H.A.B.I.T. Performance creates opportunities for collegiate players to train in the summer

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (KMIZ)

H.A.B.I.T. Performance in Jefferson City is an off-season training program ran by Jefferson City soccer coach Dakota Acock to give collegiate athletes a place to keep their game up year round. 

The program started with eight players in year one, and now in year four, that number is over 50.

"In 2020, we started because all the colleges kind of shut down and nobody had a place to train," Acock said.

The summer training brings together collegiate athletes from all levels, as well as players from overseas. Acock also said former soccer standouts are involved in the training, which is really helpful to the rest of the group.

"They've been there and done that, and so to have those type of players come around these athletes and give them the encouragement and the advice aspect is huge," Acock said.

During the summer, athletes aren't training for a game or a chance to hoist a trophy. Instead, Acock says what they put into it, is what they'll take back to their collegiate seasons.

"You're already fit, you already have your touch then when you get to college and you can just start working on the tactics and you're a lot more ready to go then a lot of the other people," said former Jefferson City soccer play Toby Hughes, who now plays at Westminster College.

"Being able to play with the boys and everyone else that plays college has really just exponentially made me better," said former Rock Bridge soccer player Hannah Juengermann, who now plays at Rockhurst University.

This summer, Acock has taken the training from practices only, up to having scrimmages. He says he hopes the program continues to evolve as it continues.