Our View From the Sidelines

Our relationship with most buyers goes far beyond product. People pick our brains about coaching soccer, team management, soccer products we don't sell and everything in-between. This is the view from the sidelines after standing and watching for oh, so long.

Recommended Books for Coaching Youth Soccer

Soccer Products

27th August 2008 05:11:00 AM

We are often asked about the best books for coaching youth soccer. Over the years, we've read tons of them. While we don't sell these directly, we have found that Amazon.com is the best place to purchase these books. Many times you can purchase these books used for only a few bucks and can add the entire set of four books for less than 20 - 25 bucks. Links to our favorite books are below:

Coaching 6-and-Under Soccer (Baffled Parent's Guide) - great explanation of how to use stories to engage kids and introduce the games you're playing

The Baffled Parent's Guide to Coaching Youth Soccer - Stanford coach Bobby Clark is a genius. Books explains good team management, "forfeits" instead of reprimands for discipline and age appropriate games for youth players

Coaching 6, 7 and 8 Year Olds: Incorporating Micro Soccer - Tony Waiters and Bobby Howe are THE KINGS. They introduce you to most important error we make as adult coaches - children don't see the game or have the same goals we have as adults.

Coaching 9, 10 and 11 Year Olds - My absolute personal favorite. If there was only one book to give to youth coaches, this would be it. Introducing "The Golden Age of Learning", this book can be applied to any age group in creating a fun, player-driven learning environment for success.

With my personal favorite, Coaching 9, 10, 11 year old players, the book is easily adaptable to any age group (younger or older). I've used it with U5 groups as successfully as U14 competitive players. The key concept these books emphasize is to approach the game from the players' eyes - not from an adult's point of view. Good luck and Happy Coaching!

Comments: