Taking on another player: changes of direction, ball protection, creativity, and the confidence to make their own decisions.
Juggling & ball familiarity

Introduced early and built progressively: coordination, touch, and a feel for how the ball moves.
Quick decision-making

Simple situations where players recognize pressure, space, and teammates, rather than waiting for a coach to tell them what to do.
2v1 & 2v2 play

One of soccer’s most important concepts: when to keep the ball and when to combine with someone else.

Booking

What you can book for ages 4-7

The 12-week Saturday program, sold as one cohort per studio, and the weekly class for the same age group.

Enrolling now

Mini Mentees Ages 4-7

Ages 4-7Saturdays, 10:00-11:00 AM10:00am - 11:00am ET

$400 for the full program

A 12-week Saturday program for ages 4-7 built around what matters most at this age: first touch, quick decision-making, and dynamic play.

Both studios

Enrol · Huntersville Enrol · Pineville

Being confirmed

Technical Foundations

Ages 4-7

A structured session for ages 4-7 that builds the fundamentals: dribbling, passing and receiving, finishing, first touch, and early decision-making.

Both studios Ask about Technical Foundations

Mini Mentee is sold as the 12-week program rather than a membership, so there is no monthly option for this age group. Sessions and enrolment are handled on the schedule for each studio.

Our philosophy

Start with the ball

Young players don't need more lines, cones, and complicated instructions. They need the ball.

Mini Mentee is built around a high number of meaningful touches and simple game situations, so players become steadily more comfortable controlling, protecting, and moving the ball. The goal is players who are willing to try things, solve problems, and enjoy having the ball at their feet.

That starts with fundamentals.

A young player striking the ball during a session

Why small-sided play

Young players learn soccer by playing soccer

Smaller games mean more touches, more decisions, and more chances for every player to be involved. Instead of hiding inside a large game, players are constantly asked to participate.

1v1: Learning to beat a player, protect the ball, and defend individually.
2v1: Learning when to dribble and when a teammate creates a better option.
2v2: Beginning to understand support, movement, and defending together.