Minding My Business: Soccer Shots Scores in the South Metro

You could say Dan Larson is living the dream. He turned his love of a particular sport into a fast-growing company—Soccer Shots of the Twin Cities and Western Wisconsin.

Surveying the scene at Burnsville's River Hills Early Childhood Center, Larson concedes that it's a pretty good gig. Before us about a dozen kindergarten-age kids tussle happily over the ball, squealing and laughing. More than a few loose velcro-strap sneakers go flying as the scrimmage progresses. Grass stains abound. The groups ends the session with a spirited huddle and cheer.

"If you're having a bad day, they'll really brighten you up," Larson says later.

The whole session lasts about 30 minutes, just enough time to give small children a good workout and a few new skills. Brevity is the key to keeping their target age group on track, Larson said. The non-competitive program can be adapted to kids aged two to eight.

"My favorite part is seeing the difference between the first session and the last session and seeing how they've developed," Larson said. "You'll always have a couple of shy kids in each group and by the end they're running around making goals."

Not long ago, Larson's full-time job required a starched shirt and tie.

Larson is originally from Plymouth. He played soccer at the varsity level throughout high school and his college career at Hamline University in St. Paul, where he majored in business management. He began coaching youth soccer programs after he and his wife moved to New Richmond, WI, a small town about 20 minutes northeast of Stillwater.

"I wanted to get more involved in the community, to give back, and this was really the only way I really knew how," Larson said. "It turned out to be a passion."

At the time, Larson coached as a volunteer. During the workweek he was fully imbued in the business world, first as an employee at Menard's corporate office, later as a part of an IT company. Then in 2010 he saw an ad for Soccer Shots, a Pennsylvania-based franchise begun by a pair of pro players in 2005.

"It seemed to be best of both worlds," Larson said.

Larson and his wife decided to go for it. In March of 2011 they launched the first Soccer Shots franchise in the Twin Cities. In six months, Larson was able to quit his day job and devote himself to the venture full-time. The company now employs five coaches in the Twin Cities, who run sessions from March through summer. Larson and Co. operate 75 to 80 classes a week, which are offered through 55 preschools and daycares throughout the Twin Cities. The company has long had a presence in Washington and Dakota County, where Burnsville acts as its regional hub. Soccer Shots expanded into Hennepin on Jan. 1. 

This year, a little over 600 kids became Soccer Shots alumni, the company's largest season to date. Nowadays, his only concern is maintaining a steady pace.

"We've expanded pretty quickly. What we're focusing on now is developing a high quality program," Larson said. "We don't want to grow too fast." 

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