Soccer Practice Games - 2nd Edition [Paperback]

Joseph Luxbacher (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 7, 2003

Make each practice more challenging, productive, and fun with 125 games! Divided into six sections, Soccer Practice Games presents 125 games on the following aspects:

-Warm-up and conditioning

-Passing and receiving

-Dribbling, shielding, and tackling

-Heading and shooting

-Tactical training

-Goalkeeper training
Joe Luxbacher—veteran coach, former player, and accomplished author—presents the games that work best for youth coaches during practice sessions. Each game maximizes player activity and contains at least one major objective related to player or team development. A detailed explanation and accompanying illustrations are provided for each game to make application easy. Games can be adapted easily to accommodate players of various ages and abilities.

Designed for beginning youth through high school competitive levels, Soccer Practice Games is a big winner among coaches. Whether working with whole teams, small groups, or individual players, coaches will find a fun and effective way to instruct and learn the game.

Editorial Reviews

Review

“Your athletes will embrace practice, hone key skills, and be more likely to become passionate about soccer when you incorporate Soccer Practice Games into your weekly practice plans.”  

James Schmutz -- Executive Director, American Sport Education Program

--This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

From the Publisher

"Not just another training guide, but a tool coaches of all age groups can use, over and over again. If you can't run a better practice after reading this, you should consider a different line of work!"

Dan Woog Executive Editor Soccer America's Youth Soccer Letter

"...loaded with easy-to-understand, exciting games that would be an asset to any youth coach developing players and teams by creating fun and beneficial practice sessions. This is one reference no youth coach should be without."

Gordon M. Butler National Chief Coach Soccer Association for Youth USA

"For the youth coach who has only 5 or 10 minutes to plan a practice, this book is a godsend."

Joe Pravey Editor and Associate Publisher Soccer Jr. Magazine --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 18 and up
  
• Paperback: 160 pages
• Publisher: Human Kinetics; 2 edition (March 7, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0736047891
• ISBN-13: 978-0736047890
• Product Dimensions: 9.8 x 7 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (14 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #889,472 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Joe Luxbacher has more than 30 years of experience in the field of competitive athletics. A former professional soccer player for the North American Soccer League, American Soccer League, and Major Indoor Soccer League, he is currently at the helm of the University of Pittsburgh men's soccer team, a position he has held since 1984.

The twice-selected Big East Conference Soccer Coach of the Year holds a PhD in health, physical, and recreation education from the University of Pittsburgh and has earned the Level A coaching license from the United States Soccer Federation.

Luxbacher has authored more than a dozen books and numerous articles on the sport of soccer. His soccer articles have appeared in national publications such as Scholastic Coach and Athletic Director and Soccer Journal.

Inducted into the Western Pennsylvania Sports Hall of Fame in 2005 and designated a Letterman of Distinction by the University of Pittsburgh in 2003, Luxbacher is the founder and director of Shoot to Score Soccer Academy, an organization that offers educational camps, clinics, and tournaments to players aged 7 to 18. The camp Web site is www.shoot2score.net.

Luxbacher resides in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, with his wife, Gail, and children, Eliza and Travis.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

62 of 63 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Every youth coach MUST own this book., November 24, 1998

By 

"fkass17" - See all my reviews

This review is from: Soccer Practice Games: 120 Games for Technique, Training, and Tactics (Paperback)

I have been coaching youth soccer at various levels for nearly 15 years, and this past season I had more fun than any year before. The primary reasons: 1) my practices were more fun for me and the players 2) my practices were more productive. Both of these transformations came from reading this book. I wish I could thank Mr. Luxbacher personally.

32 of 32 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars excellent collection of games to add fun to practice, July 10, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Soccer Practice Games: 120 Games for Technique, Training, and Tactics (Paperback)

Great book for coaches of travel and premier youth players with a 30-minute gap in their practice plan. Helps develop players' passion for the game with a large collection of fun, competitive games. Book helped me change from a well-intentioned, somewhat knowledgeable coach into a good coach with players who enjoy coming to practice. This is the coaching book that I refer to most.

23 of 23 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Keeps the players moving., March 8, 2001

By 

"cotag" (Green Lane, PA United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Soccer Practice Games: 120 Games for Technique, Training, and Tactics (Paperback)

Every soccer coach should have this resource in their library. Your players will NEVER be bored if you use just some of the "games" illustrated in this book. My daughter's travel team coach has included drills from the book in just about every practice for the last two seasons and almost every one of them is a hit with the players. They're having so much fun playing these "games" the girls don't realize the good, solid, soccer skills and techniques they're developing.