This book provides ideas for implementing the recently unveiled United States Soccer Curriculum by Claudio Reyna and Dr. Javier Perez. The information comes directly from some of the world's most prominent figures in youth soccer development. It focuses mainly on the 11-14 age groups and touches on topics such as philosophy of coaching, winning now vs long term development, communication with parents, appropriate age level progressions, better understanding our players, maximizing potential, how talent is developed, creativity, the training session, style of play, and training outside the regular practice sessions. The book provides many diagrams and photos which are designed to help support the running of training sessions. The activities provided help players develop game intelligence and perception while establishing a possession oriented and attacking style of play. Also included are thoughts on player development by prominent coaches throughout the United States.

The assistant soccer coach has existed for decades, and is a standard figure within the coaching staff, with specific roles, functions and responsibilities. However, I find it strange that nobody has yet described this profession formally. I used to only be a head coach, until one day I was proposed to be the assistant coach of U18 team of FC Barcelona. That is when I started thinking about writing this book, moved by my desire to continue learning. If I wanted to train in my new role I could only do it by asking others and observing training sessions. But I was missing one of the pillars that has forever supported my training: studying and reading. With this book I hope to cover that lack of information. The book is divided into two parts: the first is based on describing the assistant coach in professional soccer and I have not found a more practical way to do it than through interviews with assistant coaches. Each interviewee has contributed his experiences from working with the most recognized soccer coaches: I am talking about people who have worked with Vicente del Bosque, Ernesto Valverde, Luis Enrique, Pep Guardiola, Mauricio Pochettino, Sergio González, Quique Sánchez Flores, and Paulo Sousa. The second part of the book is related to Youth soccer, which I have experienced in clubs like Atlético de Madrid and FC Barcelona. I propose the role of the assistant coach working in Youth soccer to be more formative and educational than what is currently given, and I want to direct their effort towards two dimensions: the team's sporting performance (which the vast majority do) and the individualized analysis of the young player (which very few do). This second dimension is described in the last chapter, to demonstrate a new vision of assistant coaches in Youth soccer, who in my view have to dedicate their time to improving the players as an athlete and as a person in a more personalized and integral way.

En este libro se explica la forma de plantear objetivos de aprendizaje técnicos y tácticos en el mundo del fútbol infantil y de adecuar los partidos y las tareas lúdicas al grado de rendimiento de cada individuo. Asimismo, se exponen las tareas más importantes del buen entrenador de fútbol base, en unos diálogos pequeños, pero completos, entre el entrenador y los niños: exposiciones, correcciones y demostraciones. También se exponen los cambios físicos, mentales y psíquicos que se suceden en el desarrollo de las etapas infantil y juvenil; para luego, analizar unto con numerosas propuestas prácticas y abundantes fotos e ilustraciones la planificación, organización y realización del entrenamiento en las distintas edades.

Luis Villarejo reflexiona sobre la figura y el peso en un vestuario del capitán en un equipo de fútbol y su función como líder y aglutinador de voluntades. El capitán, en definitiva, como insignia. El capitán como expresión de fuerza, determinación y sentido común.