Soccer Insights for Parents, Coaches & Players

Recently, Farmington Soccer Club had the chance to interview via email Dennis Brose, and came away with advice for players, parents and coaches.

Insights from an Experienced Player and Coach 
Soccer is more than just a game—it’s a journey of growth, skill development, and personal triumphs. With over 12 years of professional experience, including a stellar international career with the U.S. National Futsal team, coach Dennis Brose has a unique perspective on how to develop players at all levels. From scoring over 600 goals to becoming an influential coach, here are key insights and advice for players, parents, and coaches alike.

A Career Built on Passion
“I played professionally for 12 years and represented the United States around the world with the US National Futsal team for 10 years,” says Dennis. His impressive career includes scoring over 600 goals and being named the Most Valuable Player of the CONCACAF championships in Guatemala in 1996. He was also one of only three players to score 100 goals in a single season. This level of achievement reflects his commitment to excellence, which he now brings to his coaching philosophy.

Training the Next Generation: The Brose Finishing Academy
After years of honing his skills and seeing a gap in player development, Dennis founded the Brose Finishing Academy at TOCA Sports in Farmington. The academy’s focus is clear: to help players become more clinical finishers on the field. “There are many technical trainers out there, but no one is solely focused on finishing,” he explains. “If a player can score more goals, they bring tremendous value to their team. After all, you can’t win a game without scoring!”

The academy is dedicated to helping players sharpen their finishing skills in a way that translates directly to matchday performance. It’s about quality repetition and perfecting the ability to convert opportunities into goals.

NASDA Soccer Program
In 2013, Dennis founded NASDA (North American Soccer Development Academy) www.Nasdasoccer.com to provide players with the chance to play soccer in international settings. “When I was a kid, I went on trips that helped me grow as a player, but no one in Michigan was doing that in 2013,” he says. The program offers unique opportunities for players to train abroad, experience different playing styles, and push themselves against some of the world’s best.

NASDA’s primary goal is soccer development—not overpriced excursions. “We want the kids to get better and see who their competition is, especially if they have professional dreams,” he emphasizes. The program started with local players but now draws from across the nation.

Focused Training for All Ages
At the Brose Finishing Academy, players from various age groups (2007–2016) are welcome, and the sessions are designed to cater to individual needs. “It’s all about repetition and becoming a better goal scorer,” the shares. For the international trips through NASDA, players from 2007 through 2016 are involved, with plans to expand to younger age groups in the future.

Balancing Fun and Skill Development
For coaches working with young players, the key is to strike a balance between skill development and making soccer fun. “Soccer should be fun at younger ages,” says Brose. For younger players, the focus should be on expression through small-sided games and limited technical work. As players grow older, the training structure becomes more refined, with a blend of technical, tactical, and gameplay focus.

Mastering the Fundamentals
One of the Dennis’s core beliefs is the importance of mastering basic skills early on. “Juggling is essential,” he says. “If you can juggle at a young age, you develop a great touch on the ball. A good touch makes the game more enjoyable, and it turns bad touches into good ones.” By learning to control the ball, young players can improve their first touch and enhance their overall performance.

Building Mental Toughness
In soccer, mental toughness and confidence are just as important as physical skills. Brose emphasizes that after a tough game, players should focus on their positives while acknowledging areas of improvement. “You can’t be mentally tough and confident unless you’ve put in the work,” he explains. The message is clear: success is earned through practice and perseverance, not just by showing up for games.

The Parent’s Role: How to Support Without Over-Interfering
One of the biggest challenges in youth soccer is the role parents play. Dennis advises parents to avoid becoming overly critical or competitive, particularly when it comes to their own child’s development. “Parents should trust the coach and be supportive without stepping in to fix everything. Let your child make mistakes. Let them feel the negative feedback and learn from it.”

Instead of pushing their own agenda, parents should enjoy watching their children play and develop. By doing so, they help foster a healthier mindset for their child—one that focuses on growth rather than perfection.

The Path to Higher-Level Soccer
For players dreaming of taking their soccer career to the next level, Dennis offers simple but powerful advice: “Don’t let anyone tell you that you can’t. You have to be willing to put in the work.” This means focusing on areas of weakness and being open to honest feedback. But most importantly, it means persevering through the tough times, understanding that success takes years of dedication.

Brose likens the journey of a soccer player to the growth of Chinese bamboo. “You must water it faithfully for five years before it breaks through the ground. But once it does, it grows 90 feet in five months. Your progress may take time, but once it happens, it happens quickly.”

Finding the Right Balance in Training
Finally, when it comes to the amount of time players should spend training, Dennis advocates for a focused approach. “Training should be about 75% and games 25%,” he suggests. European players typically train for around 300 hours a year, whereas many U.S. players only get about 130 hours due to an overemphasis on games. The key is to focus on quality training that helps players improve rather than simply stacking up games for the sake of competition.

As a seasoned player and coach, the insights shared by Dennis Brose provide valuable guidance for anyone looking to improve their game. Whether you’re a young player aiming for the next level, a parent seeking to support your child’s growth, or a coach trying to find the best approach, the journey to soccer excellence requires passion, persistence, and the right mindset.