The Baffled Parent's Guide to Coaching 6-and-Under Soccer [Paperback]

David Williams (Author), Scott Graham (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: July 15, 2005 | Series: Baffled Parent's Guide

"Scott and David have done a fantastic job getting into the psyche of these very young players. What I really love is their emphasis on FUN, and that kids learn by DOING. This book will make a great extra assistant as you prepare for your season."—Bobby Clark, Head Soccer Coach, University of Notre Dame; author of the best-selling Coaching Youth Soccer: The Baffled Parent's Guide

Coach. You're the new coach of your child's soccer team, and you're not sure how to teach your players the fundamentals of soccer while also ensuring they have fun. Don't panic—Coaching 6-and-Under Soccer is here to help.

Coaching 6-and-Under Soccer offers straightforward advice, tips, and techniques, including reward-based games and drills; your first six practices in an easy-to-photocopy format; and how to teach soccer basics to 4-, 5-, and 6-year-olds in ways that are fun for you and your players. This complete tool kit for a new coach includes:

• The twelve easy-to-run drills that work best with young soccer players
• How to keep your young players happy and active while they learn
• How to make parents your best assistants and supporters
• How to keep the focus where it belongs—not on winning or losing, but on having fun
• How to have a terrific time coaching young players

"Coaching 6-and-Under Soccer shows you how to teach your young players the right way—through lively games that encourage kids to use their creativity and self-expression when playing."—Brandi Chastain, Olympic and World Cup Soccer Champion; author of It's Not About the Bra: Play Hard, Play Fair, and Put the Fun Back into Competitive Sports

"I have no doubt that young players will come to love the game of soccer if their coaches follow the simple, straightforward advice in this book."—Anson Dorrance, Head Women's Soccer Coach, University of North Carolina; author of The Vision of a Champion: Advice and Inspiration from the World's Most Successful Women's Soccer Coach

"I highly recommend this terrific book to coaches who want to instill good sportsmanship and the love of the game in their young players while building a solid foundation in basic soccer skills and teamwork."—Jeremy Gunn, Head Men's Soccer Coach, Fort Lewis College

Editorial Reviews

From the Back Cover

"Scott and David have done a fantastic job getting into the psyche of these very young players. What I really love is their emphasis on FUN, and that kids learn by DOING. This book will make a great extra assistant as you prepare for your season."—Bobby Clark, Head Soccer Coach, University of Notre Dame; author of the best-selling Coaching Youth Soccer: The Baffled Parent's Guide

Coach. You're the new coach of your child's soccer team, and you're not sure how to teach your players the fundamentals of soccer while also ensuring they have fun. Don't panic—Coaching 6-and-Under Soccer is here to help.

Coaching 6-and-Under Soccer offers straightforward advice, tips, and techniques, including reward-based games and drills; your first six practices in an easy-to-photocopy format; and how to teach soccer basics to 4-, 5-, and 6-year-olds in ways that are fun for you and your players. This complete tool kit for a new coach includes:

• The twelve easy-to-run drills that work best with young soccer players
• How to keep your young players happy and active while they learn
• How to make parents your best assistants and supporters
• How to keep the focus where it belongs—not on winning or losing, but on having fun
• How to have a terrific time coaching young players

"Coaching 6-and-Under Soccer shows you how to teach your young players the right way—through lively games that encourage kids to use their creativity and self-expression when playing."—Brandi Chastain, Olympic and World Cup Soccer Champion; author of It's Not About the Bra: Play Hard, Play Fair, and Put the Fun Back into Competitive Sports

"I have no doubt that young players will come to love the game of soccer if their coaches follow the simple, straightforward advice in this book."—Anson Dorrance, Head Women's Soccer Coach, University of North Carolina; author of The Vision of a Champion: Advice and Inspiration from the World's Most Successful Women's Soccer Coach

"I highly recommend this terrific book to coaches who want to instill good sportsmanship and the love of the game in their young players while building a solid foundation in basic soccer skills and teamwork."—Jeremy Gunn, Head Men's Soccer Coach, Fort Lewis College

David Williams is a lifelong soccer player, a dedicated coach, and an avid student of the game. He currently heads the 4- and 5-year-old division of the summer soccer camps sponsored by Fort Lewis College in Durango, Colorado. Scott Graham is an author, journalist, and coach to young soccer players.

About the Author

David Williams heads the four- and five-year-old division of the summer soccer camps sponsored by Fort Lewis College, in Durango, Colorado.

Scott Graham is an author, journalist, father, and coach of young soccer players.

Product Details

• Paperback: 144 pages
• Publisher: International Marine/Ragged Mountain Press; 1 edition (July 15, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0071456287
• ISBN-13: 978-0071456289
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 7.4 x 0.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (16 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #37,219 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #2 in Books > Sports & Outdoors > Coaching > Soccer
  • #4 in Books > Sports & Outdoors > Coaching > Children's Sports
  • #19 in Books > Sports & Outdoors > Soccer

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Useful and effective, August 11, 2006

By 

L. Dillon (Redmond, WA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Baffled Parent's Guide to Coaching 6-and-Under Soccer (Paperback)

A brand new soccer coach facing six very wild and unruly 6 year-old boys hoping I could teach them the basics of the game of soccer. No easy task. A key concept here is that we need to give very young kids the chance to try new things out, develop their confidence and have fun so they keep coming back - and that this is far more important than winning. This book was a lifesaver my first year. It was rained on, stepped on and dragged in and out of the equipment bag many times during the season. But under all that muck and abuse are some very creative ideas to get the kids engaged while also teaching them basic skills like dribbling, passing and defending. Great book.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Must have for 1st time coach!, September 5, 2008

By 

Chris Jaronsky (NJ, the garden state) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Baffled Parent's Guide to Coaching 6-and-Under Soccer (Paperback)

Let me start by saying that I know the game of soccer and am familiar with the rules of the game...BUT when coaching kids under 6 you can throw pretty much all you know out the window! This book is a great reference to coaching the little ones. It gives great insight into the do's and don'ts of coaching young children and offers lots of games as an alternative to "drills" that your Kindergartener or 1st grader will love. They learn the basics of ball handling and they don't even realize it! It walks you through step by step the first 6 practices and your first game day. It also gives you minute by minute sample practices and example letters for parents regarding the season and what your ultimate goal is. This is my first season coaching my 5 year old and this book has been essential to me.

Shelly

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A great book for learning how to coach young kids, April 1, 2007

By 

S. Clarke (Sydney, Australia) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Baffled Parent's Guide to Coaching 6-and-Under Soccer (Paperback)

I am a first time coach and knew next to nothing about soccer. This book has been a great help with my under 7 team, most of whom haven't played before. It's focus on fun games based on ball control makes a lot of sense. The kids are really enjoying their training and the other parents are very happy with what we're doing. I also think there's a lot in this book for the experienced coach who hasn't worked with kids this young.