A world-class soccer program for kids is kicking goals in town. Pictured is Little Kickers Echuca franchise owner Kariah Koehler.
Photo by
Ryan Bellingham
A world-renowned children’s soccer program has kicked off in Echuca, with a passionate former local happily leading the charge.
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Initiated by Kariah Koehler, Little Kickers Echuca and Surrounds offers active and educational classes for kids aged 18 months to eight years old.
Already the owner of Little Kickers franchise areas in Melbourne and Geelong with her wife, Ms Koehler was recently given the green light to start another in town.
“I just love that I can provide it to the community that meant so much to me,” she said.
“I've done a lot of travelling. I've lived in India, I've been to America, Europe ― all of it. But Echuca, for me, is the only place that I call home.”
Having played a season of professional soccer for Melbourne Victory in 2016, Ms Koehler has since funnelled her talent into teaching new generations the sport.
Her athletic career began locally with the Border Raiders FC, who she represented in multiple Victorian country championships, and continued progressing after her family moved to Melbourne.
Now living in Torquay with her three children, Ms Koehler has been making the trek to Echuca each week over the past month to establish the program, which has already seen an enthusiastic uptake.
Coaches leading the Junior Kickers, aged two and three, in a playful warm-up.
Photo by
Ryan Bellingham
“The Saturday class is almost full, which is awesome,” Ms Koehler said.
“We found a really big gap in the market, I suppose. Apart from swimming lessons and gymnastics, there’s nothing really where the kids can start at one and a half and go all the way up to eight.”
The year-round sessions are run for pre-school aged kids on Friday, while four different age groups are catered for on Saturday.
The program is held indoors at Echuca Stadium, allowing for play in all weather, year-round.
Photo by
Ryan Bellingham
Beyond soccer, Little Kickers has been honed globally over 25 years to integrate education and personal development into its program.
Younger cohorts can learn to count, talk and develop fine motor skills, while older kids show strong engagement in the badging system, which rewards specific achievements.
“In this quarter, our youngest age group are working towards sharing, which is a love-heart-shaped badge,” Ms Koehler said.
“They’re learning while they’re going, but they’re not really realising it because they’re having fun.”
Badging ceremonies are held every 12 weeks, with each child presented with an iron-on patch for their uniform.
Every session is held indoors at Echuca Stadium, and the program is paid for in monthly instalments from the first session.
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