About
Playpen Sports Academy Soccer Programs include Tiny Tot Kickers soccer classes, Tot Shot Kickers soccer class, Tot Shot Mini-League soccer, and MLS GO Leagues soccer. The broader Playpen Sports Academy offerings also include Tiny Tot Hoopers and Tot Shot Hoopers basketball classes, as well as a PlayActive sensorimotor-based movement, sports, and fitness class. Children take part in activities such as league-style scrimmage play, mini-league games, and scrimmage-style soccer games, along with basketball skills like dribbling, passing, and scoring.
• Ages: 2–9 years old
• Schedule: Weekly 40–50 minute classes, with options including weekday late afternoon and Saturday morning or late morning sessions over multi-week seasons
• Price: $92–$114 Early Bird per season, depending on program
Tiny Tot Kickers classes place a primary emphasis on childhood development while introducing toddlers to soccer through games and activities that involve running, group play, and kicking a ball. At the beginning of the season, activities focus mostly on non-soccer childhood development and then progress to more soccer-specific games and activities, with attention to balance, coordination, sharing with others, following directions, and social engagement. Tiny Tot Kickers uses regular soccer balls, super soft and light play balls, parachutes, noodles, cones, scoring goals, and frequent high-fives, and adult participation is required.
Tot Shot Kickers is a beginner class that builds off Tiny Tot Kickers while introducing higher level soccer skills and fundamentals, and participation in previous classes is not necessary. This class focuses on increasing balance and coordination while introducing jumping, foot-eye coordination, ball control, listening skills, social cooperation, and independent learning, and some parent participation is required with a goal of increasing toddler independence.
Tot Shot Mini-League combines an early childhood development class with traditional league-style scrimmage play. Each week includes about 20 minutes of warm-up and 1–2 skill development activities followed by about 30 minutes of mini-league games, where players are placed into teams and play against each other in scrimmage-style soccer games. No official score is kept in Tot Shot Mini-League, and shinguards are required.
Playpen Sports Academy is the official league operator of MLS GO Leagues at select locations. MLS GO is Major League Soccer’s recreational youth program dedicated to providing an affordable, inclusive, and high-quality soccer experience. MLS GO Leagues are co-ed recreational leagues where fun and development are top priorities, and the objective is to provide a premium youth soccer experience with trained coaches and expert-designed curriculum in an affordable and convenient 1-day-per-week league model. MLS GO Leagues are non-competitive, and no official score, records, or standings are publicly tracked, though score is internally tracked for parity purposes. For these leagues, the registration fee includes a free jersey, and all necessary equipment is supplied by Playpen Sports Academy.
PlayActive is focused on providing developmental opportunities through “Active Play” without the limitations of a single sport or theme, and Playpen Sports Academy’s programs are described as childhood development programs that include motor development, structured learning, and social engagement in a non-intimidating social environment with a small group of other toddlers and parents. The curriculum is focused on teaching children how to move and use their bodies, share with other children, interact in social settings, follow directions, and have fun in a physically active environment.
Playpen Sports Academy offers referral discounts in which referred friends get $10 off, the referrer gets a $10 credit, and referring five friends earns a free full season. The organization is based in Chicago, IL and Appleton, WI and describes itself as a Midwest company with Midwest values. Playpen Sports Academy was founded by Chris Nagel and notes © 2017 Playpen Sports Academy LLC. The program’s mission states that Playpen Sports Academy was started on the concept of reimagining what youth sports can be and the role it can play in a child's overall development.
One verified participant, Sarah P., stated, “I was surprised how much my little guy seemed to love his soccer class! We can't go more than two days without him asking about class or coach Ben!” Another testimonial from Sarah & Mikey P. reads, “I asking about class or coach Ben!”
Last updated February 5, 2026.
• Ages: 2–9 years old
• Schedule: Weekly 40–50 minute classes, with options including weekday late afternoon and Saturday morning or late morning sessions over multi-week seasons
• Price: $92–$114 Early Bird per season, depending on program
Tiny Tot Kickers classes place a primary emphasis on childhood development while introducing toddlers to soccer through games and activities that involve running, group play, and kicking a ball. At the beginning of the season, activities focus mostly on non-soccer childhood development and then progress to more soccer-specific games and activities, with attention to balance, coordination, sharing with others, following directions, and social engagement. Tiny Tot Kickers uses regular soccer balls, super soft and light play balls, parachutes, noodles, cones, scoring goals, and frequent high-fives, and adult participation is required.
Tot Shot Kickers is a beginner class that builds off Tiny Tot Kickers while introducing higher level soccer skills and fundamentals, and participation in previous classes is not necessary. This class focuses on increasing balance and coordination while introducing jumping, foot-eye coordination, ball control, listening skills, social cooperation, and independent learning, and some parent participation is required with a goal of increasing toddler independence.
Tot Shot Mini-League combines an early childhood development class with traditional league-style scrimmage play. Each week includes about 20 minutes of warm-up and 1–2 skill development activities followed by about 30 minutes of mini-league games, where players are placed into teams and play against each other in scrimmage-style soccer games. No official score is kept in Tot Shot Mini-League, and shinguards are required.
Playpen Sports Academy is the official league operator of MLS GO Leagues at select locations. MLS GO is Major League Soccer’s recreational youth program dedicated to providing an affordable, inclusive, and high-quality soccer experience. MLS GO Leagues are co-ed recreational leagues where fun and development are top priorities, and the objective is to provide a premium youth soccer experience with trained coaches and expert-designed curriculum in an affordable and convenient 1-day-per-week league model. MLS GO Leagues are non-competitive, and no official score, records, or standings are publicly tracked, though score is internally tracked for parity purposes. For these leagues, the registration fee includes a free jersey, and all necessary equipment is supplied by Playpen Sports Academy.
PlayActive is focused on providing developmental opportunities through “Active Play” without the limitations of a single sport or theme, and Playpen Sports Academy’s programs are described as childhood development programs that include motor development, structured learning, and social engagement in a non-intimidating social environment with a small group of other toddlers and parents. The curriculum is focused on teaching children how to move and use their bodies, share with other children, interact in social settings, follow directions, and have fun in a physically active environment.
Playpen Sports Academy offers referral discounts in which referred friends get $10 off, the referrer gets a $10 credit, and referring five friends earns a free full season. The organization is based in Chicago, IL and Appleton, WI and describes itself as a Midwest company with Midwest values. Playpen Sports Academy was founded by Chris Nagel and notes © 2017 Playpen Sports Academy LLC. The program’s mission states that Playpen Sports Academy was started on the concept of reimagining what youth sports can be and the role it can play in a child's overall development.
One verified participant, Sarah P., stated, “I was surprised how much my little guy seemed to love his soccer class! We can't go more than two days without him asking about class or coach Ben!” Another testimonial from Sarah & Mikey P. reads, “I asking about class or coach Ben!”
Last updated February 5, 2026.
Is this your business? There is no cost, but you will be asked to sign up or log in.