3 Key Focus Areas for Soccer Training at Golden Sports Performance
How We Help Young Athletes Get Stronger, Stay Healthier, and Perform for the Long Haul
At Golden Sports Performance, we work with soccer players of all ages and skill levels. From youth athletes preparing for their first club season to high schoolers eyeing college scholarships, our approach is focused, intentional, and centered on what matters most: helping athletes build strength, stay healthy, and play the game they love for years to come.
For parents, we know it’s not just about performance on the field—it’s about keeping your athlete safe, confident, and thriving in all areas of their life. Below are the three core areas we focus on when training soccer players at GSP.
1. Strength That Transfers to the Field
Soccer demands more than just footwork and endurance—it requires total-body strength, stability, and coordination. That’s why our first priority is building strong, athletic movers.
In our strength sessions, we focus on:
Lower body power (hips, glutes, hamstrings) for sprinting and change of direction
Core control and single-leg strength for balance and shooting mechanics
Upper body stability to support shielding, throw-ins, and overall durability
We use proven strength progressions that meet athletes where they are—helping younger athletes learn how to move well, and older players push their performance without risking overtraining or burnout.
Why it matters:
When players are strong in the right areas, they move more efficiently, recover faster, and perform with more confidence. It’s not about bulking up—it’s about creating resilient, explosive, and agile athletes who can handle the physical demands of the sport.
2. ACL Tear Prevention—Protecting Our Athletes’ Futures
One of the most heartbreaking injuries we see in youth sports is the ACL tear—especially in female athletes. These injuries can sideline players for 9-12 months and often happen in non-contact situations. But here’s the good news: many ACL injuries are preventable with the right kind of training.
At Golden Sports Performance, ACL prevention is built into every session:
Neuromuscular training to improve landing mechanics and deceleration
Hip and core activation to support knee alignment under pressure
Plyometric progressions that teach athletes how to absorb force and move safely
We don’t wait for injuries to happen—we train proactively to help athletes avoid the setbacks that can derail a season (or an entire career).
Why it matters:
As a parent, nothing is more difficult than watching your child suffer a preventable injury. Our goal is to protect their passion and give them every opportunity to stay healthy, active, and in the game they love.
3. Long-Term Development Over Short-Term Gains
One of the biggest challenges in youth sports today is the push for quick results. But performance isn’t built in a weekend. At GSP, we’re committed to long-term athletic development—helping athletes grow year after year, not just peak for one season.
We teach athletes how to:
Train consistently and recover well
Build confidence and handle adversity
Develop movement skills that translate across all sports
By focusing on proper mechanics, balanced development, and smart progressions, we set the stage for success at every level—from middle school to college and beyond.
Why it matters:
This isn’t just about soccer. It’s about helping young people fall in love with the process of getting better. We want athletes to leave GSP feeling stronger—not just physically, but mentally and emotionally too.
A Better Path for Soccer Players in Golden, Colorado
Whether your child is chasing a varsity starting spot or just wants to feel more confident on the field, our coaching team is here to support their goals.
Led by Coach Katie Whidden, a former Division I athlete with a passion for movement quality and injury prevention, and Coach Andrew Simmons, a performance expert with years of experience working with elite-level athletes, GSP offers a proven path forward for soccer players in every stage of their journey.
Our programs are:
✅ Age-appropriate
✅ Science-based
✅ Focused on safety, strength, and long-term growth
Ready to train smarter?
Learn more about our strength training programs
