Online soccer skills academy
Master the ball.
One skill at a time.
Step-by-step video lessons from Coach Thad, an Indy Eleven MLS NEXT player and two-time ODP national team pick with 14 years in the game. Go from toe taps to the elastico with just a ball and a few cones, and get real feedback from a coach.
For players ages 5–18 and the parents who back them. Based in Indianapolis, training players anywhere.
How it works
Watch. Practice. Get coached.
Watch the lesson
Each 3–6 minute video shows the skill at full speed, then breaks it down in slow motion with three coaching points.
Follow the practice plan
A printable routine for the backyard or park. All you need is a ball, a few cones and 15 minutes a day.
Pass the level test
Film yourself doing the test, earn your badge, and move up. Coach Review members get personal feedback on every clip.
The skill ladder
5 levels. 30 lessons. One clear path.
You always know what to practice next. New lessons drop every week.
Foundations
Toe taps, sole rolls, inside-outside touches, V-pull, juggling basics, the 100-touch warm-up.
First touch
Receiving with the inside foot, thigh and chest control, the half-turn, wall-pass routine.
1v1 moves
Scissors, step-over, Cruyff turn, La Croqueta, drag-back, change of pace.
Pass & strike
Short passing, driven pass, chip, laces shot, weak-foot finishing, volleys.
Flair
Elastico, rainbow flick, Maradona spin, combo chains and the final skills test.
Meet your coach
Hi, I'm Coach Thad.
I've been playing soccer for 14 years, coming up through Dynamo FC and Hoosier FC to the Indy Eleven MLS NEXT academy. Along the way I was selected for the ODP national team twice and made the North Central varsity team as a freshman. Every level taught me the same thing: the players who stand out are the ones who master the ball on their own time.
When I was a kid, I didn't have a clear plan for what to practice or anyone to show me exactly what I was doing wrong. I built First Touch Lab to be what I wish I'd had: a step-by-step path that gives young players a real leg up on their competition.
I'm also doing this because I miss coaching. I've worked with players one-on-one and coached at Indy summer soccer camps, and nothing beats the moment a player finally nails a skill they've been grinding on. Now I get to have that moment with players everywhere.
Coach Review
Send a clip. Get told exactly what to fix.
Videos show you the skill. A coach shows you your mistakes. Upload a practice clip and get a voice-over breakdown back within 72 hours.
- 2 personal video reviews every month
- A custom drill to fix your biggest weakness
- Parent-managed accounts. All messages go through the parent.
"Every lesson here is one I wish I'd had as a kid. I'll be the coach in your corner."
Pricing
Less than one private session.
Free
Start today and see if it clicks.
- All of Level 1 (6 lessons)
- Free 7-day first-touch challenge
- Weekly skill email
Academy
Most popularCancel anytime.
- All 5 levels, 30+ lessons
- A new lesson every week
- Printable practice plans
- Level tests and progress badges
Coach Review
Limited spots each month.
- Everything in Academy
- 2 personal video reviews a month
- Custom fix-it drills
- Priority email support for parents
Questions parents ask
What ages is this for?
Players 5–18, from first-timers to club and academy players. Younger players (5–8) start with Level 1, ideally with a parent helping set up the cones. If Level 1 feels easy, jump ahead.
Who is the coach?
Coach Thad, an Indianapolis player with 14 years in the game, including the Indy Eleven MLS NEXT academy, Hoosier FC and Dynamo FC. He was selected for the ODP national team twice and played varsity for North Central as a freshman. He has coached players one-on-one and at Indy summer soccer camps, and he records every lesson and reviews every Coach Review clip himself.
What equipment do we need?
A ball, 4–6 cones (shoes or water bottles work too) and a flat space about the size of a driveway.
Who sees my child's videos?
Only the coach. Parents own the account and upload the clips, and nothing is posted publicly without written permission.
Can we cancel anytime?
Yes. Monthly plans cancel with one click, and you keep access until the end of the billing period.
