Toddlers carefully tap soccer balls with growing coordination, while older children practice focused footwork. Classes move seamlessly from one age group to the next, stretching from morning sessions to evening play, seven days a week. Each one is designed to help children grow not just as athletes, but as confident, capable individuals.
That steady hum of activity reflects the heart of KidsUnited Frisco | Plano: a year-round, indoor early childhood development program that uses soccer as a tool to help children ages one and a half to nine reach critical developmental milestones.
What makes KidsUnited Frisco | Plano unique?
Unlike traditional youth sports programs built around competition and seasonal schedules, KidsUnited Frisco | Plano takes a fundamentally different approach. The program focuses on individual skills development, with small class sizes and personalized coaching that allows each child to progress at their own pace.
“We focus on age-appropriate developmental milestones as the child progresses through our program, and we use soccer as the main tool for reaching those milestones and inspiring a lifelong love for the game,” head coach Bella Lopez said.
For the youngest age groups, there are no more than 10 children in each class, with two coaches on the field to ensure individualized attention. For older kids, class sizes do not exceed 12 children, and the coach to student ratio does not surpass 1:6. This structure allows athletes to get more touches on the ball, more repetition and more feedback, creating an environment where learning feels both supportive and fun.
Additionally, all coaches are certified and bring extensive soccer experience. Many have competed at the collegiate, semi-professional or professional level, equipping them to teach proper technique, refine form and build strong fundamentals in every player.
Beyond their expertise, the coaches are the heart of each session, dedicated to helping children grow both on and off the field. They focus on creating classes that are engaging, safe and filled with meaningful moments, encouraging a lasting passion for the game.
A curriculum built for growth
At the core of KidsUnited Frisco | Plano is a structured, 52-week curriculum developed by national KidsUnited head coaches. The curriculum is refreshed continuously throughout the year. While the focus areas remain consistent—body and ball mastery, and life skills—the drills change weekly to keep children engaged and challenged.
Life skills become a more intentional part of the curriculum starting around age three and a half, when children begin working on concepts such as perseverance, teamwork, leadership and decision-making. These lessons are woven directly into drills, as well as one-on-one or two-on-one scrimmages. This helps children learn how to navigate challenges in a low-pressure environment.
“The lesson that’s built into [this program] is that ... you’re not going to get [the skill] on day one, ... but you can do hard things little by little in a safe, comfortable, smaller type of environment,” Lopez said.
Building confidence early
For many families, one of the most noticeable outcomes of the program is confidence. Younger classes include parent-assisted instruction, helping toddlers feel comfortable as they bond with both caregivers and coaches. As children grow, the emphasis shifts toward independence and problem-solving, without the pressure of winning or losing. Families can also take advantage of a trial option to experience the program firsthand and see if it is a good fit for their family.
Coaches provide individualized feedback after every class, reinforcing progress and helping children recognize their own growth.
Families are incredibly happy with their experience.
“This soccer school has been an amazing experience for our family. The coaches are encouraging, organized and truly care about each player,” one family member said. “My child has grown not only in soccer skills, but also in confidence, teamwork and sportsmanship. Communication with parents is clear, the environment feels safe and welcoming, and practices are always fun and engaging. We’re so glad we signed up.”
Expanding access across North Texas
KidsUnited Frisco | Plano was the first KidsUnited location in Texas. It brought the nationally recognized program from the Northeast to one of the region’s most active youth sports communities, located at the border of Frisco and Plano.
That success is now fueling expansion.
The organization plans to open at least two additional locations in North Texas by early to mid-2025, including clubs in Celina and McKinney. The expansion aims to make the program more accessible for families who currently travel from surrounding cities such as Prosper, Aubrey and Melissa.
As the footprint grows, the mission remains the same: offering consistent, year-round development during the most formative years of childhood.
Frisco | Plano location: 4568 SH 121, Plano. Click here to learn more and try a class today.
Celina | Northwest McKinney location (coming soon): 8176 FM 2478, Bldg. 13, McKinney. Click here to contact the team now and take advantage of Founding Member Rates.
Follow the action @kidsunited_frisco.plano on Instagram and Facebook.
The above story was produced by Multi-Platform Journalist Sydney Heller with Community Impact's Storytelling team with information solely provided by the local business as part of their "sponsored content" purchase through our advertising team.
