Soccer, long the world's most played sport, is now undergoing a phenomenal popularity spurt among youth in North America. This book, the complete amateur soccer handbook for all ages, is indispensable for players, coaches, managers, league officials, referees and parents. Rules of the game, conditioning methods, basic and advanced skills, positional play, team formations, defensive techniques--and much more--are covered. The Laws of the Game, a publication of the Federation Internationale de Football Associations publication is reprinted in full. The modern "short-ball" soccer concept is explained. Ball control skills are stressed for both developing and advanced players, along with self-discipline and a strong defense. With this handbook, championship teams and successful players can be built on these principles. In addition to technical skills, the important principles of leadership, self-control, sportsmanship, team play, fairness, and self-confidence are also promoted.

Written by soccer great and championship Stanford coach Bobby Clark, COACHING YOUTH SOCCER: THE BAFFLED PARENT'S GUIDE tells you how, starting at point zero, an uninitiated coach can meld kids into a team and help them enjoy one of the most rewarding experiences of their youth. (In the end, you may be the one who reaps the biggest reward, as you watch kids learn and grow in an experience they'll treasure for a lifetime.)

"Scott and David have done a fantastic job getting into the psyche of these very young players. What I really love is their emphasis on FUN, and that kids learn by DOING. This book will make a great extra assistant as you prepare for your season."—Bobby Clark, Head Soccer Coach, University of Notre Dame; author of the best-selling Coaching Youth Soccer: The Baffled Parent's Guide Coach. You're the new coach of your child's soccer team, and you're not sure how to teach your players the fundamentals of soccer while also ensuring they have fun. Don't panic—Coaching 6-and-Under Soccer is here to help. Coaching 6-and-Under Soccer offers straightforward advice, tips, and techniques, including reward-based games and drills; your first six practices in an easy-to-photocopy format; and how to teach soccer basics to 4-, 5-, and 6-year-olds in ways that are fun for you and your players. This complete tool kit for a new coach includes: The twelve easy-to-run drills that work best with young soccer players How to keep your young players happy and active while they learn How to make parents your best assistants and supporters How to keep the focus where it belongs—not on winning or losing, but on having fun How to have a terrific time coaching young players "Coaching 6-and-Under Soccer shows you how to teach your young players the right way—through lively games that encourage kids to use their creativity and self-expression when playing."—Brandi Chastain, Olympic and World Cup Soccer Champion; author of It's Not About the Bra: Play Hard, Play Fair, and Put the Fun Back into Competitive Sports "I have no doubt that young players will come to love the game of soccer if their coaches follow the simple, straightforward advice in this book."—Anson Dorrance, Head Women's Soccer Coach, University of North Carolina; author of The Vision of a Champion: Advice and Inspiration from the World's Most Successful Women's Soccer Coach "I highly recommend this terrific book to coaches who want to instill good sportsmanship and the love of the game in their young players while building a solid foundation in basic soccer skills and teamwork."—Jeremy Gunn, Head Men's Soccer Coach, Fort Lewis College

Written by the medical coordinator for Major League Soccer and experienced physical therapist who treats athletes of all ages and abilities, a comprehensive guide to the best training, strengthening, stretching, nutrition, and hydration regimens to prevent the most common soccer injuries as well as expert explanations and advice on how to treat injuries if they occur. Including universal health and fitness recommendations as well as advice targeted to specific age groups and levels of play, Soccer Injury Prevention and Treatment: A Guide to Optimal Performance for Players, Parents, and Coaches is an essential book for every player, parent, and coach.

HAPPY FEET is the ultimate resource for soccer parents. Written by best-selling author, Dan Blank, it will give you a better understanding of the game, its rules and terminology. This remarkable book includes links to seven free videos that help explain soccer's more mysterious concepts such as offside, the advantage rule and systems of play. By the end of Section 1, parents with no soccer background will have a working vocabulary of this strange sport and an understanding of all its moving pieces. More importantly, HAPPY FEET details the most common mistakes parents make in dealing with coaches, referees and their own children. It is a practical guide to situations that every soccer parent will eventually face. HAPPY FEET is not a collection of sideline horror stories. Written by a coach with more than 20 years of experience, HAPPY FEET offers a wealth of advice presented in a conversational and humorous tone. It is the definitive handbook for parents that want the best possible experience for their soccer playing children. HAPPY FEET will help you understand the most effective path for growing your child's love for the game while also helping you steer clear of the behaviors that cause children to fall out of love with team sports. Discover the easiest way to have a positive relationship with your coach, how to effectively deal with playing-time issues, and learn how to talk with your child before and after a game. Plus much, much more. Seventy-five percent of youth soccer players quit by the age of 13. HAPPY FEET was written to combat this staggering defection rate by arming parents with everything they need to know to nurture and grow their children’s love for the game so that soccer fields from coast to coast are alive and well with the sounds of very HAPPY FEET.

A guide for parents on fundamentals of soccer play.