SOCCER: A DEVELOPMENTAL GUIDE
FOR YOUTH PLAYERS


by CHRIS A. HOPPER and MICHAEL S. DAVIS
2ND edition, July 2002, 275 pages, $29.95 (includes shipping)
ISBN 978-0-89641-382-5 

 

This book will be particularlly useful for coaching players between the ages of 6 and 14. Besides knowledge of the game, effective coaching depends on the ability to understand children and youths, plan learning experiences, communicate effectively, motivate players, and analyze the correct performances. This book combines these abilities with practical coaching information, which describes skills and tactics and shows you how to teach them to your players using various drills and games. Those drills and games which are effective and enjoyable for children are included.

The book was designed as a unique coaching and teaching tool, which identifies the components of the game and provides specific strategies for implementation in practice and games. The first part of the book explains how to teach fundamental skills of the game by emphasizing coaching points and developing practices through a series of progresive steps from simple drills to game practice.

The second part of the book examines the tactical aspects of the game by introducing simple tactical concepts and illustrating how to teach those concepts to players to create a cohesive team. This section will also assist you in identifying those talents that indivdual players need for successful performance in specific positions.

The book helps you organize your coaching with well-designed seasonal plans. allowing you to plan successful learning experiences in soccer for your players. As well as providing well-organized and proven practices, this book is based on the theme of enjoyment for both you and your team. Soccer is one of the world's greatest and most popular sports because it is enjoyable.

 

CONTENTS

PART I: THE BASICS

Chapter 1: THE GAME OF SOCCER —
Introduction to the World's Most Popular Game, Field of Play, Field Markings, Players, Players' Equipment, Balls, Officials, How the Game Starts and Proceeds, Restarting the Game

Chapter 2: PASSING AND SUPPORTING PLAY —
Introduction to the Basics of Soccer Play, Passing Fundamentals, Supporting Fundamentals, Using Specific Passes, Teaching Progressions for Passing and Support Play, Games and Activities for Passing and Support Play

Chapter 3: RECEIVING AND CONTROLLING —
Introduction, The Aim is Ball Control, Fundamentals of Receiving and Controlling, Receiving Techniques, Juggling, Games and Activities for Receiving and Controlling

Chapter 4: DRIBBLING —
Introduction, Dribbling Fundamentals, Dribbling Techniques, Faking to Beat Opponents, Games and Activities for Dribbling

Chapter 5: HEADING —
Introduction, Heading is Unique to Soccer, Considering Your Players, heading Fundamentals and Teaching Progression, heading Forward, heading Sideways, Heading Backward, Teaching progression for heading, Games and Activities for Heading

Chapter 6: SCORING GOALS —
Introduction, Scoring is Everything!, Principle 1: Take the Opportunity, Principle 2: Determine the Best Technique, Principle 3: Shoot from a Good Angle, Principle 4: Shoot Low and Away from the Goalkeeper, Principle 5: Create Space for Scoring Opportunities, Principle 6: Follow All Shots, Coaching Points for Scoring Goals, Teaching Progression for Scoring Goals, Games and Activities for Scoring Goals

Chapter 7: GOALKEEPING —
Introduction, A Unique Position, Goalkeeper's Equipment, Movement Fundamentals, Positioning the Goal, heading and Collecting Techniques, Throwing and Punting Techniques, Teaching Progression for Goalkeeping, Games and Activities for Goalkeeping

PART II: SOCCER TACTICS

Chapter 8: SYSTEMS AND POSITIONAL PLAY —
Introduction, Organizing the Team, Understanding Offensive and Defensive Functions, Playing Positions and Responsibilities, Playing Systems, Teaching Progression for Systems and Positional Play, Games and Activities for Systems and Positional Play

Chapter 9: OFFENSIVE TACTICS —
Introduction, Creating Goals, Offensive Principles, Teaching Progression for offensive Tactics, Games and Activites for Offensive Tactics, Activities for Creating Space, Activities to Practice Passing and Moving, Activities for One-on-One Play

Chapter 10: DEFENSIVE TACTICS —
Introduction, Defensive principles, Mark or Guard Players between the Opponent and the Goal, Delay the Offense, Direct the Ball Away from teh Goal, Reduce the Passing and Shooting Angle, Adjust the Defensive Alignment, Defend with Depth, Coaching Points for Defensive Principles, Defensive Skills, Implementing the Defense, Teaching progression for Defensive Tactics, Games and Activities for Defensive Tactics

Chapter 11: SET PLAYS —
Introduction, Be prepared! Throwing in the Ball, Plays from Throw-Ins, Plays from Goal Kicks, Plays from Indirect and Direct Free Kicks, Teaching Progression for Set Plays, Games and Activities for Set Plays

PART III: SOCCER PLANNING GUIDE

Chapter 12: UNDERSTANDING YOUR ROLE AS A COACH —
Introduction, Coaching Responsibilities, Getting Started in
Coaching Soccer, Nature of Soccer, Skills and Techniques, Tactics,
Fitness, Principles of Effective Coaching, Motivating Players,
Treating Players as Individuals, Determining Coaching Objectives,
Presenting Effective Demonstrations, Developing an Effective Coaching
Manner, Analyzing Performances

Chapter 13: INSTRUCTIONAL SCHEDULES AND PRACTICE PLANS —
The Importance of Planning, Developing Seasonal Plans, Choose
Appropriate Activities, prepare an Instructional Schedule, Developing
a Coaching Plan, Components of Effective Practice, Using the Activities/Drills,
using Coaching Grids, using Small-Sided Games, Practice Plans
for Ages 6-8, Practice Plans for Agaes 9-12, Practice Plans for
Ages 13 and Up

Chapter 14: PLAYING GAMES AND EVALUATING PERFORMANCES —
Introduction, Excitement of the Game,Pre-game Preparation, During the Game, After the Game, Identifying and Correcting Errors, Problem: Inability to Maintain Possession of the Ball, Analysis of Problem, Coaching Objective, Coaching Plan, Individual Player Analysis

Chapter 15: FITNESS FOR SOCCER —
Introduction -- a Game of Constant Running and Action, Physical Demands of Soccer, Developing Fitness, Purpose of Conditioning for Different Ages, Additional Fitness Activities

PART IV: APPENDICES — Appendix A: Soccer Rules Appendix B: Instructional Schedule and practice Plan Outline Appendix C: Evaluation Techniques Appendix D: Glossary Appendix E: Index