Building Confidence Through Soccer for International & Private School Students｜Private Lesson Journal (Grade 6)
Certified Soccer Home Tutor Coach / Yutaro Noma
About Today’s Student
This session was with a 6th-grade student attending a private school in Tokyo, originally from the UK.
His current goal is simple but important:
to build confidence through solid fundamentals.
He has played soccer casually before, but the serious atmosphere of Japanese school teams is still new to him. Recently, we have been receiving more inquiries like this—children who want to enjoy soccer but need support before stepping into a competitive environment.
Many families choose private lessons because:
“I want my child to take soccer seriously, but I don’t know how to get them started.”
Positive Growth in His Attitude
He listens well, processes what he learns, and immediately tries it in mini-games. His willingness to test new ideas on the spot is one of his biggest strengths.
Recently, his progress has been especially noticeable.
Today’s Theme: Outside Dribbling
Today he wanted to work on dribbling, so we first observed him in a simple game format.
We quickly noticed challenges with:
・his body position
・the contact point on the ball
So we focused heavily on these areas, especially:
using the little toe for outside dribbling.
Many children who struggle with soccer have one thing in common:
they cannot use the little toe to guide the ball.
Of course, there are reasons behind this, so today we solved the root causes one by one.
When Everything Started to Click
As his body alignment improved, he began moving the ball smoothly with the outside of his foot, naturally creating positions where he could shoot at any moment.
In the final mini-game, he dribbled with a clear intention to:
・score goals
・help his team win
And honestly… he became a very troublesome opponent for me (in a good way).
I love seeing that kind of positive transformation.
Communication Style
I am not a native English speaker, but I communicate using easy English and demonstrate movements visually. This seems to give him the right amount of stimulation and clarity.
He also tells me directly when he doesn’t understand something, which helps us maintain smooth communication throughout the lesson.
Looking Ahead
From casual play to becoming a player who can truly help his team—
we are building that foundation step by step.
I also appreciate that his parents chose private lessons with a long-term perspective. That mindset makes a big difference in a child’s growth.
Recently, more lower-grade students have been joining through our “Start Diagnosis” program as well. Children whose parents look at growth with a long horizon tend to develop especially well.
I hope this lesson journal serves as useful insight.
A Small Note (for Parents Considering Lessons)
Some aspects of today’s training—especially the foot angle and spacing for outside dribbling—are difficult to explain fully through text.
These are subtle techniques that can dramatically change a child’s control once they “feel” the movement.
If you’re curious about these details or feel your child might benefit, please feel free to reach out anytime.
Contact for Private Soccer Lessons
We can discuss your child’s current situation and recommend the best way to start.
