About Elite Soccer PK
What we do
The ‘PK’ in our name represents Penalty Kick — a symbol of precision, confidence, and elite-level focus. It’s the moment we train our players to master.
We proudly serve players from across the San Fernando Valley and surrounding areas. All training takes place at Balboa Park in Encino, CA, where we’ve been coaching since 2010. Families from nearby neighborhoods and all over Los Angeles choose our academy for its structured, values-based soccer training and supportive environment for kids ages 4 to 18.
We follow a method of flexible iterations in determining what works best for each child, by amplifying strengths and opportunities, and designing pathways for converting observed challenges to positive reserves of inspiration.
Our trainers are professionals licensed to provide top-level instruction and direction to players from all backgrounds. These professionals share a common passion for imbuing children and youth players with confidence, strategic and decision-making support for optimum performance.
Our coaches don’t tell; They Show!
As soccer continues to be more popular in the United States, we are well positioned to serve a strategic need. To produce players able to compete to European standards, Elite Soccer PK is bringing on several years of experience to the invaluable cause of providing a sustainable environment for soccer development. Families who want a trustworthy and safe environment for their children’s physical and mental development through soccer can count on our transparent and structured system to respond specifically to their needs.
OUR COACHES
All Elite Soccer PK coaches have successfully completed our screening process and are certified and licensed through United Soccer Coaches. They have also completed U.S. Soccer’s Coaching Education Program, preparing them to teach developmentally appropriate techniques while maintaining timely and responsive communication with players and families.
Our coaching team combines European, Latin American, and U.S. soccer experience, bringing different perspectives and valuable knowledge to every training session. Our methodology, however, is strongly rooted in the Spanish philosophy of player development—a unified approach that has helped Spain become one of the world’s most successful soccer nations, winning World Cups in both the men’s and women’s games, multiple European Championships, and numerous international titles at the senior and youth levels.
The Spanish approach emphasizes technical mastery, tactical intelligence, creativity, quick decision-making, and understanding how to succeed as an individual within a team. Our training is built around the belief that mastering the small details makes the greatest difference at the highest levels.
Beyond developing soccer skills, our coaches serve as mentors. They help every player build strong fundamentals, confidence, discipline, and an appreciation for teamwork while learning values that extend far beyond the soccer field.
Licensed and registered coach with United Soccer Coaches Association
OUR MISSION
To develop players with technical, tactical, physical and psychological skills in tune with world-class standards for maximum soccer performance.
OUR VISION
To be the leading soccer academy and learning environment for nurturing high-performance soccer players in the United States and North America.
OUR PHILOSOPHY
We are convinced that good players are first and essentially humans that are conscious and in control. Our approach to soccer development is to provide training based on a foundation of core values.
Our Core Values
Our motivation for being involved in soccer training stems from what the sport truly is about: a beautiful, inspiring team sport with the capacity for bringing joy. We know that historically, the best soccer players have primarily one thing in common, i.e. playing to enjoy the game. To that end, we are inspired by a set of core values based on the vital need to make sure everyone who plays does get the best out of it, without taking away from another’s chances at catching their fair share of satisfaction and optimum performance.
Our eight core values, therefore, are rooted in fair competition, satisfaction and collaboration. Though they can be further subdivided into more, these eight, strategically capture what our goals for ourselves and our trainees are about.
Respect
We believe that good performance at sports requires fairness. Good We truly believe that respect must always be the number one and most important value an individual possesses in life. Respectful people make great players. The word Respect in soccer is a social responsibility launched in 2008 by the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA). Its main objective is to work towards unity and respect across gender, race, religion and ability.
“Everyone is entitled to enjoy football, no matter who you are, race, gender, religion, where you’re from or how you play.
Honesty
Honesty in soccer refers to the fundamental principle of playing the game with fairness and integrity. It entails being truthful, trustworthy, and forthright in one’s actions and commitments to the team. Honest players are relied upon by their teammates and refrain from seeking unfair advantages that violate the established rules. Success is achieved through a dedication to playing within the boundaries set by longstanding regulations, ensuring that no one suffers a loss due to dishonest practices during games or practice sessions.
“When you play with honesty, you compete with integrity”
Integrity
Integrity in soccer refers to the unwavering commitment to personal discipline and ethical choices, both on and off the pitch. It is the foundation of trust among teammates, ensuring that players consistently make the right decisions when faced with alternatives. This principle is particularly emphasized for children and youth soccer players, instilling a sense of honesty and responsibility in their approach to the game.
“Winning is great, sure, but if you are really going to do something in life, the secret is learning how to lose. Nobody goes undefeated all the time. If you can pick up after a crushing defeat, and go on to win again, you are going to be a champion someday”
Humility
Humility in soccer is the recognition that no player can win games alone in a team sport like soccer. It involves acknowledging the collective effort, even when an individual’s performance may have been crucial. This fosters a stronger team bond, where everyone shares in both victory and defeat. It does not mean downplaying one’s abilities or withholding special skills, but rather using them in service of the team’s goals. Understanding this concept early on leads to enhanced overall team capacity.
“Stay humble, stay hungry, and always be the hardest worker during practice and games because the mark of a true champion is not in how loudly they boast, but in how quietly they work”
Sportsmanship
Sportsmanship in soccer is the demonstration of humility towards an opposing team, acknowledging their shared passion for the game. It encompasses graciousness in defeat, emphasizing the valuable lessons that can be gleaned from a vanquished opponent. This ethos extends from pre-match gestures like handshakes to post-match actions such as providing first aid to injured adversaries, exemplifying respect and camaraderie in every aspect of the sport.
“The measure of a true athlete is not in the trophies they win, but in the sportsmanship, they display”
Discipline
Discipline in soccer refers to adhering to the guidelines and rules set by a training academy. It encompasses punctuality, respectful conduct towards teammates, opponents, and trainers, both on and off the field. This discipline instills values that extend beyond soccer, positively impacting various aspects of a player’s life. The academy fosters an open environment for addressing concerns, valuing the long-term benefits of their requirements. It emphasizes that small details are just as crucial as major skills, underlining that talent alone is insufficient without a deliberate cultivation of discipline.
“The difference between a successful person and others is not a lack of strength, not a lack of knowledge, but rather a lack of will”
Communication
Communication in soccer refers to the exchange of information and signals among players on the field, whether in practice or during a real game. It plays a crucial role in achieving optimal performance. In our approach, we encourage children to actively engage with their teammates, recognizing that communication styles may vary. This includes both verbal and nonverbal cues. When executed effectively, communication leads to improved performance, creating a positive feedback loop that encourages further interaction among players.
“The most successful athletes understand that words have the power to transform a moment, a game, and even a career because When you speak with purpose, you elevate your team. Every word carries the weight of possibility”
Leadership
Leadership in soccer is the embodiment of personal responsibility and the commitment to always give one’s best. It involves inspiring and motivating teammates through selfless actions, enabling them to perform at their highest potential. In our training philosophy, we strive to cultivate every player into a leader by instilling these values, recognizing that they will not only excel in soccer but also carry this trait into their future pursuits.
“Leadership is not about being the best. It’s about making everyone else better”
About the President
CHRISTIAN MARIN DIAZ
Christian Marín Díaz was born and raised in Spain and has been passionate about soccer since he began playing at five years old. He competed at the highest levels of Spain’s youth development system, winning several important tournaments and individual awards. At age 14, Christian was recruited into the youth academy of the professional European club Málaga CF, where he played for several years before moving to the United States and receiving a full-ride scholarship to play soccer at California Baptist University.
Christian later attended Azusa Pacific University, where he earned a Master of Arts in Physical Education with an Added Authorization in Adapted Physical Education. He also holds National U.S. Soccer and FIFA football coaching licenses.
After several years as head coach of multiple soccer clubs throughout the Inland Empire, Christian decided to focus on his greatest passion: individual player development. In 2007, he founded Elite Soccer Personal Training, specializing in personalized one-on-one training and small-group sessions.
After years of developing individual players, Christian expanded his vision by creating Elite Soccer PK. Its philosophy is rooted in the Spanish approach to player development—a unified system and soccer culture that has helped make Spain one of the world’s most successful soccer nations, winning World Cups at the senior level in both the men’s and women’s games, as well as multiple European Championships and numerous international titles at the senior and youth levels.
Christian brings that Spanish mentality and knowledge to players in the United States, emphasizing the small technical, tactical, physical, and psychological details that make the greatest difference at the highest levels. Through private training, small-ratio clinics, camps, after-school programs, team practices, and special events, Elite Soccer PK helps players become confident, creative individuals who understand how to succeed within a team while developing essential values that extend far beyond the soccer field.
Featured Interviews & Media
Articles
Meet Christian Marín Díaz | Soccer Coach/Trainer — Shoutout LA
Story & Lesson Highlights with Christian Marín Díaz — Voyage LA
Television and Video Features
ABOUT US
Elite PK Soccer PK is a player-centered, structured learning environment for children to develop capacity for playing soccer. We are committed and focused to stirring the creative and physical abilities that drive top performance in soccer, integrating natural ability, cultivating enthusiasm and psychosocial education.
Every player not only learns a European philosophy of the game, but also learns how to be a creative individual within a team setting.
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