SoccerHelp Newsletter

SoccerHelp Tips

Ideas For Quickly Improving a Rec Team's Play
Letter From U-4 Coach
DVDs I Recommend
(The links below are to Premium. If you're a Premium subscriber, you should only have to log in once as long as you leave a link open.)

Quick Team Improvement Program (from SoccerHelp Premium):

9 Simple Things You Can Teach a Rec Team in One or Two Practices That Can Make a Big Difference (U-8 & older)

If your team isn't playing well, and you want to try some things that can quickly cause a big improvement, teach the following 9 things at your next practice. (This actually may take 2 or 3 practices and if you are not in a rush, spread it over 4 or 5 practices). On Premium, this article is 6 pages long:

Before practice, read "Assigning Positions" in SoccerHelp Premium.

Teach Coaching Rule # 3, (This section explains how to teach Coaching Rule No. 3, which can be worth 2 or 3 goals per game).

First/Second Defender

Teach the concept of "First Defender/ Second Defender" (This section explains the concept of "First Defender/Second Defender")
How To Teach First Defender/Second Defender and a Basic Zone Defense. If your team is young or inexperienced with a Zone Defense (assuming you play a zone, and most Rec teams should), spend 10 minutes demonstrating how First Defender/Second Defender and a basic Zone Defense works. (This section explains how to teach “First Defender/Second Defender” and a basic zone defense).

Teach the concept of "Shift & Sag" (This section explains how to teach "Shift & Sag")

Teach the concepts of "First Attacker/Second Attacker/Third Attacker". Again, demonstrate this on the field at slow speed. These concepts teach offensive support and teamwork. (Links to how to teach this).

Teach your Fullbacks ("FB's") how to clear the ball (Links to how to teach this).

If you have a Rec team with slow FB's, consider having your FB's "Defend Deep" instead of "Pushing Up" (The 2 things to teach).

Tell your Defensive Midfielders (DMF's)/Stoppers that they should not go past the halfway line (or the inside of the circle on the opponents half of the field if they are fast) and that they MUST drop back to help the FB's defend when the opponent is attacking.

The simplest, easiest thing you can do that can make a big difference is to change to a "Formation" and "Style of Play" that gives your team the best chance of being successful. (Explanation and links).

At the end of practice, have a brief meeting with players & parents (or by e-mail) & tell them that soccer is a team sport & it is important for everyone to do 4 things: (1) Come to practice on time, (2) Come to games 25 minutes early so the team can warm up together, the Coach can go over things such as "Shifting" and "First Defender", and the Coach can assign positions, (3) That players MUST hustle & fight for the ball or the other team will probably win (encourage hustle & toughness by praising those who hustle & play tough and consider giving rewards such as "bravery patches" for bravery and tough play), and (4) Tell all the parents that you are teaching a new Formation and a new Style of Play and that it is VERY IMPORTANT that they not coach or yell instructions from the sidelines because it will confuse the players and harm the team. Tell them that if they want to help you will be delighted if they come to practice and assist (the more assistants the better). It is critical to have the parents support.

Letter from a U-4 Coach whose 4 year old daughter is dribbling without looking down:

"You have no idea how much my 3 - 4 year old girls team has improved!!!

In fact, I had a Dad come up to me after the game on Sat 03-17-07. He had not been to a game since the 1st game and here we are at game 5. He advised he cannot believe how much of a progression all the girls have shown.

Yes, my girls started out very slow, lost, non-aggressive etc. Granted in our league we do not keep score, but we probably lost our 1st game by 20 goals.

Since that time, if we were keeping score, we have not lost a game. AND, each week a new girl scores a goal!!!! ...Amazing.

I owe all of this to SoccerHelp. The practice games are AMAZINGLY EFFECTIVE!! MY Girls are so engaged, and I have parents tell me that their girls cannot wait to go to practice.

I end every Practice with MONSTER INVASTION!!! And it is so effective for getting them to come back.....!!!

I can go on and on about the success stories. But I will leave you with one - my own Daughters. Last Year my daughter played soccer as an almost 3 Year old. The coaches did nothing but throw the ball out there and let them run around. They did not engage that much at all. My daughter was so disinterested that, on game day, she did not even want to get into the game and play. She even got to the point where she did not want to go to practice. It was a grind. For games and practice, She would stay on the side and dig in the dirt and pick flowers.

THIS YEAR - I said I am going to coach and use the SoccerHelp methods - WOW...WHAT A DIFFERENCE. My daughter is now one of the better players on the team, has scored goals and dribbles the ball down the field with both feet w/o looking down!! WOW...I AM SHOCKED!!!

Anyway...A success STORY! I am behind this website 100%! THANK YOU THANK YOU!

Click here to watch the Coach Doug Video Clips

DVDs I Recommend: (The links go to the Detailed Review of the DVD)

For U-4, U-6 Coaches: How To Coach Very Young Soccer Players

For How To Teach Skills: Soccer Success One On One Coaching (Basic and Intermediate Skills) DVD, Mia Hamm Soccer Secrets DVD and Gold Star Sleeve Ties, England Skills Uncovered DVD, Training Girls and Women To Win 3-DVD Set

For Motivation, Fun and Foot Skills (experienced and travel players age 9 and older): GOL! (Brazilian Soccer Foot Skills and Ball Control Training) DVD

For Rec Girls: Mia Hamm Soccer Secrets with Gold Star Sleeve Ties

For Moves: Coerver Play Great Soccer 2-DVD Set, GOL! (Brazilian Soccer Foot Skills and Ball Control Training) DVD

For Travel Team Players: GOL! (Brazilian Soccer Foot Skills and Ball Control Training) DVD, Coerver Play Great Soccer 2-DVD Set, England Skills Uncovered DVD, Training Girls and Women To Win 3-DVD Set.