Ages 3–5 · Soccer · Yoga · Mindfulness
An imagination-based soccer program woven together with yoga and mindfulness — building healthy bodies and calm, confident minds. We come to your preschool during the week, and run weekend classes at parks across the DMV.
Curriculum built with teachers, parents & child psychologists
The Program
Each 45-minute session blends movement, stillness, and imagination — three themed soccer games, then a short yoga and mindfulness cooldown.
Imagination-based games build coordination, teamwork, and confidence — every child getting real touches on the ball, never standing around.
Simple, story-driven poses build balance, body awareness, and flexibility — designed for short attention spans and big imaginations.
Gentle breathing and focus exercises give kids real tools to name their feelings and calm themselves — skills they carry off the field.
Every child engaged — and getting real touches on the ball.
Story-driven yoga poses to close out every session.
We bring the whole program on-site — using your existing gym, classroom, or play space. No travel, no setup for your staff.
Open community classes at local parks, so families outside our partner preschools can join us too.
Why it matters
Most programs teach one or the other. Mindful Goals was built to do both at once, and to reach the children who are too often priced out of quality enrichment.
The result is more than a fun hour of soccer. It's kids learning to move their bodies and manage their emotions at the age when those habits take root.
I was mad at my mom, so I took out my ball of energy, and it made me feel better — then I gave it to her and it made her feel better too.— a 3-year-old, after one week in the program
Inside the Curriculum
Every week has its own story. Kids don't know they're drilling technique — they think they're cleaning up a farm. Here's how one session unfolds.
Each child gets a "car" — their soccer ball. What sound does it make? What color is it? Then they dribble through the space using proper technique, stopping and starting on command.
Builds: ball control · listening · spatial awareness
A storm blew trash across the farmer's field, and the vegetables can't grow until it's clean. Kids dribble the "trash" into the goals — working together to clear the field.
Builds: dribbling · teamwork · heads-up awareness
Kids plant "seeds," water them with their imaginations, and nap while they grow. They wake to find vegetables ready to harvest — and dribble each one home to score.
Builds: imagination · turn-taking · finishing
Mats come out for story-driven poses — "be a tree" to stretch tall — followed by a short guided meditation built for this age group.
Builds: flexibility · focus · emotional regulation
Eight themed weeks in all — from Super Hero Day to Adventures in Outer Space. Ask us for the full curriculum if you're considering the program for your school.
What Teachers & Families Say
We have integrated the mindfulness techniques from the program into our classroom routines. The breathing and meditation exercises help children practice emotional regulation and refocus when they need a moment to reset.
My child comes home excited to talk about soccer and now wants to practice and play at home. I love that they are learning new skills in such a fun and positive environment.
Our Model
Every child deserves this, no matter their family's budget. So we made access the point — not the barrier.
* Contributions above the fair-market value of a session may qualify as a tax-deductible charitable donation through our fiscal sponsor, the Players Philanthropy Fund. We'll provide the details when you enroll.
About the Founder
Matt has spent more than 15 years coaching youth soccer — from preschoolers to college goalkeepers — including years running club teams on the California coast. He started Mindful Goals after seeing how much more kids could get from a program that pairs real soccer instruction with the calm and focus that yoga and mindfulness bring.
After six years in the ophthalmic pharmaceutical industry, Matt is excited to return to what he loves most: working with kids. He's focused on building Mindful Goals across the DMV — with the long-term goal of growing it into a nationwide network, so children everywhere can start with the same healthy foundation.
The curriculum was shaped with feedback from children, teachers, parents, and child psychologists — and every session is built around getting kids engaged, moving, and learning to understand themselves.
Get Involved
Whether you run a preschool, you're a parent who wants this for your child, or you'd like to support free access for families who need it — we'd love to hear from you.