Links

Forum | Drills and Games | Reading | Camps | Coach Training

There are a large number of soccer resources out there. Here are a few favorites. The books have no links, but can be found on the web.

Soccer Coaching Forum

PaulvanVeen.com  A great place to get advice or test your own ideas. Utilizes a very convenient format, and includes extensive archives. Formerly at soccercoaching.net.  

Drills and Games

Better Soccer More Fun  Offers several practice games and drills, and a detailed coaching philosophy based on the "Dutch Vision." Makes a useful distinction between "soccer like" and "soccer strange" activities.

Decatur Sports Page  Huge collection of practice games and drills.

Fundamental Soccer with an emphasis on the Fun. Coach Karl Dewazien explains his coaching philosophy plus books and practice activities. Positive values are a big part of his approach.

Pill's Drills  Offers a wide variety of competitive practice games, with great illustrations.

Further Reading

World of Soccer  Tony Waiters' site offers coaching books online, free of charge!

Success in Soccer  Publishing a magazine that serves up innovative coaching material from international coaches. Great soccer diagrams!

The Art of Soccer: a Better Way to Play, by Mark G. Catlin. Presents a clear theory of soccer's thinking side, in which space is the central concept.

The Competitive Cauldron, by Anson Dorrance. The head coach of U.N.C.'s Women's team explains how competition can help develop players. Thoughtful Soccer agrees!

Coaching Soccer the Progressive Way, by Mike Ditchfield, et all. Explains the importance of "first defender" "second defender" "first attacker" etc. and shows how to coach each topic. Includes a great section on free kicks.

Developing Youth Soccer Players, by Horst Wein. Another book that advocates making practice fun. More great pictures as well!

Soccer Camps

Middle States Soccer Camp  Offers week-long summer camps in Maryland, Pennsylvania, and Virginia. Formerly employed the Thoughtful Soccer Guy!

Coerver Coaching  A leading program for developing foot skills, dribbling moves, and other skills.

Coach Training

National Soccer Coaches Association of America  Offers courses leading to various diplomas.

U.S. Soccer Federation  Look under "coaches" to find a schedule of courses leading to the C, B, and A licenses.

Maryland State Youth Soccer Association  State associations such as Maryland's offer F, E, and D licenses.