PROGRESSIVE SOCCER COACHING:
FROM NOVICE TO EXPERT

MATTHEW CURTNER-SMITH, M.L. JOHNSON and JOHN VINCENT
ISBN 978-0-89641-398-6
2nd edition, 220 pages, $29.95 (shipping included)  

 

Progressive Soccer Coaching: From Novice to Expert is the most comprehensive soccer textbook of its kind. The systematic approach employed by the authors, from the most basic juggling exercise for the novice through the systems of play and team tactics for advanced players, make this book "a must" for the most inexperienced recreational youth coaches and physical education teachers as well as high school and college coaches. The way the text is organized in three progressive phases is a particular strength.

The Beginneer Developmental Phase explains all the fundamental soccer techniqiues such as dribbling, passing, controlling, shooting, and tackling that the soccer novice needs to learn in an easily understood systematic format.

The Intermediate Developmental Phase takes the teacher/coach through several more sophisticated technical skills such as chipping and curling the ball; a vaariety of different "turns," "fakes," and "dummies" used to beat an opponent; and includes sections on heading techniques and goalkeeping.

The Advanced Phase focuses on the tactical aspects of soccer including systems of play, the functions and roles of different positions, and offensive and defensive set piece plays. I particularly like the different evaluations at the end of each phase which assess the players' skill, knowledge, and understanding. The simplicity and utility of the over 100 "drills" and "games," illustrated with well-crafted diagrams, underscores the brilliance of this book. The authors' years of practical soccer teaching and coaching experience pour from each page.

CONTENTS

Chapter 1: THE BEGINNER DEVELOPOMENTAL PHASE

What Players Should Learn in the Beginner Developmental Phase
Progressive Teaching Stage 1 — Ball Control
Progressive Teaching Stage 2 — Dribbling
Progressive Teaching Stage 3 — Tackling
Progressive Teaching Stage 4 — Beating a Player
Progressive Teaching Stage 5 — Basic Passing and Receiving
Progressive Teaching Stage 6 — Five-a-Side Soccer
Evaluation and Assessment

Chapter 2: THE INTERMEDIATE DEVELOPMENTAL PHASE

What Players Should Learn in the Intermediate Developmental Phase
Progressive Teaching Stage 7 — Advanced Passing
Progressive Teaching Stage 8 — Playing with the Back to the Defender
Progressive Teachying Stage 9 — Seven-a-Side Soccer
Progressive Teaching Stage 10 — Heading and Goalkeeping
Progressive Teaching Stage 11 — Shooting
Progressive Teaching Stage 12 — Eight-a-Side Soccer
Evaluation and Assessment

Chapter 3: THE ADVANCED DEVELOPMENTAL PHASE

What Players Should Learn in the Advanced Developmental Phase
Progressive Teaching Stage 13 — Attack Against Degense
Progressive Teaching Stage 14 — Systems of Play and Advanced Team Tactics and Strategies
Progressive Teaching Stagae 15 — Set-Piece Play
Evaluation and Assessment

 

APPENDICES

A — Basic Rules of Soccer
B — Stretching

 

ABOUT THE AUTHORS...

Matthew Curtner-Smith, Ed.D., is an associate professor of sport pedagogy in the Department of Kinesiology at the University of Alabama where he teaches and supervises preservice physical education teacher/coaches and conducts research on teacher/coach effectiveness. Dr. Curtner-Smith has taught soccer to third graders up to college level. In addition, he has worked with numerous school teams in his native England, coached at soccer camps, and conducted workshops for inexperienced teachers and coaches.

M.L. Johnson, Ed.D., is a professor of Health and Exercise Science at Colorado State University where he teaches sport psychology, motor learning, program administration, and teaching techniques. Dr. Johnson has presented teaching and coaching clinics at conventions, taught university soccer techniques classes, and coached competitive select youth teams. In addition, he operates summer youth camps in soccer and other sports.

John Vincent, Ph.D., is an assistant professor of sport management in the Department of Kinesiology at the University of Alabama where he teaches administrative theory, marketing, and law. He also conducts research on media coverage of major sporting events. Having played professional soccer in his native England, Dr. Vincent has acquired a vast wealth of coaching experience. He holds the United States Soccer Federation "A" License, the National Soccer Coaches Association of America Advanced Coaching Diploma, and the United States Soccer Federation National Youth Coaching License. He is the former Head Women's Soccer Coach at the University of Southern Mississippi and Director of Coaching of the Hattiesburg, MS Youth Soccer Association. He is currently the Director of Coaching for the West Alabama Youth Soccer Association.