Educator Bridgette Robinson created Soccer iQ Institute to provide a unique academic experience for student athletes from sixth to 12th grade. At Soccer iQ Institute, athletic training for soccer is incorporated into a schedule with academics.
The school operates like a European-style soccer academy instead of a typical public school format.
“It is a full academy model,” Robinson said. “[Students] get treated like professional athletes but the model functions as a private school.”
The campus is located in Los Alamitos. Along with having classrooms for hybrid learning, Soccer iQ has two indoor practice fields and a virtual reality room. Soccer iQ also has a recovery lounge that provides compression therapy, a cold plunge and a sauna.
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The academics are provided via a partnership with CTL Academy. The students learn virtually and with teachers on-site. Tutors are also provided for students who need extra assistance.
Students start their day off at 7:00A.M. with drills. Academic learning goes on from 8:05A.M. to 12:05P.M.; academic sessions entail two hours of both virtual learning and learning with a teacher present. The afternoon consists of skills training in soccer. Students also get recovery sessions once a week.
“I wanted to have a well-built out in-person curriculum that’s engaging and interactive for the students,” Robinson said. “We’re talking about soccer kids who probably have a really hard time in average educational environments where they have to sit in a chair all day and they’re already hyperactive.”
The CTL Academy provides common core education that also aligns with United Nation policies.
“That’s great for soccer because soccer is an international sport,” Robinson said. “When these kids are attending CTL Academy, they have the opportunity to get accepted to schools internationally.”
The athletic training is done in partnership with Deft Touch Soccer Center. Staff members facilitate the daily soccer training while the Deft Touch president and director Trey Brocksen Scharlin manages the weekly recovery sessions.
Robinson, who has a Masters degree in elementary education, developed a passion for teaching during her time working in public schools. Robinson then created a school for toddlers and kids not yet old enough for elementary. The school focused on STEAM learning and had as much as 87 kids and 20 staff members.
“When COVID came, I applied for every grant, all kinds of funding,” Robinson said. “I got everything I asked for … so I doubled the capacity to 87.”
She sold the school to run Soccer iQ. Going into its second year, Soccer iQ has seven students.
“We can have a max of 10 for this year,” Robinson said. “I’m excited to see how the kids work this program.”
For more information about the Soccer iQ Institute, please visit https://www.socceriqinstitute.com/.
