The Baffled Parent's Guide to Coaching 6-and-Under Soccer (Baffled Parent's Guides) Paperback – Illustrated, August 5, 2005

This book is, by far, the best book I have read on coaching youth soccer.After cobbling together different drills from different books for a couple years, I found this book and for the past few years have used it almost to the letter! Over the years of coaching my 3 children's teams, I have bought a dozen copies to give to my assistant coaches or friends who are going to start coaching their teams. The book is just perfect in approach--focused on teaching the kids through fun games--and I have read it multiple times.If you are a first-time youth-coach, you will quickly discover the hard truth: the biggest challenge is getting the kids to practice instead of goofing off. And this book has the perfect solution: no talking, no waiting in lines, just fun games that simultaneously involve everybody and teach soccer by doing the game. The kids have more fun and learn more (and you won't pull your hair out) if you follow this book.

Soccer dad with no soccer experience. My daughter's coach is good but I wanted to get involved with some practicing at home.I was going about it totally wrong and probably was starting to turn her off to the sport. After devouring this book, my daughter and I have been having a great time practicing together. Within days, her skills have dramatically improved.She has gone from just kicking the ball as hard as she could to dribbling and passing and trapping and shooting. She is now one of the better on the team.But really, she enjoys it so much more because I followed the philosophy of this book. She comes to me regularly and wants to play red light green light.A side benefit, if the coach is late or busy, I am completely comfortable running some drills to get the team going and practicing and engaged.Very happy with this book.

This book delivers on the title promise - it really is a quick-read how-to guide on coaching 6-and-under soccer.I've coached youth soccer several times, and I bought this book with the idea that it would help add some polish to what I was already doing. I can't say that the book provided any new revelations, but it did provide a structure, philosophy, and progression to the way I was already coaching. That is, I found the book very valuable. I will use the information provided as I coach our upcoming season.If I was offering any criticism, it would be that the set-up for some of the drills was a little lame. Good drills, just a lame set-up. Also, the guide over-emphasizes the philosophy of non-competitiveness (e.g., strongly recommends no goalies). Otherwise, I thought the author was spot on -- I'd like to see our leaguge provide this book for all new coaches, especially coaches for the younger players.

This was a great support as I coached my son's K-2 soccer team - the games and skills were easy to implement, the practice plans were easy to adjust and use to plan practices. The only thing I struggled with was some of the 'violence' if you will in the games and scenarios, these days in schools even as the soccer coach it is a bit hard to encourage the Elmer Fudd game where the hunters shoot the ball at the rabbits, I get the theory but in todays schools I had to adjust some of the scenarios. Otherwise my kiddos really loved the play atmosphere of practice and LOVED coming to get going on the fun 'games' that teach skills...

This is an excellent purchase for anyone taking on the task of coaching U6 and under. I am a second year U5 coach and had no clue where to begin. The book addressed most of my concerns. If you are new at soccer or have been around for a while - coaching 3,4 and 5 year olds is a far different beast that your older kids. Great book - lots of personal stories that will make you laugh and most of all encouraging you as a coach to have fun with this age group. Because it is all about fun for U6 and under.

As a newly recruited soccer coach for a 6-7 year old group, I needed a book that was well organized and gave me the information I needed in a concise way. This book covers the basics from start of the practice season to the end of the game season. The book is short, easy to read and has great insight into the best way to teach this young group--get everyone involved and have fun while the players learn. There are a lot of good suggestions for drills that keep this age group entertained but still allows you to teach. It packs a lot of information into it's small size.

Fantastic book!!! If you're looking to coach a young team, then buy this book!I'm a first time coach for 5 year old girls team. This helped me better understand how to teach them. Just in the second practice, the girls started to get a good handle on dribbling. Had our first game yesterday and they really did great handling the ball/scoring goals. The practice schedules in the back are very good and fast paced. I recommend even cutting them down to 8-minutes each, as there's always something that delays the breaks.

Works great for first year coach