POULSBO — “Put the ball on the floor! Lace ya boots up! Come on, then!”

The thick accents of Manchester, England-born soccer coaches Rob Hennis, 23 and Sean Kiernan, 22, are not exactly ones North End residents are used to hearing.

But for many of North Kitsap’s aspiring soccer players, from those voices has come meaningful advice that translates into soccer success.

The North Kitsap Soccer Club has instituted the help of U.K. International Soccer Camps, Inc. to put on clinics for kids — and their energetic parent coaches — in North Kitsap.

Both Hennis and Kiernan are a part of the company, which has about 180 coaches in the U.S. teaching soccer across seven western states.

“The guys bring a different background and have a really good curriculum that we were looking for,” said Ted Thetford, NKSC’s vice president of development.

Hennis and Kiernan had played for university and semi-pro teams in England — a country which prides itself on soccer prowess — before deciding to come to the U.S. to coach.

“I love the children here,” said Hennis, who has been coming to the U.S. for three years now. “And I’ve seen a lot of improvement since last year.”

Kiernan said he came to the U.S. to coach after dislocating his knee. Although the injury inhibited his ability to play, he didn’t want it to keep him from the game.

“I don’t know what I want to do (for a career) yet, but I know I love football,” Kiernan said.

The pair coaches about 120 kids per day — 40 kids per hour — with teams youth teams mainly in ages U-8 through U-11.

He added that coaching can be just as beneficial as playing when he’s able to connect with one of the players he’s coaching.

“When you see a student who has picked it up, it’s a great feeling,” Kiernan said.

From June through August, Hennis coached weekly all-day summer camps in Poulsbo before school started. The program changes for the fall, when players on various teams come out and work with Hennis and Kiernan for one hour for seven weeks. The program focuses in one one skill per session, including aspects of the game like passing, shooting, controlling, dribbling and turning.

The program not only benefits the players in North Kitsap Soccer Club but also the coaches — many of which are volunteer parents who’ve had no previous coaching experience.

“(Coaches) are out here learning with the kids,” Thetford said. “They can take new skills back to their regular practice.”

Hennis and Kiernan have been living with a new host family each week in the area, and the pair said they have enjoyed very much the hospitality of each house in which they’ve stayed.

“They become like your aunties and uncles after awhile,” Hennis commented.