I first tried some of the soccer incentive patches
in 2006 with my U11 Girls team to see what would
happen as we had gone through our whole regular season
without a win and very few goals scored. The
result was fantastic! The girls play on the field
changed to a whole team effort. The went from
being last in the standings to serious championship
contenders in the play-offs. I almost had to fight
the girls off as they practically swarmed me after a
game to see who was going to get a patch. It is
with this reaction and result that I decided to offer
these various patches to coaches and associations across
Canada. These patches work and the kids love them!
--Coach Steve, The Soccer Patch, Manitoba
I’ve been using the patches for a
couple of seasons now, both indoor
and out. For such a small
thing they sure carry a lot of
favourable weight and give the girls
a little extra drive. Even the
players that I thought would mock
the patches had their eyes light up
when they got one! I have had
positive comments from both parents
and players alike. Coaching U10
girls and the novelty hasn’t worn
off yet! I have had other
coaches enquire and I have passed on
your information.
--Coach Mike, Ontario
My U12 girls house
league team absolutely love these
patches. I use the gold patches as
an incentive for getting goals and then
the girls are learning selflessness by
voting amongst themselves to nominate a
game VIP to award a pink patch.
I just placed an order
for 80 more.
--Coach Shaun, Ontario
In this day and
age customer service such as this is a by gone
commodity. I am using them for soccer. As you know
kids love variety. I only use the patches for
practice and not for games. Kids all try hard in
games but practice is a different story. By giving
out the patches, the kids want to excel in
practice. I coach a u14 boys team. They are never
too old to be recognized!
--Coach Enzo, Ontario
I used them last year and they made a
big difference. In our league
at the GU8 level we were 1st place overall and we
won the year end Cup Championships too. ;o) The
patches were a big hit!!
--Coach Howie, Ontario
I am a second year coach (U-5). I purchased
about 300 patches last year and used to give out 2 per
week. One for attending practice and one for a game.
I found that while the kids loved getting them, not all
the parents put them on. I went to one patch per week.
This year, I started by ending practice/games with a
game of "Simon Says". The winner gets to choose a
color and I give them 2 colours to choose from. If
we win our games, we get special colours (stars, reds,
etc) and if we lose, we get either blue and white or
blue and yellow. After the first week's tie, the
kids wanted stars and I explained the rules of winning
and not giving up, playing hard, etc. We are undefeated
since.
--Coach Jay, Ontario
I
can't say enough about the tried and true results of
using these patches! My team lost all 8 games last
season, and moral was low. Nothing I tried seemed to
make a difference. I try to make soccer a very fun
experience for the kids, not bad, by yelling at them.
When I came across these patches, I figured I would give
it a shot. What could it hurt? Well, I will tell you
that this very same team that lost ALL 8 games in the
fall, won 7 out of 8 games this spring!!! The kids
wanted those patches!!! We placed 2nd, and got the
silver medal! Thank you for helping me, help my team!!!
These little patches gave them so much more to work
toward, and have something to show, for their
progression, and accomplishments!
I can't say thank you enough!!!
Thanks!!
--Coach Gayla
"I'm so excited to have found you, I've been paying $1 a
patch, so this will save me lots of money. Thank you
once again."
--Coach April
Thank you so much for your prompt attention to my order.
The patches are wonderful and the girls on my junior
high team are so excited. We had camp last week and only
one girl from the team did not earn a perfect attendance
patch - unlike last year when I had an average of four
or five missing.
--Coach Joan
"I bought each of the girls a bandanna which they tied
on their bags. Then they could iron the patches on the
bandanna for all to see. It was a great motivator
because they could see the patches accumulating."
--Coach
“I was amazed at the effort they displayed to earn the
patches and how motivated they became to learn the
skill. I have had several parents tell me stories of how
their children talk about getting practice time in at
home so they can earn another patch.”
--Coach Hal
"Your Soccer Ball patches are the cat's pajamas. I had
no idea how much kids would kill themselves on the pitch
for a tiny piece of cloth. All I have to say is you have
to earn these..., and all of a sudden they’re
aggressive, they hustle and best of all - they pass and
score. Truly a wonderful idea. Keep up the website and
the incentive patches."
--Coach Joe
These patches are awesome! I had a parent from my team
last year come up to me yesterday. She said that her
daughter "heard" that I give out patches and she was
disappointed that she was not going to be on my team
because of them!
Thanks!
--Coach Bryan
My kids love the patches! This is my very first year
ever coaching soccer, and I'm having a blast! We give
the light blue patches to every kid on the field when we
score a goal. We stress the team concept. Everyone gets
a patch because someone had to throw it in, someone had
to pass it, and someone had to score.
The dark blue goes to every member on the field when
we go an entire quarter without letting the other team
score.
My kids are the envy of every team in our league!
I'm sure I will be ordering more!
--Coach Chris
“These are fantastic! I've looked for these for years
and found your site last year. I use these as post-game
awards for my players (black for each goal/assist, green
for offensive player of the game, red for defensive,
blue for best hustle, and the much coveted gold patch to
be given only occasionally for exceptional play or
sportsmanship). My guys kill themselves for the patches,
and they look great on our team jackets. Thanks.”
--Coach Mark
“I think the patches are the greatest idea ever. I hand
them out for each practice that a child shows up to and
then their parents can iron them on wherever they want
to on their shirts. Thank You for your website and the
patches.”
--Coach Scott
“My second order and we have had only one game. I
started giving them out for best practice players and if
they made every practice. For games it was for every
goal scored and the hardest playing player (boy & girl).
Our team scored 11 goals!”
--Coach Scott
“Please don’t ever get rid of these patches! My kids
love them and so do I! Thank you!”
--Coach Alissa
“I use these for my 9-10 year Rec soccer team and they
are GREAT motivational tool."
--Coach Becky
“This is my first year as a coach for 7 year olds and
your sight has helped me a lot so far and I’m really
looking forward to using these patches for the kids."
--Coach Jim
“Wow! The Soccer Patches have been GREAT. The girls
really work hard to get those little patches.”
--Coach James
“We purchased these iron-on soccer ball patches for our
GU-14, Gold-Emerald team and awarded one each week to
the "Player of the Game. Great incentive!”
--Coach Kimberly
“These patches are an awesome incentive for players.
They get excited after every game to see who is going to
get a patch, especially the coveted Red (blood and guts)
patch. It’s been a very positive experience."
--Coach Aaron
“You have been really great!!! The kids really work hard
to get their patches. We are rally doing well; our
record is 5-1-0. Thank you.”
--Coach Tyler
“I started to use the patches last year and they are a
big hit. My girls are having a great season and are
earning their patches. The girls look forward to patch
day every week. The parents love them and think they are
a great idea.”
--Coach Eugene
“As my son says, “E-X-C-E-L-L-E-N-T!” They are exactly
what I have been looking for.”
--Coach Hal
“My girls love these patches. This is my second order. I
ran out of the colors that I use for defense, hustle,
and assists. What a great idea!!"
--Coach Becky
”The soccer patches are brilliant, they are a brilliant
idea and award.”
--Coach Dave
“I've been handing out the "Blood" patches you sent. The
kids love them and they been proudly displaying them on
their shirt sleeves. I just ordered some more, thanks.”
--Coach Tim
“Thanks for making the patches available! I’m halfway
through my season and I’m out of “blood” patches!
Thanks! "
--Coach Richard
“I started using the soccer ball patches last year and
the children loved it! I’m now in my second using them.
It’s great how it motivates them.”
--Coach Michelle
“Hi, can’t believe I need even more patches. Fantastic
motivator for my girls!”
--Coach Beth
“Awesome example on incentives to keep players
motivated!”
--Coach Jennifer
“Another order already. These are a hit! Thanks!”
--Coach Dawn
I
coach U10 Boys and these patches are a big hit. We award
them at the end of each game and in front of the
parents. The kids can't wait to see if they will receive
one or more patches for their game play. I also use them
when someone does extra well.
--Coach Stephen
I
handed out Patches for the 1st time after games at an
Award Ceremony with the Parent's participation. What
motivation and anticipation the U-11 Soccer Players
displayed as I asked the Parents to help me remember
events in the game so that Patches were given to the
appropriate players. I about got mugged by the players
think this might have been candy. As Jackie Gleason use
too say, "How sweet it is". Thanks for the patches and
awarding all the soccer players with patches.
--Coach Randy
Patches, they LOVE these. I have seven types:
Black: Practice patch, each kid gets one at the end
of practice as long as he has put in a good effort. (I
have never not given one out) Game patches, earned ONLY
in games (max one per game) Red: Bravery, when a kid
gets nailed shakes if off and gets back in the game, the
blood patch. My kids leap back up from the ground now,
they never cry. Other teams have playing whining and
crying and they get coddled off the field. This patch
has really toughened my kids up. (In a good way) Blue:
"turning around" in a game.
Blue and Yellow "Defense" stopping the other team from
scoring in a game.
Green: "Passing" must be an intentional, deliberate pass
to another one of our own team
Light Blue: "Spirit/Hustle" Every kid gets this if he
hasn't earned one of the above
If a player does multiple things, I choose the best
one, or a color he doesn't have a lot of on his/her
jersey. Their left sleeves look like checkerboards of
patches. They love them, big, big, big...
--Coach Doug
"I coach 5-6 year old boys. I started handing
out the patches following our practice session after we
played our first game. One of my player’s mother told me
her son usually played timidly and stayed in the
background. He was so proud of the star patches and
soccer ball patches that now he is one of the better and
more aggressive (in a good way) players on the team. He
comes home with the patches and tells his mom that he
got a patch for his great play, hustle, defense, etc.
All the boys look forward each practice to receiving the
patches. Last game the whole team played so well, we won
7-0 that they all got a star patch and a soccer ball
patch. Thanks for letting us know all the success
stories, they have helped."
--Coach Larry
"Your incentive patches are great! I coach 1st
graders and they love the patches. I give black/white
soccer ball patches for each game attended and use the
other colored ball patches to reward good play and
effort. The star patches are for extra good effort. I
keep track to ensure all the kids will receive at least
one incentive patch by season's end. The patches are a
great way to give confidence to the players who may just
be learning or not as skilled as the others. Thanks for
helping me motivate the kids while also making them
happy."
--Coach Michael
"I am coaching a boys U9 team and just
completed the first tournament with a 4-0 run. As a
testimonial regarding the soccer patches I wanted you to
know how my kids are very competitive to win one of four
patches we award each game. I have even heard that the
parents comment on a good play stating that such a play
might earn a patch. My team is the only one presently
using the patches and I think it makes a difference in
how the boys compete. We use a red and white patch for
the "blood and guts" award where a player plays through
a minor injury or rough play. We use a black and white
patch to signify an outstanding defensive effort. The
blue and white patch is for hustle and encouragement.
The final patch is a maroon and white patch give for
outstanding effort to the team. We do not always award a
patch in a game and have given two of the same color in
a few cases. So far we have only awarded one maroon
patch in five games just to indicate how special that
patch is. The boys will be having the patches stitched
onto their uniform shorts. Thanks for the great
motivational tool."
--Coach Tom
I have been using the patches for 2 seasons the
soccer balls are for "playing hard, fair and having fun"
if they do so they get one then the "star" patches are
for red star offensive player of the game, blue star
defensive player of the game, and the gold for goals
scored...now here comes the "well" part. This year I
said for EVERY goal scored you get a gold star. I think
something snapped in my team we had 4 different players
score 2 or more goals with the final score being 10-1 !!
and it's only our 2nd game. I had to express ship more
gold stars before our practice this week I did not have
enough.
I think they work.
--Coach Mike L.
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