Soccer: How to Play the Game: The Official Playing and Coaching Manual of the United States Soccer Federation

by Dan Herbst

The official playing and coaching manual for youth soccer of the United States Soccer Federation.

The definitive playing and coaching manual for youth soccer. Compiled by the coaching, educational and technical staff of U.S. Soccer, this book offers extensive information on all aspects of the game, technique, tactics, laws, prevention and care of injury, coaching preparation, organizational structure, model training sessions, and more than 100 practice games suitable for developing aspects of every player's game.

Features numerous games for developing dribbling * passing * finishing * heading * defending * goalkeeping, as well as games specifically for young beginners * games to teach tactics * overall soccer decision-making.

Extensive technique section offers detailed pointers on dribbling and turning moves * shielding * passing * receiving * drives * chips, bending the ball and volleys * heading * marking * tackling * goalkeeping catches * dives and saves.

Tactical chapters offer detailed information on fundamental attacking tactics * defensive principles * restart tactics for defensive and offensive success.

Model training sections construct excellent practice sessions, from warmup through cool down exercises * useful for all coaches as a guide to improving performance * efficiency * enjoyment of training.

Genres: Sports

320 pages, Paperback

First published September 18, 1999

Reviews

[Ray Kelly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Soccer: How to Play the Game is the official playing and coaching manual for youth soccer of the United States Soccer Federation. This was the most complete, well organized collection of soccer coaching information that I read in over twenty years of coaching the beautiful game. Compiled by the coaching, educational and technical staff of the U.S. Soccer Federation (USSF), this book offers extensive information on all aspects of the game, technique, tactics, laws, prevention and care of injury, coaching preparation, organizational structure, model training sessions, and more than 100 practice games suitable for developing aspects of every player's game. One of the most useful components of the book is the model training sessions that includes information on how to construct excellent practice sessions, from warmup through cool down exercises. The USSF did a great job at publishing a text that not only covers the "nuts and bolts" but also provides coaches with a philosophy that will continue to nurture the growth of the sport in our country. There are many highly specialized books on the game but this is a great introduction to advanced book and a must read for any youth soccer coach.