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

Dan Herbst (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 18, 1999

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.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

Soccer continues to grow in popularity in the United States, with another huge surge thanks to the U.S. Women's Team winning the World Cup in 1999. But players can only be as good as their coaches, and coaches are always looking for help. Soccer: How to Play the Game contains detailed information on necessary skills, from basics like dribbling the ball and throw-ins to advanced skills like sliding tackles and goalkeeping. Each is presented separately, with photographs and drawings of a player executing the skill, advice on how to perform it and when to use it, and most common mistakes. Over 100 practice games, coded for different player ages and levels of instruction, are also outlined to help players develop their technique. Throughout the book, the authors stress the need to create a positive environment in practice and encourage creativity as well as technical correctness. Most importantly, the authors understand that kids are not just small adults--and they back up their understanding with advice on how to help kids fall in love with "the beautiful game." Published under the auspices of the United States Soccer Federation, Soccer: How to Play the Game will inspire coaches and players alike. --Sunny Delaney

Product Details

• Paperback: 320 pages
• Publisher: Universe (September 18, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0789303388
• ISBN-13: 978-0789303387
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 1.1 x 10.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.8 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (15 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #252,735 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

80 of 81 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great book for developing a positive coaching philosophy., October 30, 1999

By 

Erik Harris (Charlotte, NC) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Soccer: How to Play the Game: The Official Playing and Coaching Manual of the United States Soccer Federation (Paperback)

IF YOU ARE A YOUTH SOCCER COACH IN THE US, THEN YOU SHOULD OWN THIS BOOK!! (and then attend your state soccer association's coaching certification classes).

This book is the most complete, well organized collection of soccer coaching information that I have in my library. True, if you're looking for tactical depth, there are better texts available, but that's just it - unless you're coaching a high-level U-15 team or older, you shouldn't be burdening your players with heavy tactical instruction. LET THEM LEARN FROM THE GAME!

What you do get is: - a great section on coaching philosophy - information on preventing and treating injuries - a section on teaching proper technique - a section on how to structure a productive practice - a set of exercises and games that are ready for you to insert into your next practice.

Even the best intentioned coach can do damage to his/her players by over-instructing and judging his/her performance based on the number of wins his/her team has racked up in a season. Read this book and start measuring your sucess by how much your worst player has improved and how much your players look forward to your next practice.

Bravo to the USSF for finally 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.

27 of 27 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Articulate and complete, June 19, 2001

By A Customer

This review is from: Soccer: How to Play the Game: The Official Playing and Coaching Manual of the United States Soccer Federation (Paperback)

This has instantly become one of my two favorite coaching books.

I have been coaching for seven years and playing for 22. When my son became a teenager, I was forced to take coaching more seriously and began reading coaching books voraciously. This is one of the two best soccer coaching books I have read, and I have read a lot of them. For the new coach, I know of no better introduction: it is designed to take a newcomer to the game from complete ignorance to enough knowledge to coach a reasonably experienced team. That is a very ambitious goal, and I believe it is successful -- a truly extraordinary accomplishment, and the authors should be proud.

This does not mean that this is a beginner's book, however! It holds plenty of reward even for a seasoned coach. In my collection there are basically two categories of soccer books: the books focused on drills and ideas for designing practices; the books focused on strategic and philosophical issues in coaching. This book straddles both categories, and does a respectable job at it. The extensive collection of "practice games" include some gems that were new to me; the introductory sections on philosophy and age-appropriateness held some important reminders.

My only criticism of the book is that the "practice games" are neither integrated into the text nor well indexed by skill. This means that the book isn't as useful as it could be as a reference; to find a drill focused on a specific weakness requires flipping through all 100-odd drills.

Contrast this to my other favorite coaching book, "Coaching Soccer Successfully," by Roy Rees et al. In that book, the drills are integrated into the discussion of the specific skills on which they are intended to focus, which tends to reinforce both the skill and how the game works to improve them. It is still awkward to find the drills, but at least this organization makes the utility of the drills more clear.

These two books are excellent companion volumes, and I strongly recommend the pair to every coach. A more experienced coach or someone coaching an older team would probably prefer the Roy Rees book first; a less experienced coach or one working with young children would probably get more out of USSF book.

Both of these books are worth the money -- and more importantly, well worth the time it takes to read them!

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Comprehensive, easily understood and beautifully illustrated, November 27, 2000

By 

Peter C. Byrne (Hiawassee, ga United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

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This review is from: Soccer: How to Play the Game: The Official Playing and Coaching Manual of the United States Soccer Federation (Paperback)

This is a great book and the information contained within would greatly benefit any new coach. It gives an overview of all that is involved from early ages to high school and beyond. Coaching philosophies, rules, organization, tactics, player management conditioning, technique and more are all covered in excellent detail. It's not only packed with drills but it shows you how to successfully utilize these drills to organize practices that are enjoyable! and practical. I wish that this book was mandatory for all youth coaches (particularly 5-10yr age range). I've seen how so many of these coaches (parents too) have turned soccer from a dynamic exciting game into a passive boring one by not allowing their young players (kids) to learn from the game. You play soccer you don't drill or mandate it. Give them the ball and let them play. Ok, I think I'm finished ranting now but this is a subject that really bothers me so I'm not sure. Anyhow, buy this book you will not be dissapointed. I also highly recommend reading the Art of Soccer (outstanding 5+ stars), Coaching Soccer Successfully, and Teaching Soccer the Progressive Way.