7v7 is a very common and extremely useful format for soccer leagues, especially in the youth system. In the US, the U9 and U10 age groups, also known as the Development League, typically play in 7v7 formations. This structure is the first time that players start to really stick to a position, so it is important to understand them and coach the right lessons. This is the transition from 4v4, where formations are not really relevant. But the path forward is the 9v9, so that should be considered when choosing the formation. We are using formations for player development while having the long-term plan in mind.
What is the best 7v7 soccer formation?
The most widely popular 7v7 soccer formation is the 2-3-1. With balanced tactics that give opportunity to overload the midfield, stretch the field when attacking and allow for an extra defender to cover up for mistakes, this has been the best formation both for playing and for coaching. Maybe, there is no one best formation for winning the game. However, as you have two years of development at this age, we recommend doing the 2-3-1 for one year. This includes the 4-1-1 and 2-1-3 variations. Then in the second year, give 3-2-1 a shot to see if there is a natural central defender and to test the waters of playing with two central midfielders. That will help the transition to 9v9 where both 3-1-3-1 and 2-3-2-1 will be possible with the player development that you have.
This is the formation that we recommend, as it has several benefits. Compared to 4v4, we have new positions in 4, 5, and 6. The two central defenders are starting to build a partnership with each other, furthermore with the goalkeeper. The central mid is really starting to develop and the best player will be placed there.
Start with this 7v7 soccer formation and let the players learn at least two different roles. The roles are defender, winger, central mid, and striker. Then try the variations of the formation to adjust to the players and the situation. There are two variations to this one – 4-1-1 and 2-1-3, depending on the role of the central midfielder.
PROS
Goalie plays with their feet and makes decisions, as there is no one defender in front of them
Wingers are both defenders and attackers, so we develop complete players
The central midfielder can be trained as both a defensive and attacking midfielder
CONS
Wingers have to be fast and disciplined
The skill of the two defenders have to be similar
The central midfielder takes lots of responsibility, therefore it is possible that nobody on the team can play that role proficiently
The 3-2-1 formation is the other logical choice and we recommend using that to supplement for what the 2-3-1 formation cannot teach. Remember, we are using these formations to coach, not just to win games.
There are multiple reasons why this formation can work well, but the biggest one is if there is a natural best defender and if there are two central midfielders that can split the duties and balance each other. If at 9v9 we use our favorite 2-3-2-1 formation, then the two attacking midfielders are the two attacking midfielders from here.
PROS
We develop two central midfielders that can work well together
The central defender is well-developed and likely develop a great communicator
The central midfielder takes lots of responsibility and it is possible that nobody on the team can play that role proficiently
CONS
Being a goalie can be very boring, as the defender took some of the responsibilities
More often than not all three defenders will stay back, so we’ll attack with only three players
The players in the middle will have much more of the ball and we will lack quality development of the team
This is the natural attacking formation of 3-2-1. Ideally, only one of the wingbacks will help on the attack, while the other one will shift to the defense. At this age, it is great to try and coach that.
Unfortunately, this is what we have seen the formation looks like when U9 or U10 players are put in this structure. Therefore, it lacks natural variations of triangles and diamonds, and playing possession soccer is almost impossible.
Conclusion
This is the full guide on how to coach the two years of 7v7 in youth soccer development. We focus on what skills our players need to develop through the games as experiences. Furthermore, we develop wingers and wingbacks that are fast and responsible. We develop defenders that can operate alone or in partnerships. Our goalies are good with their feet. The striker press the line high, while having freedom to go on the wings. Finally, we develop the central midfielders in both offensive and defensive duties. While our goal is to develop complete players, this is the complete guide on how to do that in 7v7 soccer formations, appropriate for the age.
Ready to dive into the wild world of soccer agents? Honestly, we’ve never heard of anybody dreaming of becoming the next super agent, but many want to peek behind the scenes of player representation. Let’s be honest, nobody will ever say that the soccer life story is by an agent. However, the stories that these agents have are fascinating. For one, all of them have kind of randomly entered the world of being agents. Secondly, they are all dancing on the edge of being secretive and exclusive with their stories, all at the same time!! From jaw-dropping negotiations with club management and players to player management secrets, these books are a must-read for anyone interested in the glamorous and sometimes bizarre universe of soccer representation.
What are the best soccer agent books you need to get your cleats on?
If you ever wonder about the influence of Mino Raiola, recall that Ibrahimovic mentioned him in his retirement speech in front of a full stadium: “This is for Mino Raiola”. Fortunately, Raiola published this exhilarating read before his death at age 54. In his 30-year career, he managed the likes of Nedved, Pogba, and Haaland. The writing style and extensive knowledge of the industry make this book a must-read for both football enthusiasts and aspiring agents. It is full of anecdotes, practical advice, and remarkable insights into the negotiations and deals behind the scenes. This book is a delightful treasure trove for anyone eager to gain a deeper understanding of the complex and exhilarating world of football.
Fascinating read from one of the most powerful agents in the world. Starting with Nuno Espirito Santo as a player, the career of Mendes is fascinating and crucial for the development of Portuguese soccer. He represented most of what Porto was when they won the Champions League, from Mourinho to Carvalho and Tiago. A super agent will not be complete if it doesn’t have a superstar – Cristiano Ronaldo. Now imagine if you have a book with insights into these deals, showing both tactical and strategic thinking. Get the book, you won’t regret it!
Erkug Sogut handles only one client – Mesut Ozil. Unlike other cases when there is a family connection, Ozil hired Sogut for his background as a lawyer and his similar background as a second-generation Turkish immigrant in Germany. Ozil’s brand is very tightly coupled with this heritage and Sogut manages both the legal aspect and the strategic thinking. It is truly a different kind of book to see the relationship of a low-key agent that handles this in a very professional manner. Sogut is still very young and we might see more superstars coming through his agencies. For now, it is a unique book to read and we strongly recommend it.
Definitely an original book, but perhaps a bit outdated. Unlike some other agents on this list, Smith’s best-known client is still Maradona. Smith discusses the issues and concerns that soccer clubs and agents face, especially when it comes to financial regulations. As with other agents, the ego glows strongly, but perhaps PR packaging, in this case, was skipped. For those that can stomach the honesty, it is a great direct read. For the idealists, maybe it would be better to skip this one and focus on the ones that focus on the good stories of everything working out fine.
One non-soccer book on the list is Leigh Steinberg’s “The Agent: My 40-Year Career Making Deals and Changing the Game.” Steinberg spills the beans on his incredible journey, from representing individual players to pulling off mega-million dollar deals that make your jaw drop. This is the agent that is the inspiration for the famous movie Jerry Maguire with Tom Cruise. Don’t get us wrong, the world of soccer is very different than the world of football, especially in the USA. However, it is an entertaining read and an interesting perspective. Get ready for an adrenaline rush as he shares mind-blowing stories and practical tips that will make you feel like you’re sitting at the negotiating table with him.
In a nutshell, these books are the MVPs of soccer agent books. They deliver a mix of adrenaline, secrets, and laughs that will keep you entertained from the kickoff to the final whistle. They are biographical and tell the true stories from the view of the super agents. So grab your favorite soccer jersey, settle into your comfiest chair, and get ready to score big with these epic reads!
Technology is both exciting and scary. Perhaps not the use of technology in soccer development, but in almost everything else. We are bombarded by the horrible outcomes that AI will cause in this world. One side says that we will all be replaced and become jobless. Another side is saying that AI is already working against the human race and any day now it will win. We don’t know about AI, but we know soccer education and we’ll focus on exactly that. How do we develop soccer players? How can the technology help us do a better job at the moment? Where it will be in the next decade or two?
Which technology are we going to look at?
Before we jump into it, let us just define the technology we will analyze and which ones we will avoid. Computer technologies, including AI, machine learning, computer vision, AR/VR, data science, and wearables are all fair game in our analysis. As you can see it is all based on captured videos of soccer practices and games. We will not talk about sciences related to chemicals, drugs, or gene editing. It is a fascinating area of science and there is so much to explore. But we just don’t feel like experts in the area and don’t think we can add much color to it. If you are interested in learning more about gene editing our way to a superhuman without one word about soccer, we recommend most of the 500+ pages of The Code Breaker by Walter Isaacson.
But what if we can use technology in soccer development to create the environment and achieve superhuman results through all the knowledge of psychology, child development, sociology, and technology that we have at the moment…
What are the challenges that soccer coaches face?
Let’s talk about what a technical soccer skill is – it is a motor skill, meaning the specific movement of the body’s muscles to perform a certain task. It is important to distinguish that there is no decision-making in this process, only the execution of a predetermined action. At the highest level of competition, the decision is conscious and the skill is subconscious. Colloquially, some people refer to it as muscle memory, and is present in all sports, playing instruments, body movements, and even writing. However, once we form our handwriting in our childhood, we do not change it in our life unless some serious injury occurs that forces our neural system to adjust. In the world of soccer, the legendary Arsenal manager of 22 years, famous for his talent identification, said:
…the base of the player is the technique. You get that between seven and fourteen years of age. If you have no technical skill at 14, you can forget it, you can never be a football player.
Arsene Wenger
Ironically, the most important on soccer development is actually not a soccer book. The Talent Code by Daniel Coyle explains what soccer skill is and how to develop it. The complete complexity of the myelin production neural pathways is too much to be fully explained even in that book, let alone this article. To simplify, the way to develop a skill is to strengthen the correct neural pathways that transmit the electrical impulse so that the muscles can behave to achieve optimal performance. Talent is the natural pathway, while “deep practice” is the best process of making the channels bigger and stronger.
How do we do “deep practice”?
Let’s think about – how did we learn to write? We isolated only one letter, broke the task into pieces, and did each piece of it slowly with lots of attention and focus. We repeated that many times over and today we write the letter subconsciously. Now when we write a word or a sentence, we don’t think about the steps one by one. However, we decide on the words to use and the order in which to place them, and even the sentence that comes after that.
How does a piano player achieve the right tempo on technically difficult tasks? It is the same process of isolating the hard fragment and playing it correctly at a very slow speed. If that is too hard, we will split it into only the left and only the right hand separately. Then we will bring it together at a slow speed, before proceeding at a higher tempo. When the pianist moves to a higher speed, it is an adjustment or a correction and with the appropriate repetition, it strengthens the neural network even further.
The way we do deep practice is through precise repetition in a controlled environment. Let’s split those two interdependent terms. If the repetition is not precise, it will create a strengthening of the incorrect neural connections, resulting in a sloppy technique. Subsequently, that leads to creating an uncontrolled environment at the highest level of competition. On the other hand, if the environment is not controlled, it leads to an imprecise repetition and forming of the wrong muscle memory.
Why can’t coaches just teach “deep practice”?
Now that we know what the secret is, why can’t we just do it? Well, have you had an argument with a kid that they should practice their violin? If it is too easy then it’s boring. If it is too hard then it’s daunting. And this is a piece of music targeted specifically for the skill of this violinist. Now, try to target the right drill at the right level for your 15 soccer players at the same time. Impossible! What if there is a way to monitor the challenge to make it just right, at the right time for each player?
Flow
Let us make one more analogy with the 5 heart-rate zones and our soccer deep practice. We sit and lay down in the resting HR, so not really useful zone for our goal of deep practice. Light intensity is where we get sloppy because we lose focus and don’t have full control over our movements. Moderate intensity is where all our focus is on the precise movement, with no effort spent on decision-making or opposition. Vigorous intensity is when we have competition at practice to adjust and correct for a certain level of opposition, as designed by the drill. As we have said many times, we love rondos because we decide that level of intensity and opposition. Finally, the final red zone is for games and there is no technical development there because it is an uncontrolled environment as we discussed earlier.
Why is yellow the best level for strengthening neural connections? Because that is where the human is in their flow. We enter a hyperfocus state when the task is clearly defined, it is the right level of challenge, and we receive immediate feedback. The best creators of tools for the state of flow are video games, which is why there is always a desire to gamify learning.
What will be solved by technology in soccer development in the next decade?
Green zone
Let us reuse the musical instruments examples from before. The steps to improve a particular instrumentalist are to analyze the music played, identify the issue of that particular player, and suggest the exercise to be performed. Current tech can definitely do that and will likely not need more than a smartphone to do so. It will get better with AI and potentially image processing to suggest an adjustment of the hand posture and movements. It is definitely getting us closer to the flow.
Ball mastery apps
When it comes to technology in soccer development, we already have something similar in the market. There are products and apps that give a task (might or might not be appropriate for the player) and keep track of the quality of performance. Apps like Techne Futbol show the drill in slow motion that needs to be made and give a dose of dopamine when the user accomplishes a certain time of practice. A step further is DribbleUp. They show drills for ball manipulation and ball mastery and use a phone camera to measure the success rate of it. The flow is there with a clear goal and instant feedback.
A beginner coach can watch a Youtube video and repeat the movement slowly and in steps. The coach can have a stopwatch and count the movement of one player at a time. However, only an expert coach with years of experience can identify the issue in the motor skill and quickly find a way to correct it. I believe that the technology of image processing and machine learning is smart enough to do that. It should be able to detect issues in the movement – too little hip opening, too much knee bending, or arms too static…
With the amount of soccer data and soccer drills available, it should give feedback and pick the appropriate corrective drill to fix that. Then once that is fixed it will move to the next drill for that player. I have no doubt that by the end of the decade, an app will be able to do all that.
Yellow zone
Smart soccer training gyms
When looking at state-of-the-art facilities at La Masia, we can see that there are small turf indoor fields for individual player development. Using multiple machines to throw and receive, a ball comes from one place to the middle where a player receives it and passes to another place where the system indicates that the ball should go with a visual signal. The system is predetermined and the variations are randomizing the locations and the speed of the ball.
However, it seems like there is very little feedback that the system does to analyze the weaknesses of the player in the middle and target those. Adding AI to the system will bring the knowledge of the best coaches from the best academies in the world, practically to any gym that will have this system. A player can rent the tool and practice on their own the same way the best players in the world. Globalizing this tool will uplift soccer development in the world.
Devices
We talked about getting in the challenging zone with rondos, which makes us dominant in terms of numbers when we are in possession. However, it is up to the coach to design the right environment to dose the challenge just right. Now imagine using VR and AR devices we can always have the right amount of challenge. Imagine your teammates and opponents moving at the right place to vary the situation, so you make progress but are not overwhelmed. Wouldn’t that be amazing? We will be permanently in the correct zone for development and the situations will be designed to strengthen the exact neural connection that we want. That would be amazing and while it might take more than a decade or two to get to that point, we can see it happening at some point.
Why will the coach not be replaced by the technology in soccer development?
So, the soccer coach is done and we can finally stop coaching kids and just watch the World Cup? As if. The Talent Code talks about two other key components in the mastery of a skill – ignition and master coaching. I know from my cardio exercises that staying in the yellow zone is hard and it often requires a mental push. That ignition has to be sparked by the coach. However, master coaching requires silent observation and occasionally encourages good behavior and corrects bad one.
Have you ever noticed that a coach is good for a certain age group, but not for another? Being a youth soccer coach has three phases – animator, teacher, and competitor. That is according to the book that documented the path of soccer development in Croatia. For context, Croatia won 2nd and 3rd place in the last two World Cups. With a population of less than 4 million people, they had no business passing the group stage.
Soccer coach profiles
The animator role of a coach is for the youngest group of players, 10 years old and younger. At that age the ignition is not really there naturally and no technology will create it. Between the ages of 11 and 15, the profile of a coach-teacher comes to play. The players enter puberty and the coach needs to find the right balance within the team, providing not just guidance for the individual player, but also balancing the fire in the players and even between them. Finally, when the players are growing past U16, they compete and the coaches need to do the final push to get the best out of them at the right moment in every aspect – physically, mentally, and emotionally.
These profiles will not change for the coaches with the current technology and the pathway that I can see. We are still so far from emotionally understanding, let alone connecting with the machines. Furthermore, the tech cannot help us relate to other humans in a genuine way. For example, it can help us identify who is Johnny and who is Jimmy. However, it cannot help us look genuine when we want to relate to the players. It cannot make Johnny and Jimmy like us or trust us, which is key to developing them as players and humans. Furthermore, it cannot determine that Johnny likes to compete extra today, while Jimmy looks like he is shying away from conflict. That is something that comes from life experience and emotional intelligence.
Summary
The importance of technology in soccer development has been talked about for decades. As the tech evolved over time and the amount of money poured into soccer, we are excited to see where we will get in the next decade. The future is bright and the role of the coach will change. Humans are the most adaptable species on the planet and I am sure we will adjust. However, it will be amazing to see how the technology in soccer development will create the opportunity for better technical coaching games everywhere on the planet, while the coaches can focus on adding even more value on top of it.
Volunteerism is key in grassroots soccer development in the USA. We always see volunteer coaches trying their best to coach the players, then getting lost in other tasks and finally giving up. The coaches take roles they shouldn’t take and they start handling uniforms and field scheduling. Similarly to assigning players roles on the pitch, the team should assign roles in the operations segment.
To run a quality soccer team, it is vital to have the right setup in order not to burn out. In this article, we will explore the roles in a youth soccer team to improve your chances of success on the field. Sometimes the responsibilities overlap and can be handled by the same person, but if one person handles more than 2-3 responsibilities, it is likely that there they will eventually be overwhelmed and give up.
Well, this is obvious. The head coach is responsible for developing and implementing training plans, managing the team on game day, and developing team tactics. They should have experience coaching youth soccer and be able to communicate effectively with everybody else. We write so much about soccer coaches, that we will likely not focus as much in this case. However, keep in mind that the head coach plays a role in each aspect of the team, including scouting and recruiting. Players will decide if they join or not based on the head coach and you can’t outsource that.
Assistant coaches support the head coach and assist with training and game management. Ideally, they should have experience playing or coaching soccer and be passionate about working with young players. We have written about it extensively about the roles of assistant coaches and rightly so. Many new coaches try to work without assistant coaches because they want to make sure they bond with the team. However, not every coach is the right for the right players, so find a balance of different personalities and coaching approaches and it will work.
Goalkeeping Coach
The goalkeeping coach is responsible for developing the skills of the team’s goalkeepers. They should have experience coaching goalkeepers and be able to provide individualized coaching to help each player reach their full potential. This is the only specialized coach for a position, as we don’t really need seperate coaches for defense vs attack. Ideally, these would be additional practices, but if that is not possible, at least get about 20-30% of the practices assigned for dedicated GK practices for your goalkeepers only.
Conditioning Coach
The conditioning coach is responsible for developing the team’s fitness and stamina. They should have experience developing fitness plans for youth athletes and be able to work closely with the head coach to ensure that the team is in peak condition on game day. When the players are younger (U14 and younger) the role is more of a teacher. Some players don’t know how to run properly or have gone through a growth spurt recently. A competent PT or fitness coach can address that properly.
Director of Soccer / Coach Mentor
The director of soccer provides guidance and support to the coaching team. They should have experience coaching youth soccer and be able to offer advice and mentorship to help the team reach its full potential. Very often they are the best scout and recruiter for the club, as they have connections and the credentials to “sell” the club to players and parents. The goal is for the head coach to get unbiased opinions and feedback from somebody that doesn’t know the players but knows the environment, system, and the head coach.
Management team roles in a youth soccer team
Team Manager
The team manager is the counterpart of the head coach on the management team. They will communicate with the other people on the management team and on the coaching team. The team manager should be organized, detail-oriented, and able to communicate effectively with everybody. They are responsible for organizing logistics such as scheduling games, booking fields, and arranging transportation. Finally keeping track on any paperwork, such as registration of players and coaches, as well as any documentation or certification is a responsibility that is often missed and the team manager should handle it.
Parent Communication
Effective communication with parents is essential for a successful youth soccer team. A designated parent liaison should be appointed to keep parents informed about schedules, game results, and team news. Some parents have trouble with keeping up with the schedule, carpooling, uniforms, and gear. Most of the time, the players have nothing to do with that. However, if a talented player doesn’t make it on time or keeps missing something that their parents need to do, then having a dedicated person for it will make it easier for everybody. Furthermore, the player will want to stay on your team and no other team. We also like to share pictures and soccer stories of our players with the other parents to increase the team bond.
Gear Manager
The gear manager is in charge of ordering and distributing team uniforms, equipment, and supplies. They should be organized and proactive, ensuring that the team has everything they need to perform at their best. This role usually has a spike at the beginning of the season when all players are getting their uniforms. However, there are activities to be done throughout the year when there should be special gear for the games (canopy, bench, field markers, game balls) or when the weather changes and new gear is needed.
This is the only player on the list, and we wrote about the captains extensively. We talked that the team captain changes once a year or more often. That is true for the other roles and it is important to have parents who are willing to pitch in. The captaincy is great to reward and to teach the player at young age. Also, as they get older, the captain will motivate other soccer players to practice harder, by being a role model.
By following these guidelines and structuring your youth soccer team effectively, you can improve your chances of success on the field and provide a positive and enjoyable experience for all involved. Remember, youth soccer is about more than just winning; it’s about building confidence, friendships, and a love of the game that can last a lifetime.
Choosing a captain of a youth soccer team can be a daunting task. It’s not just a matter of standing out on the pitch with a captain’s armband. You need to find someone who can lead the team, make quick decisions on the field, and inspire your teammates to do their best. It is hard to do it at a professional level, but where do you even start at the grassroots? How do you know who is the right player for that? Let’s see the different roles of a captain at different ages, the traits to look for in a youth soccer captain, and how to make the final decision.
The Search for the Perfect Captain
What are the roles of the captain at different ages?
The role of the captain can vary based on the age of the team. For younger teams, the captain may serve as a motivator and role model for their peers. The captaincy also serves as an extra motivator for the player, not as much of a responsibility that usually the coach has. As the team gets older, the captain’s responsibilities may expand to include leading drills, organizing practices, and communicating with the coach. These are all roles that the coach and the assistant coach have when the players are at U10 or younger. However, to develop the players in the right way, the coach will start delegating small tasks to the captain.
Do I select a new one each season or each game?
There is no hard and fast rule about when to choose a new captain. Some coaches may choose a new captain each season, while others may select a captain for each game. It’s important to consider the team dynamic and choose a captain who can lead the team both on and off the field. At U10, I usually choose a captain for each game and often times there is even a vice-captain, to avoid any player being overwhelmed. Furthermore, it’s a great motivation tool for insecure soccer players. What I like to do at the U11 through U13 level is to choose a captain for the season. Keep in mind, there is a fall and spring seasons, as well as summer tournaments. So in a year, there might be 4-5 captains, which is good to balance the responsibility. From U14 and up, we choose a captain for the entire year.
Is this the first season the team has a captain?
If this is the first season the team has a captain, it’s important to discuss the role and expectations with the team. This will help ensure that everyone understands the captain’s role and can support their leadership. One reason why this is the first year with a captain is because they are U11 and this is the first time there is a captain for a longer period of time. In that case, I suggest limiting the initial responsibility, but adding over time. For example, the only instruction is to do a 5 min physical warmup before a game without the coach. Over time, there will be more requests, like setting up rondos or being in charge of making sure everybody has the right uniform. And it just keeps growing from there.
Guiding Traits of a Youth Soccer Captain
Commitment
One of the most important traits of a youth soccer captain is commitment. They should be dedicated to the team and willing to put in the effort to lead by example. Look for someone who attends all practices and games, and who is always willing to lend a helping hand. At the youth level you value commitment as the highest priority, and choosing the role model in the group of players is the key to success.
Extrovert vs introvert?
When it comes to personality traits, extroverts may seem like the obvious choice for a captain. They would tell jokes and stories on and off the soccer field. However, introverts can also be effective leaders. Look for someone who is confident and assertive, but who also listens to their teammates and values their input. Getting a good balance between the two is important. If somebody is an extrovert, but talks about other things than soccer, then it’s not a good fit. Similarly, if somebody trains well, but really doesn’t talk at all, it will not work. Striking some balance between the two is the right way to go.
Soccer skills
While soccer skills aren’t the key factor to consider, it’s important to choose a captain who is a skilled player. This will help them earn the respect of their teammates and make them a more effective leader on the field. Furthermore, you can’t have a player who sits on the bench and is not happy, because they can’t hold their spot on the team to be the captain. It is ok if the player is not getting playing time because of injury, but a lack of skills is not going to work. Sometimes coaches want to have players that play in the middle of the pitch, such as a box-to-box midfielder that can act as a carrilero or a holding midfielder, but it’s not that important.
Decision Time: Who Will Lead the Team?
Once you’ve considered all of the traits and responsibilities of a youth soccer captain, it’s time to make the final decision. Consider all of the candidates and choose someone who has the skills, commitment, and personality traits necessary to lead the team to success. Don’t forget that at younger ages the captain has a shorter time, so if you make a mistake, it is not a big deal. Also, as they get older, it is not a bad idea to let the team choose their captain.
Building a Stronger Team Through Captains
Choosing the right captain can help build a stronger team dynamic and lead to greater success on the field. Encourage your captain to communicate with their teammates, lead by example, and inspire their teammates to do their best. With the right leadership, your youth soccer team can achieve great things on the field.
Choosing a captain for a youth soccer team may seem like a hard task, but with the right approach, you can find the perfect leader to guide your team to success. Remember to consider the different roles of the captain at different ages, look for important traits like commitment and soccer skills, and make the final decision based on what is best for the team. With a strong captain leading the way, your youth soccer team will be unstoppable.
Now that we have mastered the 4v1 rondo, it’s time to move to the next step. The expectation is to spend about a month on variations before moving to 5v2 rondo. Slowly moving the size from 12×12 to 8×8 steps is the path and the point when the players can do over 10 passes is when it is time to challenge them.
Why do the 5v2 rondo?
Most people think that the natural progression from 4v1 is 4v2. However, by adding the intermediate step of 5v2, we increase the pressure while not reducing the number of options. When creating a large 5v2 setup, the passer should have 2 passing options, same as at 4v1. This means that we will focus on one step only at at time, which is increasing the pressure. The next step afterwards will be to receive a passing option which is a decision making skill.
Setup
The setup is very simple – add one player from each side in the middle and make sure you start with large fields. The rules have not changed for anybody and the game variations are the same from the 4v1. If many players want to be in the middle, that is a good sign. However, initially the player in the middle will block the far pass. Therefore, it is up to you to encourage players to move and open the lanes for pass to them.
Variations of 5v2 rondo
This is the first rondo that we do with certain target of position and specialty. When we say that anything can be taught in a rondo, we really mean that. We use the rondo as a platform to teach something and because the players know the setup, we can quickly start the game even when players don’t know what the new objective is. The official goal is to increase the pressure, but let us examine some lessons we can teach.
Central midfielder rondo
The most obvious one is for the central midfielder role. One new option is to introduce the halfturn and pass to the player across. The rapid progress that we have seen in our players has been incredible. The result in our best player has been almost immediately grasping the concept of switching the ball from the left flank to the right, and vice versa. It was almost scary how effective this setup was with minimal coaching.
Wingers
If we make the field narrow, say 8 by 12, then the players on the longer sides become wingers going up and down the flanks. Moving off the ball, using backfoot and coordinating with the central midfielder will be created naturally. It is definitely not something to be done immediately, but after 3-4 practices, it is an interesting variant for your players.
Throw in
Once the players are mostly proficient in the rondo, it is a great time to introduce throw ins into the mix. The rule of defenders staying right in the middle still holds, so the receiving with one touch should always be an option. It is a great game for the players and because of the closeness of the teammates, it is very unlikely for them to do a faulty throw in.
The use of tape in soccer increases as the players grow up and start to get into more dangerous challenges. There is nothing worse than missing days or weeks of playing because of an injury that should have been prevented with cheap soccer tape. Getting the right protection is important and can add or remove the edge from the player on a matchday. We know that it looks like an extra cost, but just considered it as part of the cost of high-intensity practices and games.
What is the best soccer tape?
We gathered together and reviewed the different soccer tapes that we use to end up with the best tapes to use for different purposes. We have shared them and tried them out across the team and came back again to make the ranking. It is not one-size fits all and it is important to understand the need first. Secondly, it is crucial to remember that these are used for prevention and not for recovery. Finally, remember to check if they are HSA and FSA, as most of them are.
Many players tape their shin guards to stay in place. If you have to, use the same tape as the fingers tape (below). However, do yourself a favor and switch to a shin guard strap. There are other brands and models, but these Adidas ones have been what the players in our club are using and they work perfectly fine, even with low socks. They are affordable and important from a very early age, so give it a try and you won’t regret your decision.
Wrists are not that common injuries in soccer unless there is a fall on the ground. However, ankle injuries are so frequent that the players that play to the maximum of their abilities are often troubled with ankle pain and overstretching of the ligaments. Almost half of our most senior high school players use ankle tapes and it is important to get good protection to prevent unwanted injuries. Cotton is the right material for them and keeping them under the socks means that there is not much to choose from a color point of view, so black it is.
This is where the true experts (read injury history) shine with their stories. The KT, which stands for Kinesiology Therapeutic, tape has helped many athletes to prevent injuries. The versatility is huge, good for virtually any muscle, ligaments, and tendons. If there are recurring injuries to be protected from, give these a try. The extra bonus is that KT Tape has done a phenomenal job in the color design to make the tapes blend or make the players stand out in tryouts and games.
This one is not usually needed, right? Actually, when talking to goalkeepers, they will tell you that they often balance it depending on their gloves. Sometimes they want gloves that provide different levels of flexibility or stickiness, but that also means that their protection is lower. They add some finger tape and they often tape only part of their fingers. For goalkeepers, go ahead and get yourself this tape. For others, only if you have chronic problems with injuries of your fingers, usually from other sports like volleyball or basketball.
Decision time
Soccer tape is an important way to prevent injuries and bring stability and confidence to soccer practices and games. Getting the right soccer tape is important and choosing the reason for it is the first step. Afterward, we already did the research for you and reviewed the tape you should choose. Protect yourself and prevent the injuries that can be avoided.
Now that you have read the best soccer books to your toddler and have seen them score in your backyard, it is time to make them a global superstar. There is so much noise in the world of scouting that has been influenced by some horrible movie characters – in every movie ever made, the scout and the agent are bad. Well, some of them definitely are, but for any player, parent, or coach, it is important to understand the basics of the world in which the scouts and agents live. Identifying good players is already hard, but finding how they stand out with their personality, not just appearance, can be very difficult. Of course, platforms like Skillshark can help identify and systemize talent analysis. Fortunately, the best soccer scouting books have variety in them, showing different aspects of it. One is talent identification and spotting. Another aspect is the whole machinery of the scouting soccer system and the business around it. Finally, there is something to be said about the connection between the scouts and the clubs and coaches they are scouting for.
What are the best soccer scouting books?
Unlike some other topics, here the books are truly diverse. We recommend searching through all of them to look for the niche you are interested in. Also, assuming that you’ve read one of them, doesn’t mean that another book will offer similar information. Let us go through them and you pick which one will give you the most!
If you can read only one book on the topic, this is it! Jon Cotterill lives in Sao Paulo for the last two decades, so he has been at the forefront of the biggest recruitment system in the world. Bringing players from Brazil, the largest soccer nation in the world, to Europe has been at the core of the scouting system. He covers the traditional connections with coaches and recruiters, the modernization of data analysts and video analysis, and even the psychology of it. It is a very thorough book, written by a journalist that can really convey information through storytelling.
Although not specifically about soccer scouting, this book explores the concept of talent development and how it can be cultivated. It delves into the science behind skill acquisition and provides insights that can be applied to scouting and player development. There are case studies in the book on how skills are aquired in various sports and it is a fascinating subject. In fact, we would recommend this book to everybody who tries to understand the process of learning, education and human development. If you are a coach and try to create your youth practice plan, or a parent try to evaluate the which soccer team to join, this is the book to read. Cannot recommend this book enough!
This book offers a detailed and fascinating exploration of the world of soccer scouting. It follows the journeys of several scouts and provides insights into their roles, challenges, and the crucial work they do in identifying and nurturing talent. It is interview-based and it is the best book to get as close as possible to the core of what soccer scouting is and the challenges that soccer scouts face every day in the world. They are a bit obsessed and the author does a fantastic job to capture their stories in a genuine way. It’s published 10 years ago, so some of the case studies are about players still active, like Raheem Sterling. It’s heavily focused on the UK, so it doesn’t paint a global picture, but still – a fantastic read!
“You cannot Moneyball your way through soccer, this is not baseball!!!” is what we hear so many times. Guess who was saying that you cannot statistically evaluate their players? Baseball scouts! This book examines the statistical and analytical aspects of soccer scouting and player evaluation. It explores the use of data and advanced analytics in identifying talented players and predicting match outcomes. Look at any of the large soccer clubs today and you can see that they have data scientists working on their teams. They do opposition research before games, instead of only coaches looking through videos. They do player and team performance analysis for their own team. Most importantly, they help the scouting team in recruiting the best players out there. This book shows that and shows that the biases in soccer a so big that the data-driven approach is vital to gain an edge in today’s world.
While not solely focused on scouting, this book provides a comprehensive view of Italian soccer and its scouting methods. It discusses the importance of scouting in Italy and provides an inside look at the country’s soccer culture. The authors are more than relevant to talk about the topic. Vialli is a legendary soccer player and manager (player-manager at Chelsea at age 33), while Marcotti is a famous sportswritter. To further the quality of the book, they have asked the best soccer minds of the world to pitch in, such as Wnger, Ferguson, Mourinho, Capello, Lippi… This book explores the soccer scouting at the highest level and we highly recommend the book if you are interested in that world.
A captivating memoir written by Duncan Hamilton, chronicling his time as a journalist covering legendary soccer manager Brian Clough. The wonder that Clough did is unprecedented and will never be repeated, and the value of scouting back in his days was underrated but crucial for his success. It is amazing how a great pair of a coach and a scout can do wonders for the team. Hamilton provides an intimate and revealing account of his close relationship with Clough. The enigmatic personality and managerial genius of one of the most iconic figures in British football history is what most of the book is about. That is the only reason why it’s so low on our list of scouting books. It is an amazing read that you should definitely have in your personal library of best soccer coaches’ biographies.
Decision time
These books provide different perspectives on soccer scouting, from the experiences of scouts themselves to the science and analytics behind talent identification. They offer valuable knowledge and understanding of the intricate world of player scouting in soccer.
Disclosure: I may receive affiliate compensation for some of the links below at no cost to you if you decide to purchase a paid plan. You can read our affiliate disclosure in our privacy policy. This site is not intending to provide financial advice. This is for entertainment only.
The popularity of soccer in the US has been growing rapidly in the last several decades. Both women’s and men’s soccer is incredibly popular, especially among the youth. At the moment nearly 400,000 girls play soccer, compared to 50,000 in the early 1980s. The US Women’s National Team has done extraordinarily well, winning 4 World Cups. The USMNT is less successful but is steadily improving towards that goal. Telling their stories as biographies by US soccer players will create strong encouragement for future generations to feel inspired to do better and better. The World Cup in 2026, where the US is a host, together with Canada and Mexico, is a perfect opportunity to make a leap.
What are the best biographies by US soccer players?
Until the World Cup, let’s look at some of the stories of players that popularized the sport in the US and moved us closer to that goal. There have been several compelling biographies written by U.S. soccer players that offer valuable insights into their lives, careers, and the sport itself. We are excited to see which ones will one day make their way to our list of the best soccer biographies. Here are some of the best biographies by U.S. soccer players:
This is an autobiography of Tim Howard, the legendary US goalkeeper. He starts his journey from his childhood struggles with Tourette’s syndrome. He ends up becoming a Premier League star and representing the United States in multiple World Cups. Howard takes readers behind the scenes, offering fascinating anecdotes and insights into the highs and lows of being a professional athlete. There is also another biography about Tim Howard, but we highly recommend the autobiography. This book paints a more authentic picture with first-hand storytelling.
It’s hard to believe that there will be enough to write about a 23-year-old soccer player, but Pulisic has been a prodigy with still a bright future ahead of him. The book takes readers on a personal journey, sharing the challenges, triumphs, and sacrifices that shaped his path to becoming a professional player. He shares his early years playing youth soccer in Pennsylvania to his breakthrough at Borussia Dortmund and subsequent move to Chelsea FC. Pulisic offers candid insights into his development, the influence of his family, and the pressures of professional soccer. This book is an inspiring testament to Pulisic’s dedication, determination, and relentless pursuit of his dreams, making it a must-read for fans and aspiring athletes alike.
While not specifically a biography of David Beckham, this book delves into his arrival in Major League Soccer (MLS) and the impact he had on the league. Let us not forget the impact that Beckham had on the MLS, eventually having superstars like Leo Messi and Zlatan Ibrahimovic following his steps to come at the end of their careers in the US. Furthermore, he made the league more interesting for players in their 20s to perform at their peak, such as Obafemi Martins and Carlos Vela. Grant Wahl, a renowned sports journalist, provides a fascinating behind-the-scenes look at Beckham’s time with the LA Galaxy and the challenges he faced on and off the field.
Hope Solo is synonymous with the USWNT success that they had over the years. As one of the most recognizable goalkeepers in women’s soccer, shares her life story in this autobiography. She discusses her early struggles, her successes on the field, and the controversies that surrounded her career, offering an unfiltered look into her personal and professional life. Solo’s narrative takes readers through her remarkable journey, from her childhood in a small town to becoming an Olympic gold medalist and World Cup champion. She fearlessly addresses both the triumphs and controversies in her life, offering an unfiltered perspective on her successes, struggles, and the complexities of being a high-profile athlete.
In this memoir, Carli Lloyd, one of the most accomplished female soccer players in U.S. history, chronicles her path to success, including her key role in the U.S. women’s national team’s triumphs at the FIFA Women’s World Cup. She shares her dedication, determination, and the sacrifices she made along the way. Lloyd tells the stories of her relentless pursuit of excellence, the sacrifices she made, and the challenges she faced along the way. The journey was not always easy for her, and she shares her early struggles with her breakout performances on the world stage. The themes of unwavering determination and relentless work ethic shine throughout the book. This book is excellent for soccer fans, athletes, and anyone seeking inspiration to overcome obstacles and achieve their dreams.
This life story provides a compelling and personal account of Megan Rapinoe’s journey both on and off the soccer field. Rapinoe is one of the most prominent figures in women’s soccer. We can see her story from her childhood in a small town to becoming a World Cup champion and Olympic gold medalist. She is incredibly honest, as she delves into her experiences as an openly gay athlete and an outspoken advocate for social justice. Rapinoe’s voice echoes through as she reflects on the challenges she’s faced and the triumphs she’s achieved. The impact she’s made as a trailblazer in the sport is undeniable. The book is as important in the social aspect as it is in the soccer world. Megan was fighting multiple battles, not just the one we all saw on the pitch.
Carlos Alberto is a Brazilian, who captained the legendary 1970 Brazilian national team that won the FIFA World Cup. He later became a U.S. citizen and contributed immensely to the development of the sport in the US. In his autobiography, he talks about his entire career, including his time playing in the North American Soccer League (NASL). NASL is the predecessor of the MLS, running from 1967 to 1985. Through his storytelling, Carlos Alberto provides valuable insights into the beautiful game, making “The Greatest Goal” a must-read for football enthusiasts and those interested in the rich history of Brazilian and American soccer.
Decision time
These biographies offer unique perspectives on the lives and careers of U.S. soccer players. They provide inspiration and insight into the world of professional soccer. We are so excited to see what the current players of USWNT and USMNT will publish in the years to come. Hopefully, many of them will have World Cup winners next to their names!
Now that we understand how to do no opponent rondo by mastering 3v0 and 4v0, it is time to move to add an opponent. By now the players should understand the basic setup of the rondo, as well as the importance of using the backfoot. They will be aware of the weight of the pass, as well as the idea of moving off the ball to create space and the decision of a one-touch pass vs receiving the ball then passing. I expect to be able to start the 4v1 rondo after about a month, or 6-10 sessions of no opponent rondo. If they can do 10 passes in a row, they are ready for some pressure.
Path to 4v1 Soccer Rondo
4v0.5 rondo
In this case, the coaches are half of a defender, playing to add a bit of difficulty, but the pressure should be at a fraction of what other teammates can do. That means you are cheating – there are opponents. Yes, it’s a little bit of cheating. However, it is important to understand that when players are very young, they cannot and shouldn’t understand when you ask them to put 50% pressure. You don’t want to create a habit when you ask them to give less than their best. Additionally, they will always give their best when the coach is the defender, which is what we all want.
I would suggest trying to jump in and out when the players have their 4v0 rondos to create pressure from time to time. It will also give you an idea if they are ready for regular 4v1 rondo, which is the next building block.
4v1 rondo
Finally, time to do a real rondo! Firstly, make the space big. You want them to have the space and to try and retain the ball. They should be able to do some 3 passes from the first practice, but if they do double-digits consistently, then it’s too easy. They will already know the soccer diamond setting from the previous drills, but the pressure is there this time around.
Rule for the defender
The first rule for the defender is to let the first pass be free. I technically don’t want to phrase the rule that way because that often makes the first pass sloppy. Instead, I ask the player to be right in the middle when the first pass occurs. If the player with the ball decides to pass through the middle, it’s fair play to intercept the ball.
The second question is how do we switch the player in the middle. The traditional one is to switch as soon as the majority loses the ball. However, at this age, I like to challenge the defender to intercept as many balls as possible in one minute. That way the drill is fast, instead of the defender kicking the ball far away and waiting for a minute for somebody to get it back. Another benefit is that the players that need to kick the ball the most end up in the middle in the first scenario, playing with the ball even less.
Variations of 4v1 rondo games
There are many variations of games you can have, we outlined two above. Creating new practices gives freshness to the competition.
1. Number of interceptions by the defender in a minute
2. Player loses the ball goes back in the middle
3. Two rondos side by side competing for more passes
4. Two rondos side by side with goals available for scoring after 10 passes
5. One pushup for the defender for every 5 passes completed (eg. 17 passes before interception equals 3 pushups)
