Player and Parent Testimonials

We believe our program’s success is best told through the words our our players, parents, and coaches. We hope to give each player, parent, and their families the same experience each of these individuals recieced.

  • "I really had zero complaints about working with STEADY. It was extremely beneficial to be surrounded by like minded people looking to achieve the same goals and be provided with the tools and opportunities to help get me there."

    Audie Shaver, Lynchburg College commit, HS Class of ‘22s here

  • “Even with sharp technical skills and tactical awareness, without the confidence to trust your own decision-making during a match, your ability to be impactful is limited. Coach Nora is extraordinarily skilled at working with players, identifying their gifts and creating lasting, effective mental habits. She is committed to developing players to reach their full potential and she invests personally in achieving that goal by working with players in all aspects of their game and following them through their soccer career, with frequent check-ins and messages of encouragement.”

    Janet Pinkham-Boller, mom of Lucy, ‘08 Skyline Elite, Charrlottesville, VA

  • “Flex and Nora are excellent, experienced soccer coaches and educators. In TSD they present important player centric approaches to development that reflect the needs and challenges of US youth athletes. TSD is a new and refreshing way to support the development of the contemporary youth player.”

    Ian Barker

  • About Phase 1 Coach Development: " With 30 years of coaching experience in both club and school soccer, I’ve learned from a lot of very successful and very smart coaches over the course of my career. I hold Total Soccer Development up to any of the other materials I’ve had. I’m really impressed with the outcome. I’ve implemented the first three Principles over the first six weeks of our season and I’ve been impressed with the progress the boys have made. I’ve seen steady technical improvement, better decision-making on the ball, improved tactical awareness in small group play, and more personal accountability. The written materials, diagrams, videos, and video chats have all made the program easy to administer. The match analysis has helped me to paint a clearer picture for the boys during our classroom sessions. I consider the return on investment in Total Soccer Development, in both time and money, as high. I really look forward to implementing more principles as the season progresses."

    George Alley, Polk County HS Boys Head Coach, USSF B License Coach

  • "Total Development is more than a brand name, it is a commitment to every part of the person. Not just the player or coach, but the person. This program meets the person where they are and pushes them to strengthen the gifts they have while developing their targeted areas of growth. I have personally witnessed the program positively impact multiple coaches and entire teams of students. Their teachers and families notice the difference, and we have not seen the backslide at the end of our seasons in the classroom and in the community. Our kids have developed a common vocabulary, not just for skill on the pitch, but for skills in life, and I as an athletic director can't ask for anything more."

    -Jacob Wheeler, Middle School Athletic Director, Harrisonburg, VA

  • "I have known Flex for decades and have gotten to Nora as a legit pro! I am confident that their combined methodology will greatly help not only players but coaches as well. You simply don’t come across this high level of experience every day."

    Stan Anderson, Camp Shutout Founder

  • "I've been involved in soccer for many years, both as a player and a coach, and I can confidently say that Total Soccer Development elevates the game for everyone involved. Their approach, based on ten carefully crafted principles, has not only improved my coaching skills but has also had a profound impact on the players I work with. The principles taught by TSD go beyond the basics of the game. They instill values of teamwork, discipline, and sportsmanship that are invaluable both on and off the field. As a coach, I've seen remarkable growth in my players’ understanding of the game, their confidence, and our team's performance. Soccer is not just about winning, it's about developing well-rounded individuals who love the sport and respect its traditions. TSD will help you achieve this balance beautifully. I highly recommend TSD to anyone looking to take their soccer journey to the next level, whether you're a coach or a player. Their ten principles are the building blocks of excellence in soccer."

    Staci Wilson & Michelle McCaw

  • “I had the privilege of first being introduced to Flex's 10 Principles as a young soccer player. At a time when players were rated purely on raw talent and athleticism, Flex was developing technically and mentally proficient players regardless of size and speed. Before ideas like "player development" and "soccer IQ" were thrown around as marketing taglines to attract players to clubs, Flex was actually putting it into practice. As I continued to develop technically, these 10 Principles allowed my decision making and tactical awareness to flourish. Fast forward 15 years, I was reconnected with Flex through a national coaching course. Although it was still early days in my coaching career, it became alarmingly apparent that Flex's Principles were still bucking the trend of traditional outdated coaching practices. After being reintroduced to Flex's methodology I began to use it as a foundation for everything I've done as a coach since then. Through a 25+ year coaching career, this is the simplest and most effective program to develop players and coaches alike. With the addition of match analysis and STEADY mental fitness training, Total Soccer Development should be ground zero for any coach, player or club looking to elevate their knowledge of the game.”

    Jon Healy

  • “I have known Nora since I instructed her in her USSF C Course and then a few years later she graced my coaching staff at Carolina United SC. Shortly after she trailblazed coaching by starting STEADY, which was a program designed to develop young women into leaders who understood that there was no Glass Ceiling. I know firsthand how she has changed lives, inspired players, both boys and girls, placed them in colleges and then had them some back to be on her staff, now OUR staff at TSD. I am honored and humbled to be her partner and am blessed beyond words to join this journey with her as we forge forward to Be the Change.”

    Flex Hernandez

  • "I am confident that TSD's unique and effective principles of development and comprehensive programming for soccer players in combination with the leadership and experience of Nora and Flex is going to change the way clubs approach the development of their players for years to come. TSD provides coaches and players a simple, yet incredibly effective, framework for developing the technical, tactical and mental skillsets that lead to success on the field. As a player, I have found that this methodology and training approach has improved my tactical awareness and confidence on the ball. The thought of a new generation of young players being trained in this way by two incredible coaches and people in Nora and Flex is really exciting."

    Jake Lovinger