The first book endorsed by AYSO—the organization that soccer moms and dads trust most—that presents all the basics of youth soccer If you are a soccer parent, coach, or referee, or just a youth soccer enthusiast, The Official American Youth Soccer Organization Handbook is for you. Dr. Vincent Fortanasce, Lawrence Robinson, and John Ouellette, the National AYSO coach, have written the book that will help everyone to better understand the rules, regulations, and skills that are essential to the game and a rewarding soccer experience for the children who play. In a straightforward, easy-to-follow style, The Official AYSO Handbook covers: —the five philosophies of AYSO: everyone plays, balanced teams, open registration, positive coaching, and good sportsmanship —the responsibilities of each position —the complete rules of youth soccer, including offside, throw-ins, and penalty kicks —skills such as ball control, goalkeeping, heading, and shooting —short-sided soccer rules for children between the ages of six and twelve —information for the prevention and treatment of the most common soccer injuries AYSO is the best and most trusted youth soccer authority. And now, Fortanasce, Robinson, and Ouellette have collected AYSO's expertise in this indispensable book—a must-have for anyone who embraces the important role that youth soccer can play in a child's life.

The first book endorsed by AYSO -- the organization that soccer moms and dads trust most -- that presents all the basics of youth soccer If you are a soccer parent, coach, or referee, or just a youth soccer enthusiast, The Official American Youth Soccer Organization Handbook is for you. Dr. Vincent Fortanasce, Lawrence Robinson, and John Ouellette, the National AYSO coach, have written the book that will help everyone to better understand the rules, regulations, and skills that are essential to the game and a rewarding soccer experience for the children who play. In a straightforward, easy-to-follow style, The Official AYSO Handbook covers: the five philosophies of AYSO: everyone plays, balanced teams, open registration, positive coaching, and good sportsmanship the responsibilities of each position the complete rules of youth soccer, including offside, throw-ins, and penalty kicks skills such as ball control, goalkeeping, heading, and shooting short-sided soccer rules for children between the ages of six and twelve information for the prevention and treatment of the most common soccer injuries AYSO is the best and most trusted youth soccer authority. And now, Fortanasce, Robinson, and Ouellette have collected AYSO's expertise in this indispensable book -- a must-have for anyone who embraces the important role that youth soccer can play in a child's life.

What has happened to and in American youth soccer over the past fifty years? I will take you on a stroll down memory lane, sharing some of my fondest memories and others I would like to forget; but cannot. Soccer in America has become “All about the money.” Some have forgotten it really is, and needs to always be “All about the players” and to develop their lifelong love of and passion for the sport. Parents are willing to pay “whatever the market will bear” as the club and/or coaches charge ever increasing to astronomical fees with the hope to have their child will succeed in obtaining the holy grail of a college soccer scholarship and not let their child fall behind their peers. The problem is that many parents have no idea what is actually going on in America’s youth soccer today, what they may soon face, or how to best navigate any of it. The hashtag I use to describe this is #youcantmakethissoccerstuffup. Money Grab $$—A Parents’ Guide to American Youth Soccer is an insider’s view of the actual soccer player developmental life cycle beginning with recreational FUN then to the drama, pain points, best practice actions and costs of competitive soccer. From just starting in the sport through your player’s deveIopmental life cycle, we will share what it takes to enjoy, survive, and possibly even make a professional soccer team and then stay at that level. Having been involved for so long, I have heard this same parents’ cry for help and understanding repeatedly, especially in the past few years. Parents who always want to do the best for their player but don’t have a clue, or for those who thought they had the clue, only to find out otherwise, need guidance and insight into what is going on. It will be invaluable and settling to understand in advance the decisions parents may face so that they may make the correct ones given the information available or to obtain what is needed to make and intelligent, data-driven decision, what to look for in a coach and, when to run. It will also identify many of the current and potential methods for a variety of folks to take parent’s hard-earned money out of their wallets providing little to nothing in return, also known as “Money Grab.”

Successful sports coaching is as dependent on utilising good teaching and social practices as it is about expertise in sport skills and tactics. Understanding Sports Coaching offers an innovative introduction to the theory and practice of sports coaching, highlighting the social, cultural and pedagogical concepts underpinning good coaching practice. Now in a fully revised and updated second edition, the book explores the complex interplay between coach, athlete, coaching programme and social context, and encourages coaches to develop an open and reflective approach to their own coaching practice. It addresses key issues such as: power and the coach-athlete relationship viewing the athlete as a learner instructional methods and reflection how our view of ability informs assessment coaching philosophy and ethics. Understanding Sports Coaching also includes a full range of practical exercises and case studies designed to encourage coaches to reflect critically upon their own coaching strategies, their interpersonal skills and upon important issues in contemporary sports coaching. This book is essential reading for all students of sports coaching and for any professional coach looking to develop their coaching expertise.

For reference librarians and researchers seeking information on sports and fitness, this guide is an important first stop. For collection development specialists, it is an invaluable selection guide. Allen describes and evaluates over 1,000 information sources on the complete spectrum of sports: from basketball, football, and hockey to figure skating, table tennis, and weight training. Focusing on English-language works published between 1990 and the present, the guide thoroughly covers traditional reference sources, such as encyclopedias and bibliographies, along with instructional sources in print formats, online databases, and Web sites. To enable users in search of information on specific sports or fitness activities, chapters are organized thematically, according to broad- type aquatic sports, nautical sports, precision and accuracy, racket sports, ice and snow sports, ball sports, cycling, and so on, with subcategories for such individual sports as soccer, golf, and yoga. Within these categories, works are further organized by type: reference, instructional, and Web sites.