What Makes TOCA Soccer Private Training Different (And Why Players Keep Coming Back)
When Eddie Lewis, TOCA's founder, was playing at UCLA, he noticed something about the players who improved fastest. It wasn't natural talent that separated them. It was touches. The players who got the most time with the ball -- in the backyard, on the street, against a garage wall -- were the ones who became most comfortable on it.
So Lewis started hitting a tennis ball against garages, taking hundreds of reps to train his first touch. That obsession with repetition carried him to the MLS, the English Premier League, and two World Cups. When he retired, he built TOCA because he knew most players would never have the time or circumstances to find that kind of touch on their own.
TOCA's private training is the modern version of what Eddie Lewis discovered on those driveways: more quality reps, with a plan built around you, guided by someone who's lived the game.
See the difference for yourself. Your first session is free. tocafootball.com/soccer-free-trial
It Starts With a Baseline
Every new player's journey starts with a Free First Session, a private, one-on-one baseline assessment where a TOCA trainer gets to know your game.
That means understanding your goals, your history with the sport, and where you are right now as a player. From there, your trainer maps out an individualized training path aimed at getting you where you want to go as quickly as possible.
This isn't a generic intake form. It's a real conversation between a player and a trainer who's been in the game their whole life.
The Volume of Reps Changes Everything
A typical soccer game gives a player somewhere between 15 and 30 meaningful touches on the ball. A 50-minute TOCA training session delivers 10 times that.
That volume matters. Skill development—real, lasting skill—is built through repetition. The players who grew up most comfortable on the ball were the ones who got thousands of touches as kids, on the street, in the backyard, all day. TOCA exists to give every player that same kind of focused repetition, regardless of their schedule or background.
The Touch Trainer delivers balls at varying speeds and trajectories to build first touch and control. Smart Targets create game-like decision-making scenarios so players aren't just hitting a stationary ball -- they're reading situations and reacting, the way they would in a match.
Trainers Who've Lived the Game
TOCA's trainers aren't generic fitness coaches running players through drills. They're lifelong soccer players — of them current or former professionals -- who bring real playing experience into every session.
That experience changes what feedback sounds like. A trainer who's been on the field under pressure knows what it actually takes to improve, and they coach the details that matter: body shape, movement before the ball arrives, composure in tight situations.
Players notice the difference quickly. Many come to TOCA because they want to increase their playing time, move up to a higher team, or sharpen a specific part of their game -- and they see results within weeks of consistent sessions.
Progress You Can Actually Track
Every 8 sessions, TOCA trainers re-evaluate each player and report on their progress. Through the MyTOCA portal, players can track their development, compete on live leaderboards, and see their improvement documented over time.
That accountability matters. It keeps training focused, shows players exactly how far they've come, and helps trainers adjust the plan when needed.
Who It's For
TOCA's private training is designed for competitive players—ages 7 through adult—who are serious about improving. That includes kids on club or select teams, players working toward a higher level, and adults who want to play their best in leagues or pickup.
It's also the training program trusted by professional players. Harry Kane, Kellyn Acosta, Gisele Thompson, and Alyssa Thompson have all trained with TOCA—and TOCA is the official soccer training partner of MLS.
If your player is newer to the sport or not yet playing at a competitive level, TOCA Soccer Classes are likely the better starting point. Classes are designed for ages 1-13 and built around joy, fundamentals, and building a love of the game.
Not sure which fits? The Free First Session will answer that question.
Ready to See What's Possible?
Your first session is free. Come in, meet a trainer, get on the ball, and see what focused training actually feels like.
Book your free first session at TOCA Soccer →
TOCA serves local communities throughout the United States and Canada, welcoming players and families to find their best through classes, training sessions, camps, leagues, and more. Soccer classes for ages 1-13 are engaging and educational, while individual or group training sessions for ages 7+ offer progressive levels of development for players looking to challenge themselves and have fun.
