About
Skills Institute focuses on soccer skills such as dribbling, passing, shooting, and trapping. Classes include 30 minutes of age-appropriate instruction followed by 20 minutes of small-sided scrimmaging, along with position-specific training, speed and agility training, and work on attacking and defending skills. Players also receive tactical insight and systems of play as part of the regular activities.
• Ages: 5–10 years old
• Schedule: Classes meet weekly for 50 minutes, with four sessions a year (fall, winter, spring, summer) that run approximately 10–13 weeks each. Poway / Escondido Winter session runs December 1 – March 8.
Skills Institute is described as being rooted in child development theory. The program offers Open Enrollment with the option to join anytime, and Level 2 and Level 3 are by recommendation only. New customers can sign up for a free 50-minute class, and the program maintains an 8:1 child-to-coach ratio.
Participants are asked to wear comfortable clothes and athletic shoes (no outdoor cleats), and shinguards are recommended for Skills Institute classes. A Skills Institute jersey is given to first-time customers for free and can later be purchased at a low cost.
Skills Institute takes place at North County Soccer Park (NCSP), which has two arenas and an outdoor turf field, including the Mini-field measuring 85′ x 50′ and the Stadium field measuring 200′ x 85′, described as the largest arena soccer field in Southern California. NCSP was founded in 1986 and serves children, teens, and adults with soccer leagues and classes for all ages, and is described as San Diego’s most successful and longest running arena soccer facility. One parent testimonial states, “These are the finest turf fields we have in the city. Great view, good competition, our players love it!”
Last updated December 12, 2025.
• Ages: 5–10 years old
• Schedule: Classes meet weekly for 50 minutes, with four sessions a year (fall, winter, spring, summer) that run approximately 10–13 weeks each. Poway / Escondido Winter session runs December 1 – March 8.
Skills Institute is described as being rooted in child development theory. The program offers Open Enrollment with the option to join anytime, and Level 2 and Level 3 are by recommendation only. New customers can sign up for a free 50-minute class, and the program maintains an 8:1 child-to-coach ratio.
Participants are asked to wear comfortable clothes and athletic shoes (no outdoor cleats), and shinguards are recommended for Skills Institute classes. A Skills Institute jersey is given to first-time customers for free and can later be purchased at a low cost.
Skills Institute takes place at North County Soccer Park (NCSP), which has two arenas and an outdoor turf field, including the Mini-field measuring 85′ x 50′ and the Stadium field measuring 200′ x 85′, described as the largest arena soccer field in Southern California. NCSP was founded in 1986 and serves children, teens, and adults with soccer leagues and classes for all ages, and is described as San Diego’s most successful and longest running arena soccer facility. One parent testimonial states, “These are the finest turf fields we have in the city. Great view, good competition, our players love it!”
Last updated December 12, 2025.