"I wish that this book had been published several years ago when I was assistant coaching my daughter's team. It has a wealth of useful insights for both the nonsoccer coach as well as the seasoned one." -Katy Hwostow, recreational soccer player turned soccer mom, Centreville, Virginia Now you can take your coaching-and your team-to the next level with this innovative and down-to-earth approach to coaching youth soccer. Most soccer coaching guides are nothing more than a boring encyclopedia of soccer drills that do little to help you become successful. Seasoned youth soccer coaches Darren McKnight and Radovan Pletka combine their experience to examine issues critical to your success, including teaching techniques, organization, and communication. They also deliver helpful tips for managing expectations and dealing with many types of parents and personalities. Soccer-specific topics focus on evolutionary, results-driven drills, skills improvement, positioning, teamwork, and the overarching axiom that what you do without the ball is more important than what you do with the ball. Written for novice parents whose kids are begging them to coach their team, this must-have guide also provides fresh ideas for long-time soccer coaches. With Soccer Is a Thinking Game, you'll be ready to kick off a winning season!

This resource contains a complete and proven full-season training program for players ages 5-10. More than 70 interchangeable drills are explained to produce academy standard players and teams.

Packed with drills and tips for practice and game days The fun and easy way(r) to kick-start your soccer coaching skills Volunteering as a youth soccer coach can be a great experience, both for you and your squad. But what if you've never coached before? Don't worry! This friendly guide explains soccer rules, shows you how to approach coaching, and gives you practical pointers on improving your team's soccer skills and encouraging good sportsmanship. Discover how to Understand soccer rules Develop a coaching philosophy Teach soccer fundamentals Run great practices Lead your team during a game Communicate effectively with parents

The key to successful coaching is preparing your players to make intelligent decisions on the field. For years, the best-selling Skills & Strategies for Coaching Soccer has helped coaches of every level do just that. Now, soccer’s premier coaching resource has been updated and expanded to provide you with more insights into developing individual talent, team tactics, and winning play. Skills & Strategies for Coaching Soccer provides you with over 125 drills for teaching skills and techniques. You’ll also learn how to develop these skills in realistic game situations with beginning, intermediate, advanced, and all-star players. Essential skills are presented, including collecting and controlling, passing, dribbling, kicking, heading, and goalkeeping. You’ll then apply those individual skills with attacking and defensive tactics, team formations, and set pieces. With Skills & Strategies for Coaching Soccer, you’ll learn the what, how, and why of soccer through these essentials: Over 125 drills for beginning, intermediate, advanced, and all-star players Progressing basic drills into realistic, competitive situations Tactics in attack and defense Tactics in set plays Team management Mental and physical preparation for games Handling problem players and parents Fitness and conditioning Preparing and developing coaching sessions Establishing a coaching philosophy Skills & Strategies for Coaching Soccer is an invaluable guide for coaching any team in any setting. The best team doesn’t always win—but it usually does.

This is the second book in the Professional Academy Soccer Training Series. This edition focuses on the top 20 soccer finishing exercises that Coach DiBernardo personally uses with his own teams. The exercises can be adapted to fit a wide variety of age groups and ability levels. These are the same modern trainings that top clubs like FC Barcelona use.