Overview | Principles | Resources | Guidelines | Practices | Game Day | Very Young | More Reading

Contents of the Manual

  1. Introduction

    1. Disclaimer
    2. Copyright
    3. Reproduction of materials
    4. How to use the manual

  2. Resources for Coaching

    1. Coaching certification & courses
    2. Useful items to get for practices
    3. Sample medical and other forms
    4. Medical information for soccer coaches
    5. Risk management and safety tips
    6. A coach's first-aid kit
    7. A guide to the Laws of the Game
    8. A guide to on-field communication
    9. A soccer glossary
    10. Training aids for coaches
    11. Information on stretching
    12. Fun Games to Teach Skills

  3. Basic Principles: What to Teach, and Why

    1. Expectations after one year
    2. The Most Important Skills to Teach
    3. Basic Guide to Formations and Positional Training
    4. Individual attacking
    5. Group attacking
    6. Individual defending
    7. Group defending

  4. Practical Guidelines for Coaching

    1. Importance of pre-season meeting with parents and players
    2. Organizing effective practices
    3. Player management and discipline
    4. Special ideas for your first practice

  5. Practice Plans to Teach the Basics

    6. Ball control
    1. Straight-ahead Dribbling
    2. Dribbling moves
    3. Chops
    4. Inside cut
    5. Fakes & feints
    Passing & receiving
    1. Push pass
    2. Passing & receiving
    3. Receiving
    4. Chest traps
    5. Receiving 'air balls'
    6. Shielding
    7. Heading intro
    8. Heading
    Kicking
    1. The instep drive
    2. The laces kick
    3. The lofted kick
    Defending
    1. Tackling
    2. Shoulder charge
    3. Communication
    4. First defender
    5. Second defender
    6. Basic marking
    Attacking
    1. Going 1v1
    2. Taking defenders on
    3. Combined play
    Other
    1. Throw-ins
    2. Restarts
    3. Tips on basic goal-keeper training
    4. Sample stretching routine
    5. Teaching the LOTG
    6. Games and activities from the SOCCER-COACH-L Archives

  6. Guidelines for Game Day

    1. Dealing with officials
    2. Game day tips
    3. Effective ways to handle subs
    4. Adjusting to your opponent

  7. Coaching the Very Young Child

    1. Training guidelines
    2. Coaching the swarm
    3. Games for the very young
    4. Drills for the very young
    5. More games and activities

  8. Further reading

    9. Updated 11 April 1999
    Overview | Principles | Resources | Guidelines | Practices | Game Day | Very Young | More Reading