About Excelsior Soccer Skills Development
Mount has partnered with Next Step Training to offer an innovative program for soccer players of all levels in grades 6-12 to supplement their on-the-field skills during the school day. Similar to our Sur La Glace Figure Skating program, this soccer skills program allows for valuable supplemental training time, can cut external training and coaching costs and creates time for extracurricular activities so that Mount student soccer players can be more than athletes.
How does the soccer skills training work?
Students will receive regular indoor and outdoor training time with Next Step Training coaches as an elective opportunity during the school day. These training sessions are run by professionals with different experiences, and provide student soccer players the time and opportunity to work in small groups and one-on-one settings that focus on their individual needs. Small group training like this takes students to new levels and lets them improve their skills at their own pace.
In addition, eliminating travel between school and training gives players more time for music, arts, clubs, after school sports, additional academic help, and other extracurricular pursuits.
All Ages Training
This program allows for players of all ages and experience levels to receive training designed to fit their individual needs. There is a program fee tied to this opportunity that can be found on our Tuition & Fees page on January 27th, 2023.
Beyond the Classroom
Opportunities to continue development outside of the classroom will be offered. Players will be invited to participate in tournaments, showcases and camps to continue to build skills. Participants will have access to guest coaches, as well as development guidance from former college and professional players.
Coaching Staff
Nicholas Woodruff
Founder
Nick provides a unique experience for his trainees due to the wide variety of personal experience. He has grown up his entire life in Attleboro, MA. He started playing AYS soccer as early as 6 years old. He then followed that up by joining BAYS Travel program. Around the age of 10 he began to play Club soccer for various teams including Black Watch Premier, NEFC, and Scorpions SC where he won the U13 Massachusetts State Cup along with numerous local and regional tournaments. At 14 he was asked to join the New England Revolution Academy where he spent time from 2012 to 2017 totaling 118 games played.
As an academy standout it helped gain him national attention as a Top 150 recruit in the class of 2017 by CollegeSoccerNews.com. In the fall of 2017 he attended Michigan State University to join the Big Ten powerhouse. Spending 3 years there, Nick played a total of 27 games even making it to an NCAA Final Four in 2018. After a season ending injury his Sophomore year he came back strong his Junior year as he started all but one game for the Spartans. In the following off-season after receiving a contract offer from the New England Revolution organization Nick decided to full-fill his lifelong dream to become a professional.
Colin Hack
Director of Coaching
Luis Silva
Director of Player Development
Luis Silva was born in Oaxaca, Mexico, and moved to Los Angeles at a young age. He played collegiately at UCSB & was then selected 4th overall by Toronto FC in the first round of the 2012 MLS SuperDraft. Luis went on to play for DC United, RSL, Seattle Sounders, and Liga MX side Tigres. He also has won MLS Cup, US Open Cup, Canadian Cup and Liga MX.
Calvin Fox
Director of Goalkeeping
During his time playing he played for Seacoast United MLS Next Academy which led him being selected for the GFL Cup in Germany in 2017. During his college years Calvin played for division 1L’université De Concordia in Montreal, signing with former Canadian National Team and MLS side CF Montreal Hall Of Fame Inductee Greg Sutton. Calvin then went on to spend time around the USL before deciding to go full-time into coaching.
About Next Step Training
Next Step was founded in 2020 by former professional Nicholas Woodruff. Next Step is a supplemental invite-only training program for some of the best players in New England. Next Step has worked with 25+ professionals across MLS, USL and Europe, 100+ D I, II, & III players from all across the country as well as over 1000+ youth players from across New England’s top leagues. Next Step does invite only groups, guest coaching, futsal, GK specific training, camps, and individual sessions.
Mission Statement
Next Step Training was founded in order to provide a unique competitive experience for the BEST local kids in and around the Southeastern Massachusetts/Rhode Island area.The combination of high level coaching, invite only environments and a true club-neutral philosophy makes Next Step one of the most elite supplemental training experiences in New England. The overall goal of each training session is to provide technical, tactical, and mental growth while encouraging players to be creative to help them become the most complete version of themselves.