Customer Reviews

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

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

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.

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!

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.

This book summed up the USSF "D" License Course. It does a great job of going over basic technical skills, as well as reviewing tactical issues. This is a must have book for anyone that is going to take the "D" license or even the "E". I wish that I had gotten it earlier.

I took my National "D" coaching license course this summer, and our instructor mandated that we purchase this book. I have at least two dozen other coaching manuals in my collection. This is by far the best. EVERY COACH SHOULD OWN IT, AND READ IT, cover to cover, over and over. Mine flaps in the wind with Post-It Notes stuck in throughout. No better gift for a coach, too. Buy it, learn it, use it.

How to play soccer is a good book. It teaches most of basic techniques separately, like dribling, heading goalkeeping. But it does not teaches exercises to achieve strength, speed and agility. It is good for coaches who want to train their team to better football. It may not be as good for players who are learning individually.

The other commentators certainly have it right. This is a great soccer book. Anyone who wants to get to know the game and all its permutations needs this book. If nothing else for the pictures. They are great. The pictoral section on skills, I look at over and over.

Although this book is good for a "D" license, and entry level players, it does not seem to have the technical "how to" that I am looking for. My experience includes player, referee, and coach at many levels. The strengths of this are the detailed bio-mechanics breakdown of basic skills that are vital to player development. These breakdowns also guide the new coach as she analyzes the problem areas in player skill and technique. Book has greatest value to lesser experienced coaches, players and programs.

I LOVE this book.... I am a player and a refferee and I really loved this book... as a refferee I have alot of troble with coaches because they don't understand alot of the laws of the game and this book goes over the basic laws of the game and has helped that alot... it has tranning sessions that have been very helpfull as a player... Its just a great book

This is an excellent book for experienced and novice soccer fans, parents and coaches alike. I have read several books on different aspects of the game, from skills to drills to tactics, but this book puts it all together in an easy to read and comprehensive single volume. The laws of the game are also included for reference to round off the book.