Experience, Passion, Dedication.
Greg Simmonds, Founder and President
Greg Simmonds - Before turning professional, Gregory Simmonds was his high school's (Sherwood High School, Olney, Maryland) first ever All-American athlete - the second is US National stand-out Oguchi Onyewu. He also still holds the record for goals scored at his alma mater, Howard University. Simmonds began his professional soccer career with the Hershey Wildcats where he scored 35 goals, had 16 assists and was named USL-1 Rookie of the Year in 1999 and Team MVP in 2000. Simmonds also played for D.C. United in the CONCACAF Champions Cup in 1999.
Simmonds also boasts international experience, having played with the Jamaican National Team youth and senior teams (Reggae Boyz) in 1999. Signed by the Miami Fusion in 2001, he tallied 4 goals and 2 assists in league and Open Cup matches. After the Fusion folded in 2001, he signed with Rochester Rhinos in 2002 where he led the team with 9 goals and 6 assists. In 2003, he played in 27 games with the Richmond Kickers. Simmonds played for USL First Division team Charleston Battery for the 2004 and 2005 seasons and was the team’s leading scorer both years with 18 goals and 9 assist. In 2006 joined Virginia Beach Mariners where he was team MVP after leading the team with 9 goals and 5 assist and being named to the league’s ALL STAR TEAM.
Simmonds finished his professional career with 75 goals and 37 assists, last playing for the Puerto Rico Islanders.
Simmonds retired from professional soccer shortly after he founded the Soccer and Futsal programs at U-TURN Sports Performance Academy where he served as Director for over 3 years. Simmonds then became the Co-Founder and President of Own Touch Soccer, as well as Co-Founder and President of FutsalRVA. Simmonds holds a US National A License Coach. FutsalRVA has produced four US Youth National team players from and currently has five US Youth Futsal National Championship titles.
Carlos Pedraza, Technical Director & Methodology Lead
Carlos Pedraza is a seasoned youth development coach, mentor, and training architect with a proven track record of elevating players through methodology-driven programs.
Originally from Caracas, Venezuela, Carlos leads the technical direction of Own Touch, where he designs and implements structured, high-level training environments that emphasize individual growth and long-term development.
Prior to joining Own Touch, Carlos spent several impactful years at Montverde Academy in Orlando, Florida—home to the nationally acclaimed Soccer Institute at Montverde Academy (SIMA). There, he played a key role in developing players who have gone on to compete in NCAA Division I, MLS, USL, and top European leagues including La Liga and Ligue 1. As a member of the SIMA Águilas technical staff in USL League Two, he helped guide the team to a Southeast Conference championship and national semifinal appearance.
Beyond team success, Carlos spearheaded the SIMA IPO (Individual Position Optimization) program, a position-specific training initiative focused on maximizing technical and tactical development. He later served as Director of the SIMA Pre-Academy, where he helped launch and oversee the SIMA 360 methodology—a holistic player development model that nurtures young athletes as individuals, students, and soccer players.
In parallel with his work at SIMA, Carlos coached within the Orlando City SC Development Academy, where the U15 team was absorbed into the SIMA framework. His contributions included coaching, talent identification, video analysis, and individualized development plans under the MLS Next platform.
At Own Touch, Carlos serves as the Technical Director & Methodology Lead, overseeing all aspects of training structure, curriculum development, and session execution. His methodology is grounded in:
Skill-based player grouping to ensure every mentee trains at the right challenge level.
Technical mastery through structured repetition, progressive complexity, and personalized feedback.
A balanced approach that connects technique with tactical awareness, physical performance, and mental strength.
Real-game application to enhance decision-making, confidence, and match readiness.
Carlos’s leadership is hands-on, intentional, and rooted in the belief that long-term player growth requires consistency, clarity, and collaboration between coaches, mentees, and families. His focus is on creating a dynamic and motivating environment where players can thrive both on and off the field.
Carlos also serves as a full-time Assistant Coach for the NCAA Division I VCU Men’s Soccer Team, one of the most competitive programs in the Atlantic 10 Conference. In this role, he is actively involved in training design, match preparation, tactical strategy, player performance evaluation, and recruiting.
Through his work at VCU, he applies a methodical and data-informed approach to player development, helping athletes strengthen their technical abilities, tactical understanding, and physical execution to compete at the collegiate level and beyond.
Carlos Pedraza’s professional journey reflects a lifelong commitment to excellence, education, and purpose-driven coaching. Whether working with aspiring youth players or elite college athletes, his goal remains the same: to help each player reach their full potential through high-level training, character development, and a love for the game.
Sally Fotovat, Director of Operations
Sally moved to the US from England in 2000 with a degree in Early Childhood Education and has worked in this field for 20 years both in Virginia and Colorado. Sally’s background and experience is in Early Childhood Education, Office Management and Customer Service. Sally, as General Manager, concentrates on the organizational, administrative and operational development of Own Touch. Sally also collaborates with leadership staff, on a regular basis, to optimize operational strategy, process and planning.
Sally more importantly works closely with parents and children and her superior Management and Customer Service skills enables her to keep everything running smoothly at Own Touch.
