Thoughtful Soccer: The Think First Approach to Playing and Coaching [Paperback]

Russell Carrington (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 23, 2002

A truly innovative model for coaching soccer in which the thought side of the game is as important as the skills and players begin thinking early in their development. Features: 14 different shots; 6 possession secrets; Values for game day; Designing a defence; Breaking through to score; plus so much more. Teams of all levels will benefit from the Thoughtful Soccer practice.

Product Details

• Paperback: 256 pages
• Publisher: Reedswain (October 23, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1591640164
• ISBN-13: 978-1591640165
• Product Dimensions: 10 x 7 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,792,074 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great book... have used it for years, October 31, 2011

By 

BHak - See all my reviews

This review is from: Thoughtful Soccer: The Think First Approach to Playing and Coaching (Paperback)

Let me start by saying that I would recommend this book without reservation to anyone looking to coach ages 5 - 17. I have an extensive coaching and playing backround and have used methods and activities from this book at all age levels. I am currently coaching a varsity program here in the midwest and with the knowledge and approaches of Thoughtful Soccer we have been confrence champions for the past 5 years.

10 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Below Average Even For Beginners, June 24, 2007

By 

Sean Kelly (Washington Grove, MD United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Thoughtful Soccer: The Think First Approach to Playing and Coaching (Paperback)

Sometimes books written by a parent coach without a great deal of experience playing or coaching the sport can provide a fresh and valuable perspective. However, this is not one of those books. I went into the book with an open mind but learned that it has some serious flaws. The Triangle Three defense is a figment of the author's imagination and is just not workable in the real world. The author states, "The Left and Right Fullbacks mustn't be too far apart. If one is beaten the other must cut across to break up the play." Anyone who has played or coached soccer knows that this is a ridiculous statement. How can a full back on one wing cover the full back on the other wing? The most natural thing is for the middle player in a 3 man back line to cover the outside full backs. Where is the 3rd player in this Triangle Three defense? Ahead of the full backs! I don't know of a single team in the entire world that plays a 3 man back line this way. There are many better books than this one.

2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent Book - Experience from a Player's Perspective, October 7, 2011

By 

Colin Casler - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Thoughtful Soccer: The Think First Approach to Playing and Coaching (Paperback)

Russ Carrington's approach - speaking directly from a player's perspective - is an excellent approach to soccer. Each exercise is both fun, and more importantly, specifically directed to address teaching particular elements of play that are often missed or neglected in other approaches. The exercises force unique and creative play decisions (by the players themselves) and begin to establish in the players' minds, certain fundamental decision-making that benefit play generally. For example, exercises teach the value of ALWAYS considering the option of dropping the ball back and/or switching the field, and moving the ball with limited touches - a further benefit of this, as well, is on the players who are not directly possessing the ball, but who must always be mindful of how best to support the player with the ball, by moving and providing options. Exercises also address different shot approaches, angles, bounces, etc. - experiences other coaching styles might only offer on the infrequent occassions such opportunities arise by chance in scrimage. Other exercises Russ outlines combine practice with dribbling and possession for one or more players, while offering defensive practice for others - in a way that forces dealing with certain situations. This is beneficial for players who might ordinarily always resort to the same particular "out" to deal with any and all situations, i.e. stop and spin to face backfield, or long touch and race to the ball, to pass (whether or not wisely) to the first teamate in sight, or cut and cut and cut to no particular objective. Finally, and this is the most important of all, Russ Carrington's approach to soccer is FUN - "drills" would not be the right word to describe these exercises - but "games" would be much more appropiate. Each aspect of a practice under this approach is fun in itself. Players enjoy the whole practice and don't just trudge along through boring drills just waiting to get to scrimage. I would absolutely recommend this book. Noticing that some reviewers here are posting negative reviews in order to advocate their own particular coaching styles, I would suggest that regardless of ultimate differences in how a coach might decide to organize their formation, or otherwise choose to direct game-play, this book nonetheless can provide invaluable supplemental exercises that could compliment any teaching/coaching program.