"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.

Expert advice to make youth soccer more fun for players, parents and coaches. Robert Koger coached youth soccer for over twenty-five years. For the thousands of new coaches taking over teams every year, the advice he offers will make their lives easier and their teams better. Koger covers everything a new coach needs to know: the rules of the game, the layout of the field, the logistics of finding playing space, setting up practices, and even handling pesky problem parents. If you want to understand the offsides rule, clarify what goalkeepers can and can’t do inside the penalty box, need advice on conditioning and training players, you’ll find it here. Designed specifically to help coaches work with young players ages four through eight, Koger’s goal is to make the game fun for kids, parents, and coaches. With fourteen million American children playing in organized leagues, and more new coaches needed every year, this book is essential and helpful reading for anyone who chooses to take up the whistle and manage a team. Skyhorse Publishing, as well as our Sports Publishing imprint, are proud to publish a broad range of books for readers interested in sports—books about baseball, pro football, college football, pro and college basketball, hockey, or soccer, we have a book about your sport or your team. Whether you are a New York Yankees fan or hail from Red Sox nation; whether you are a die-hard Green Bay Packers or Dallas Cowboys fan; whether you root for the Kentucky Wildcats, Louisville Cardinals, UCLA Bruins, or Kansas Jayhawks; whether you route for the Boston Bruins, Toronto Maple Leafs, Montreal Canadiens, or Los Angeles Kings; we have a book for you. While not every title we publish becomes a New York Times bestseller or a national bestseller, we are committed to publishing books on subjects that are sometimes overlooked by other publishers and to authors whose work might not otherwise find a home.

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

101 Great Youth Soccer Drills is an exhaustive collection of the very best drills available, providing a solid foundation for you to build your players' skills. Filled with simple step-by-step instructions and diagrams, plus a sample practice program, this encyclopedia of drills provides you with solid skill-building fundamentals as well as the advanced techniques you need to get your players in top form.

A truly innovative model for coaching and playing soccer in which the thought side of the game is as important as the skills and players begin thinking early in their development. The key to the Thoughtful Soccer picture is unpredictability. Players might pass, shoot or dribble. They might move the ball forward, back or to the side. And they might attack quickly or advance the ball patiently. Observers, as well as opponents, cannot predict what is going to happen. That is what makes Thoughtful Soccer so enjoyable to watch. Perfect for both new and experienced coaches and players, this unique method will benefit teams at all levels of the game. Book jacket.