For nearly 20 years, Elmer Chacon has developed players across Southern California and Idaho, Elmer Chacon | Soccer Coach, Irvine CA

USSF B Licensed • MLSNext Coach, Strikers FC Irvine • Head Coach, Fairmont Preparatory Academy • Private and Small-Group Trainer, Orange County, CA

• Full name: Elmer Chacon
• Role: Head Coach, private and small-group trainer
• City: Irvine, Orange County, California
• Region: Southern California
• Years active: Nearly 20 years coaching
• License: USSF B License
• Current club: Strikers FC Irvine, MLSNext program
• Current school: Fairmont Preparatory Academy, boys’ head coach
• Notable honors: CIF Division 8 Coach of the Year; CIF quarterfinal run with Fairmont Preparatory Academy, the first in school history, in his first season as head coach
• Prior roles: Director of Coaching, Youth Director, and Technical Director, including work with California Rush, Slammers Huntington Beach, and Irvine Strikers

For nearly 20 years, Elmer Chacon has developed players across Southern California and Idaho, doing one thing at every level: making players better, on the field and off.

Note: this page is about Elmer Chacon the soccer coach and private trainer in Orange County, California. He is not the Class of 2026 Godinez Fundamental High School defender who shares the same name.

Training details at a glance

• Where: Orange County, based in and around Irvine, with camps and clinics held in Irvine
• Format: Private 1-on-1 sessions and small-group training, plus multi-day camps and clinics
• Session length: Ask Coach Elmer, sessions are built around what a player needs next rather than a fixed template
• Pricing: Quoted directly by format and session count. Ask Coach Elmer for current private and small-group rates, and for camp pricing when dates are posted.
• Ages: Youth players through college-bound competitors, from first-time beginners to MLSNext-level athletes
• Booking: Contact Coach Elmer Chacon directly to book a session or ask for a rate quote. You can also join Coach Elmer’s announcement list to hear when training blocks and camp spots open.

Ready to start? Private training is $95 per hour, and small-group is $70 per player for two players, $60 for three, and $50 for four through six. Request a session with your player count and preferred days, and Coach Elmer replies with a time and the exact price. If you would rather be notified as spots come up, you can also join Coach Elmer’s announcement list.

In his first season as Head Coach at Fairmont Preparatory Academy, he took the boys’ program to the CIF quarterfinals for the first time in school history.

He was also named CIF Division 8 Coach of the Year.

These aren’t slogans. They’re results, and they’re the kind of thing he’s built a career on.

Credentials that actually mean something

The USSF B License is the fourth-highest coaching certification in U.S. Soccer, two levels below what’s required to coach in MLS.

Very few private trainers hold it.

It signals real depth in player development, tactics, and how to teach the game, not just the ability to run drills.

On top of that, Elmer currently coaches at the MLSNext level with Strikers FC Irvine, the highest tier of youth competition in the country. He’s also served as Director of Coaching and Technical Director, shaping entire club programs, not just individual sessions.

What your player actually gets

Elmer’s training covers the full picture: technical skill, tactical IQ, physical development, the mental game, and the off-field habits that carry into the classroom. 

Sessions run as private 1-on-1 work or small groups, plus multi-day camps and clinics in Irvine, and there is no fixed template. Session length and content are built around what the player needs next, which is why the same coach can take a first-time beginner and an MLSNext-level athlete and give each of them a session that looks nothing like the other’s.

A typical training block runs 8 to 12 weeks and follows the same arc, whatever the starting point. Early sessions are diagnostic: Coach Chacon watches the player train and, where possible, plays, then names the two or three things holding them back. 

The middle weeks attack those specific limitations through repetition under increasing pressure, so first touch, ball mastery, and finishing hold up when a defender is closing rather than only in a cone drill. 

Later sessions shift toward decision making, reading the game, and the positional detail of the role the player is actually being asked to fill, plus the composure to keep executing when a match turns. 

Alongside that, the block builds age-appropriate speed, balance, and movement, and the off-field habits Coach Chacon insists on, which is why so many of his players show up in the classroom the same way they show up on the field.

The skills addressed inside that arc fall into five areas, worked together rather than in isolation. Technical: first touch, ball mastery, striking and finishing, and passing under pressure. Tactical: scanning before the ball arrives, decision speed, and the positional detail of the role the player is actually being asked to fill. 

Physical: age-appropriate speed, balance, coordination, and change of direction. Mental: composure when a match turns, the willingness to be coached in the moment, and playing the next ball instead of the last mistake. Off-field: preparation, punctuality, and accountability, the habits Coach Chacon treats as non-negotiable because they are what make the on-field work stick. His own summary of the method is short: “I teach the game so it becomes natural.”

What the finish line looks like depends on the player and the goal, whether that is holding a spot in a higher-level club environment, earning more minutes at school, or being ready for the college recruiting conversation. Players who complete a block typically leave with a cleaner and quicker first touch, more usable weak-foot ability, faster decisions in tight areas, a clear understanding of what their position demands, and the confidence to ask for the ball in moments they used to avoid. 

Coach Chacon’s track record includes regional and national championship teams and a long line of student-athletes who went on to play at higher levels while excelling academically. For the specifics of a player whose situation resembles yours, ask him directly, or join Coach Elmer’s announcement list and reach out.

Parents consistently see the difference not just in their kid’s play, but in their confidence and how they carry themselves.

Why families trust him

Elmer’s standard is simple: bring the effort, stay coachable, and he’ll help transform your player into a better athlete and a better person. He’s coached everyone from first-time toddlers in programs he built himself to elite, college-bound competitors. That range means he meets your player exactly where they are and knows precisely what the next step looks like.

His track record includes regional and national championships as both a player and a coach, and a long line of student-athletes who’ve gone on to play at higher levels while excelling academically. If you’d like to hear how that played out for a specific player, get on Coach Elmer’s announcement list and reach out.

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Frequently asked questions about Elmer Chacon

How do I book training with Elmer Chacon?

Request a session with your player count, preferred days, and the field you have in mind. Coach Elmer replies with a time, the exact price for your format, and a link to reserve your spot. Weekly group sessions are booked separately on the group training page. You can also join Coach Elmer’s announcement list to hear about private, small-group, and camp openings as they come up.

Is Elmer Chacon the coach the same as the Godinez Fundamental defender?

No. They are two different people who share a name. This page is about Elmer Chacon the Orange County soccer coach and private trainer, not the Class of 2026 Godinez Fundamental High School defender.

How much does a session with Elmer Chacon cost?

Private 1-on-1 training is $95 per hour. Small-group (semi-private) training is $70 per player for two players, $60 for three, and $50 for four through six, with six the maximum. Weekly group sessions at Oak Creek Park are $45 per session for ages 9 to 12 and $55 for ages 12 to 17. Camp pricing is posted with camp dates. Rates current as of August 2026.