Instructional
Youth Program
Introduction to the Instructional Soccer Program
Preface
Youth Soccer Coaching Philosophy
Program Format
Session Format
Instructional Soccer Program Sample Grid Layout
General Session Rules
Players’ Equipment
Notes for Parents and Coaches
Notes for Coaches
Instructional Basic Soccer Rules
Soccer Coaching 3 and 4 Year Olds
Format of a Practice
Warm Up Activities
SOCCER FUN GAMES (NOW OVER 235!)
Instruction and Drills
Instructional Dribbling
Instructional Inside of the Foot (Push) Pass and Receive
Instructional General Receiving
Instructional Positions – Attacking and Defending
Instructional Instep Drive (Kicking)
Instructional Shooting and Goal Scoring
Instructional General Passing
Instructional Juggling
Format of an Instructional Soccer Scrimmage
Instructional Soccer “Build-a-Practice”
Sample U-5/U-6 Instructional Soccer Practice Plans
Instructional Soccer Coaching Manual
Youth Clinic
Format for an Introductory Soccer Skills Clinic for a Large Group of Young Children
Skills
Learning Progressions in Soccer™
19 SURFACES OF THE SOCCER SHOE™
Surfaces of a Soccer Ball
Introductions to Soccer Skills
Introduction to Dribbling
Introduction to Passing — The Inside of the Foot Pass (also known as the “Push” Pass)
Introduction to Receiving and Controlling
Introduction to the Instep Drive: The Big Kick of Soccer
Introduction to Shooting and Goal Scoring
Introduction to Goalkeeping
Introduction to the Soccer Throw-In
Introduction to Soccer Tackling (The Front Block Tackle)
Introduction to Soccer Heading
Introduction to Juggling
Intermediate Soccer Skills
Intermediate Dribbling – Speed Dribbling
Intermediate Dribbling – First Fakes and Feints
Intermediate Passing – General
Intermediate Passing – The Personal Pass
Intermediate Passing – The Driven Pass
Intermediate Passing – The Through Pass
Intermediate Passing – The Give-and-Go
Intermediate Passing – The Back Pass
Intermediate Passing – The Lofted Drive
Intermediate Passing – Crossing
Intermediate Passing – Chipping
Intermediate Passing – The Outside of the Foot Pass
Intermediate Passing – Half-Volley
Intermediate Passing – Volley
Intermediate Passing – The Toe Poke
Modifying the Instep Drive
Intermediate Shooting (A) – Passing Through the Goal
Intermediate Shooting (B) – Moving Balls
Intermediate Shooting (C) – Passing Skills are Shooting Skills
Intermediate Shooting – The Side Volley
Intermediate Skills – The Hitch Kick
Intermediate Soccer Tackles
Intermediate Throw-Ins
Jump Heading in Soccer
Intermediate Soccer Juggling
Advanced Soccer Skills
Advanced Dribbling – The Avoidance Move
Adding Power to the Instep Drive
Supplemental Instep Drive Instruction
Advanced Heading
Advanced Passing – The Back Heel
Advanced Passing – The Dummy
Advanced Throw-In – The Flip Throw
Advanced Juggling
Soccer Slide Tackle
Soccer Flying Side Volley Kicks
Soccer Bicycle Kick
Advanced Shooting – The Knuckleball
Advanced Shooting – The Topspin Shot
Flick and Stab Chips
Bending Balls
Drills
Instructional Soccer Drills
The ‘Sideline-to-Sideline Dribbling Drills’ Series
2 Players, 1 Ball, Skill Drills (aka “Brazilians”)
Soccer Rondo Drills
The “Rules” of Free Shooting
“Playing Up” and “Free Play”
American Soccer-Golf
American Soccer-Speedball
American Soccer-Tennis
American Soccer-Volleyball
Soccer Rebounder Wall Drills
Instep Drive Technique Reinforcement Drill
Advanced Receiving, Controlling and Chipping Drill
The “Magic Hop” Instruction and Drill
U. S. Men’s National Soccer Team Practice
Tactics
General Tactics
An American Soccer Player’s Creed™
An American Soccer Player’s General “Rules of the Road”™
Soccer Positions
Initially Placing Players in Positions
Introduction to Soccer Formations
Soccer Formations Developmental Pathway
Position Numbers
Sportsmanship Upon Injury
Special 5-Minute Segments in a Soccer Match
Soccer On-Field Oral Communication
La Communicatión Oral En el Campo de Fútbol
On-Field Non-Verbal Communications in Soccer
Coaching to Soccer-Field Conditions
Contingency Planning
Soccer Vision
Small Sided Games
SHOOT-OUT! The Soccer Penalty-Kick Tiebreaker
Tactical Soccer Coaching Commands
Soccer Diagramming
Attack
Soccer Passing Directions Terminology
Introduction to Attacking Runs
Intermediate Attacking Runs in Soccer
Advanced Attacking Runs in Soccer
Introducing the Corner Kick – Offense
Types of Corner Kicks
Introduction to Offensive Goal Kicks
Offensive Set Pieces Off Free Kicks
Offensive Switches in Soccer
The Overlap in Soccer
Soccer Pass to Feet to Score
Beating the Offside Trap
Penalty Kick – Attacking Team
Penalty Kick Taker
Defense
Goal Side
Defensive Stance
Soccer Individual Defending
Individual Support in Defense
Defensive Switch
Soccer Defensive Wall Building
The Offside Trap
Soccer Tackling in Context
Defending Soccer Goal Kicks
Corner Kick Defense
Penalty Kick – Goalkeeper
Penalty Kick – Defending Team
Fitness
General
Eyesight
Field Player’s Kit
Outdoor Soccer Shoes (“Cleats”)
Tying Soccer Shoe Laces
Soccer Shin Guards
Goalkeeper’s Kit
Soccer Goalie Gloves Guide
Physical
Why Stretch
Standing Stretches
Two-Player Partner Assisted Static Stretches
Dynamic Movement
One-Player, One-Ball Warm-Ups
Two-Players, One-Ball Warm-Ups
Basic Strengthening Exercises
Intermediate Strengthening Exercises
Advanced Two-Player Strengthening Exercises
Soccer Plyometrics
Game Endurance
Sprinting for Soccer
Running Track Etiquette
Running Track for Soccer Fitness
Jump Rope – Advanced Soccer Fitness
Advanced Soccer Fitness and Training Equipment
Cycling for Soccer Fitness
Advanced Weight Training for Soccer
Psychological
Soccer Motivation
Visualization for Soccer
Health
First Notes on Anatomy and Physiology for Soccer
Foot Care for Soccer
Introduction to Treatment of Injury
Concussions
Rules
Soccer Rules
The Soccer Rule Book: The Laws of the Game
Annual Amendments to the Laws of the Game
IFAB PREVIEW OF LAW CHANGES 2025/2026
IFAB PREVIEW OF LAW CHANGES 2026/2027
IFAB Soccer Rule Changes for FIFA World Cup 2026
The Field of Play – Law 1
The Ball – Law 2
The Players – Law 3
The Players’ Equipment – Law 4
The Referee – Law 5
The Advantage Rule – Part of Law 5
The Other Match Officials – Law 6
The Duration of the Match – Law 7
The Start and Restart of Play – Law 8
The Ball In and Out of Play – Law 9
Determining the Outcome of a Match – Law 10
Introduction to Offside – Law 11
Offside – The Basic Scenario – Law 11
Offside – The More Complicated Portions – Law 11
Fouls and Misconduct – Law 12
Hand Ball! (Handball Offense) – Part of Law 12
Free Kicks – Law 13
The Penalty Kick – Law 14
The Throw-In – Law 15
The Goal Kick – Law 16
The Corner Kick – Law 17
Video Assistant Referee (VAR)
Semi-Automated Offside Technology (SAOT)
Spirit and Intent of the Laws of Soccer
Ball “Live” or “Not Live”
Soccer IS a Contact Sport
Checklist for Teaching Basic Soccer Rules
Soccer Local Rules
The Unwritten Rules of Soccer
Temporary Dismissals – “Sin Bins”
Underage Heading
Build Out Line
Soccer Officiating
Club Soccer Referee Program
Preventive Officiating
Ball “Live” or “Not Live”
Direct or Indirect?
Soccer Referee and Assistant Referee Signals
Call for Referee Stories
Soccer Referee Stories
Administration
Team Management
Soccer Coach, Protect Yourself!
Coach John Harves
Introduction to Soccer for Parents of First-Time Youth Players
Soccer Assistant Coach
Philosophy
Soccer Team Parent
Coach’s Kit
First Aid Kit for Soccer
Trainers Kit
Water Kit for Soccer Games
Player Questionnaire
Information and Policy Sheet
Sample Letters to Soccer Parents
Waiver of Liability and Release Form
Medical Release Form
Finances (spreadsheet)
Uniform Order Form
Pre-Season Schedule
Schedule
Sample Soccer Match Results and Standings (spreadsheet)
Data Collection and Statistics
Net Securing Options
General Coaching
A Brief History of the Sport of Soccer
FAQs – Soccer Frequently Asked Questions
Organizations Affecting Soccer in the U. S.
Licenses and Diplomas
Become a Student of the Game of Soccer
Coaching American Soccer Recommends
Soccer Animation and Graphics Software
Soccer Movies and Coaching DVDs from Services
Soccer Field Diagram
Balancing the Demands of the Game in a 1-hour Soccer Practice
Sample Soccer Game Day Procedure (U7-U9)
Obtaining Soccer Practice Plans
Coaching Stories
Soccer Coaching Stories
Call for Soccer Stories
Senior Open League
Constitution of An Open Soccer League
Open League Notice to All Players
Senior Soccer Insurance
New & Updated Articles
GLOSSARY
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Ball Back Upper Right Surface
Soccer ball back upper right surface, as perceived from the front.
