 
Great Soccer Drills : The Baffled Parent's Guide
Average Rating: 4.5 Total Reviews: 19
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 On: 2008-09-08
While reading, Great Soccer Drills : The Baffled Parents Guide by Thomas Fleck, I partiticipated as an assistant Soccer Coach on my sons team. I was familiar with his coach from a prior experience and knew this particular coach was difficult to communicate with. Shortly after beginning the practice season I was able to use Mr. Flecks book to identify some troubling aspects of our bi-weekly soccer practices. Our youth soccer league had endorsed the sort of "small sided" games illustrated in the book, however the teams coach would insist on using complicated drills for an older age group. The result was a group of young boys overwhelmed by the complicated drills who would then be subjected to repeated "stomach crunches" for not listening or following the drills. By reading the book, I was able to see that this situation bordered on abuse and I withdrew my child from that particular practice and team situation. My whole family is greatful for the thoughtful and "child centered" approach to coaching youth soccer presented in this very informative guide.
 On: 2008-05-20
This book is just what you need if you know nothing about soccer and are going to be coaching young children. I coach 7 & 8 year olds, the drills are easy to understand and execute.
 On: 2008-04-26
If you are just looking for something to get yourself through a couple months of soccer than the first book is more useful.
We did use a couple of these drills. If the season went longer I think we would have used more of them.
On: 2008-04-09
My husband and I have been youth soccer coaches for years, and have a stack of books and drills. Recently, I purchased this book and it has both energized our soccer program, and made coaching really fun. Kids eat up these games! No more lines... no more boring drills... no more complicated set-ups. We can choose a couple games, add a scrimmage, and have a ready-made, fun, purposeful practice. Great work, Tom Fleck and Ron Quinn!
On: 2008-03-19
If you are a parent who has been drafted into coaching your childs rec league soccer team, this book is a lifesaver. I have been a rec league coach and assistant coach on and off for 7 years, and have been an assistant coach in travel/select leagues. Prior to reading this book, I was a "form-two-lines-and-dribble/pass-around-the-cones" kinda guy. Practices consisted of small-sided games and various "drills" (ie. standing in line). Planning practices was always a chore, and sometimes the practices themselves, according to my son and other players, were downright boring. I wasnt as bad as "Coach Calisthenics" (you know the guy -- "line up around the center circle and lets do jumping jacks..."), but oh how I pity my pre-enlightenment players.
In an "off" year I took the "F" license coaching course from the US Soccer Federation and the book was given to us at the end of the class. Since then, Ive bought a copy for each coach Ive worked with and have used it at almost every practice to date. Now the kids are having fun AND learning at the same time, whether they are aware of that or not.
No need to explain whats in it, as the "why" of buying it is what matters. I highly recommend this book to all coaches, but particularly those at the rec level. In fact, rec leagues should provide this to ALL of their coach-volunteers, as it will make practices infintely more fun and might even help raise the performance bar of American soccer players in the long run.
On: 2007-09-24
My wife bought this for her youth boys soccer team and found it to be very helpful in setting up drills to keep the boys busy and learning. She played soccer through highschool and still found the pages to be full of helpful ideas.
Worth the price.
On: 2007-09-12
I received a copy of this book as part of a U6/U8 coaching clinic that I attended last fall. The instructor had a lot of praise for the text, and incorporated a lot of the coaching philosophy and the drills into his presentation.
The book is full of good, common-sense coaching advice thats particularly useful for the novice coach, although I think that even seasoned coaches will find some great ideas here.
Ive used quite a few of the activities in my practices, and they really do work quite well. The backbone of each and every one of these drills is that they get ALL of your kids involved in practicing. There is nothing here that puts your athletes in enthusiasm-sapping and attention-deficit producing lines. Every drill is carefully designed to keep your kids moving and learning at all times.
The text is clear and well-written and the pictures and illustrations do a good job of supporting the activities. Overall, its very well-done. Ive been coaching for 6 seasons now, and I really wish that I had discovered this book sooner.
Highly recommened, especially for new youth soccer coaches.
On: 2007-09-06
Ive been coaching for at least five years now and this book has some really fantastic drills in it. My under 11 team was cracking up while working hard and that is the best thing to see. This is an especially great book for working with children even younger. Im enjoying all the drills.
On: 2007-09-05
I have been coaching youth soccer for about 5 years now after having played from age 4-18. This book truly helped my practices become more fun, developmental and organized for the kids. I love the section that has pre-set practices for different skill sets.
On: 2007-08-13
Ive been coaching my sons team for 2 years now. Under 8, Under 10 and getting ready to begin our 2nd Under 10 season. This book is essential to my success as a coach! Wonderful drills and skill builders that are broken down by skill type and age group. Great directions and diagrams. My favorite part of the book is the way it teaches you how to make a soccer practice plan for each practice. You can pick and choose the drills and games you like in order to customize your practices the way you see fit. This is a great book for any soccer coach. Learn to maximize each and every minute of practice while your players have a blast and actually learn something too!
by: Anonymous On: 2007-04-10
Become the coach of the year by using these activities to structure your practice. These concepts will make even the novice coach into a great one.
On: 2007-03-09
This book brought new concepts to my attention about coaching children in soccer -- not basing your practice on drills but on activities that all the kids enjoy at the same time.
On: 2007-01-11
I really enjoy this book. It is easy to read, simplistic in nature to comprehend and there are many fun skills that my team has practiced.
On: 2006-08-18
I found this book to be very useful. I am a 1st time soccer coach this year and I love the fact that this book went step by step and that it divided things out according to age. I had my 1st practice last night and it was a huge success. Thank you!
On: 2006-08-12
This another good soccer book with great games. Its a great supplement to Coching Youth Soccer: A Baffled Parents Guide, however if you are planning on only purchasing one go with Coaching Youth Soccer.
On: 2006-08-04
This book has great drills involving the entire team so the kids dont have to stand in line waiting for their turn, getting antsy and goofing off. Im coaching U12 boys and while I thought the first section of drills was a bit basic the rest were awesome. And looking back, the basic drills are good for warm-ups and fun, short little exercises. Theres an index in the back that shows you which drills help with which skills. I highly recommend this book. Im looking forward to putting the drills in action.
On: 2005-10-25
If youve never played soccer but want to coach your son or daughters team - buy this book. About the only place it comes up short is in teaching the really little ones (Kindergarten / 1st Grade...but it still helps) but all in all its been an invaluable tool for me. Ive used it for 5 years now and have lent it to several people. A very good buy.
by: Anonymous On: 2003-07-09
As a great follow-on to the original "Baffled Parent" beginner book from Bobby Clark, this one is much more than just practice games. It contains the type of wisdom you will hear in the USSF "D" and NCSAA Regional Diploma courses, so that the novice coach has more to go on than simply doing some game because its in the book. It should help him/her to structure practices that make the players think, keep them active, and work towards a theme. It goes beyond telling them not to do the three "L"s (laps, lines, lectures) and gives them some tools so they know what they should do instead. Im buying 150 of them for the coaches in our rec program. Also recommend the McAvoy and Luxbacher books.
On: 2003-02-06
Dont let the title fool you. This is a great book for coaches who want to have fun at their practices and games that teach skills. Use the games at the beginning of practice and the kids will have fun, pay attention and improve.
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