(SEPTEMBER 19, 2025 | PEORIA, IL) – Combining accomplished instructors in both soccer and body development inside the area’s premier indoor training facility, Peoria City and The House Barbell Club are joining forces to offer a comprehensive after-school training program at The Yard Peoria (1503 W. Altorfer Drive) to aid the skill development of boys and girls soccer players of all ages and skill levels.
The Peoria City After-School Training Program is a collection of 4-week sessions starting in mid-October, each consisting of eight, one-hour sessions that focus on soccer skills on Mondays and Wednesdays, as well as eight, one-hour sessions focused on strength, speed, agility, flexibility and core development on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Participants have the option of combining the benefits of both programs in a bundled registration for all 16 sessions or selecting from just the soccer program or just the body development program in full. The two specialized programs also are available in half-session options for one training day per week.
Peoria City President Jim DeRose will oversee the comprehensive training program in coordination with Joey O’Brien, Director of Wellness & Fitness at The House Barbell Club.
A former college All-American and professional player, DeRose boasts more than 30 years of collegiate coaching experience and was the Soccer America NCAA Division I Men’s Soccer National Coach of the Year in 2007 after leading the Bradley University men’s soccer team to the NCAA Tournament Elite Eight. A three-time United Soccer Coaches Midwest Region Coach of the Year and four-time Missouri Valley Conference Coach of the Year, DeRose led Bradley to seven Valley regular-season and postseason tournament titles and his seven NCAA Tournament appearances are the most by any coach of any sport in Bradley Athletics history. His teams combined to set the collegiate record for consecutive overtime games without a loss, posting a 10-0-14 record in overtime matches across six seasons from 2001-06. Following 28 years at Bradley, DeRose retired in 2023 as the second-winningest coach in Missouri Valley Conference men’s or women’s soccer history with 267 victories and he mentored nine MLS SuperDraft selections and 12 All-Americans, while his players combined for 110 All-MVC awards.
In addition to overseeing wellness and fitness at The House Barbell Club, O’Brien also is the founder and CEO of Built by O’B, a holistic fitness approach focused on both physical and mental well-being. O’Brien graduated from the University of Illinois with degrees in cell and molecular biology and psychology with a minor in chemistry. He specializes in sport-specific training, functional training and strength training, as well as athletic fitness and development and youth training.
The Peoria City After-School Training Program will kick off Session 1 Monday, Oct. 20 and will continue through Thursday, Nov. 13 in the soccer room at The Yard Peoria (1503 W. Altorfer Drive). Conducted each Monday and Wednesday during the 4-week session, the soccer program is available to children in grades PreK through eighth grade (ages 4-13) during the first hour from 4-5:00 pm, followed by players in grades 9-12 (ages 14-18) during the second hour from 5-6:00 pm. The Strength, Speed & Agility program will operate on Tuesdays and Thursdays and is available for children in grades 5-8 (ages 10-13) in the first hour from 4-5:00 pm, followed by players in grades 9-12 (ages 14-18) during the second hour from 5-6:00 pm. Participants in both programs will be grouped by age and skill for appropriate instruction and development.
Subsequent 4-week sessions will transition to a single, hour-long block from 4-5:00 pm with the age groups separated into different spaces at The Yard Peoria.
The Soccer and SSA programs for each 4-week session are priced at $100 for The Yard Peoria Soccer Members and $175 for non-members, while the bundled option featuring all 16 sessions in both programs is $180 for members and $325 for non-members. The half programs in Soccer and SSA each are available at $70 for members and $125 for non-members. For more information on the Peoria City After-School Training Program and to register for any of the first three sessions, visit peoriacitysoccer.com and click “Camps” from the main header menu.
Peoria City last week announced a Soccer Membership program at The Yard Peoria, offering new soccer-focused opportunities to the training facilities at The Yard Peoria, including members-only open-play sessions on the 60 x 25 yard dedicated soccer field; and discounted pricing for Peoria City camps, clinics and training programs; as well as complimentary general admission season tickets for the 2026 Peoria City season. For more information on the Soccer Membership program at The Yard Peoria, visit peoriacitysoccer.com and select “The Yard Memberships” option from the main header menu, and visit The Yard Peoria at 1503 W Altorfer Drive during open hours to sign up for Individual, Family or Instructor memberships.
Peoria City After-School Training Program
Session 1: Oct. 20-Nov. 13
Soccer: Mondays and Wednesdays
4:00-5:00 pm: Ages 4-6/7-10/11-13 (Grades PreK-1st/2nd-5th/6th-8th)
5:00-6:00 pm: Ages 14-18 (Grades 9th-12th)
Eight sessions: $100 members, $175 non-members
Four sessions: $70 members, $125 non-members
Strength, Speed & Agility: Tuesdays and Thursdays
4:00-5:00 pm: Ages 10-13 (Grades 5th-8th)
5:00-6:00 pm: Ages 14-18 (Grades 9th-12th)
Eight sessions: $100 members, $175 non-members
Four sessions: $70 members, $125 non-members
Bundled Soccer and SSA: Monday-Thursday
4:00-5:00 pm: Ages 10-13 (Grades 5th-8th)
5:00-6:00 pm: Ages 14-18 (Grades 9th-12th)
16 sessions: $180 members, $325 non-members
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Session 2: Nov. 17-Dec. 18 (no training the week of Thanksgiving)
4:00-5:00 pm
Soccer: Mondays and Wednesdays
Baseball Field: 4-6/7-10/11-13 (Grades PreK-1st/2nd-5th/6th-8th)
Soccer Field: Ages 14-18 (Grades 9th-12th)
Eight sessions: $100 members, $175 non-members
Four sessions: $70 members, $125 non-members
Strength, Speed & Agility: Tuesdays and Thursdays
Baseball Field: Ages 10-13 (Grades 5th-8th)
Soccer Field: Ages 12-18 (Grades 9th-12th)
Eight sessions: $100 members, $175 non-members
Four sessions: $70 members, $125 non-members
Bundled Soccer and SSA: Monday-Thursday
Baseball Field: Ages 10-13 (Grades 5th-8th)
Soccer Field: Ages 12-18 (Grades 9th-12th)
16 sessions: $180 members, $325 non-members
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Session 3: Jan. 5-Jan. 29
4:00-5:00 pm
Soccer: Mondays and Wednesdays
Baseball Field: 4-6/7-10/11-13 (Grades PreK-1st/2nd-5th/6th-8th)
Soccer Field: Ages 14-18 (Grades 9th-12th)
Eight sessions: $100 members, $175 non-members
Four sessions: $70 members, $125 non-members
Strength, Speed & Agility: Tuesdays and Thursdays
Baseball Field: Ages 10-13 (Grades 5th-8th)
Soccer Field: Ages 14-18 (Grades 9th-12th)
Eight sessions: $100 members, $175 non-members
Four sessions: $70 members, $125 non-members
Bundled Soccer and SSA: Monday-Thursday
Baseball Field: Ages 10-13 (Grades 5th-8th)
Soccer Field: Ages 14-18 (Grades 9th-12th)
16 sessions: $180 members, $325 non-members
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