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.

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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.

Best for shin guards

Best for ankles and wrist

Best for sticky tapes

Best for fingers

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!

Anatomy of a football scout by JonCotterill

The Talent Code by Daniel Coyle

The Nowhere Men by Michael Calvin

The Football Code: The Science of Predicting the Beautiful Game by James Tippett

The Italian Job: A Journey to the Heart of Two Great Footballing Cultures by Gianluca Vialli and Gabriele Marcotti

Provided you don’t kiss me: 20 Years with Brian Clough by Duncan Hamilton

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:

The Keeper: A Life of Saving Goals and Achieving Them by Tim Howard

Pulisic: My Journey So Far Hardcover by Todd Kortemeier

The Beckham Experiment by Grant Wahl

My Story by Hope Solo

When Nobody Was Watching: My Hard-Fought Journey to the Top of the Soccer World by Carli Lloyd

One Life by Megan Rapinoe

The Greatest Goal: The Autobiography of Carlos Alberto by Carlos Alberto Torres

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.

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)

Soccer is a sport that has seen the rise of numerous legendary coaches who have left an indelible mark on the game. The coach is like a boss and a parent to the player, the best board employee, and the fans’ primary victim. Their stories of triumph, resilience, and tactical genius have become a source of inspiration. Both aspiring coaches and soccer enthusiasts like hearing them. In this article, we will explore some of the best soccer biographies that delve into their lives and careers. From their humble beginnings to their groundbreaking soccer achievements, these soccer coaches’ biographies provide a unique insight into the minds behind the success of some of the greatest teams in soccer history.

What are the best soccer coaches’ biographies?

I love audiobooks and these are all great to get through Audible. As you don’t have to look at the formations or any detailed numbers, these stories are great to be read on your commute to work or even to long drives before or after games and practices. However, we included the links in case you decide to get them as a gift for your child, significant other, or friend. Let’s get going!

Pep Guardiola: Another Way of Winning by Guillem Balague

Leading by Sir Alex Ferguson

The Special One: The Dark Side of Jose Mourinho by Diego Torres

Quiet Leadership: Winning Hearts, Minds, and Matches by Carlo Ancelotti

My Life in Red and White by Arsene Wenger

Decision Time

These soccer biographies offer a captivating glimpse into the lives and careers of influential coaches who have shaped the landscape of the beautiful game. Whether it’s the tactical genius of Pep Guardiola, the longevity and success of Sir Alex Ferguson, the enigmatic persona of Jose Mourinho, the calm leadership of Carlo Ancelotti, or the profound wisdom of Phil Jackson, each biography provides unique lessons and inspiration for coaches, players, and soccer enthusiasts worldwide. Dive into these remarkable stories and uncover the secrets behind the success of these coaching legends.

Your baby became a toddler and you know that one day they will be the protagonist in the fairytales of the superstar soccer player, now just running around the house. You put a size 3 soccer ball in front and… completely uninterested :/ You are not the first to have run into this discrepancy between the excitement that you have and the kiddo. Let’s see how we spark up some of the passion for the sport through some of the best soccer books for toddlers. Introducing toddlers to soccer through books is a great way to spark their interest and foster their love for the sport.

What are the best soccer books for toddlers?

Ranked in no particular order, these are some great options to see if you can enjoy reading some interactive books full of colors as a bedtime story or as a break in between running around the house or playing with a ball and toys.

Goodnight Soccer by Michael Dahl

Soccer Counts by Barbara Barbieri McGrath

My First Soccer Book by Sports Illustrated Kids

Messi: A Boy Who Became A Star by Steve Herman

Soccer Star by Mina Javaherbin

Peppa Plays Soccer by Neville Astley and Mark Baker

The Berenstain Bears Get Their Kicks by Stan and Jan Berenstain

Decision time

Regardless of the interest in soccer at this age, these are great books to get your young athlete interested in reading. Remember to choose books that are age-appropriate and feature engaging illustrations to keep toddlers interested. These books provide a good starting point for introducing soccer to young children and sparking their enthusiasm for the sport.

Ok, you agree that tiki-taka is only possible with the rondos. You set up a nice dynamic 4v2 with only four cones. You place them close by, because the best teams practice in tight spaces and because that’s how far the 7-year-old players can pass. You feel like a genius, feeding two birds with one scone. You start the drill and… Ah, too challenging, let’s remove one defender and make it 4v1. Still can’t make more than 2 passes. Your mentor suggests doing no opponent soccer rondo. What? What kind of rondo is that?

No opponent soccer rondo 3v0

Setup

As the first rondo we will ever do, this one has 4 cones at 8-10 yards/meters away. That will be our standard setup and only the size of the sides will change as we see it be too hard or too easy for the players.

Game

We start with the ball with the player in the middle (player 1), choosing where to pass the ball. If 1 passes to 2, then 3 occupies the empty cone. Otherwise, 3 receives the ball and 2 occupies the empty cone. The upside is that the players will naturally move if they don’t get the ball. The downside is that the passer stands still, so we don’t get them to naturally learn “pass and go“.

Instructions

Step 1: Just follow the rules and see that the players are doing the right things within the rules.

Step 2: This is the first time we introduce “backfoot” as a concept. Some coaches call it “across your body”, but we prefer using one word, as it is something we will repeat hundreds of times each month for years. It’s the idea to receive the ball with the foot further away from the passer so that it is easier to face the passer, but also the third player when they are about to come to the free cone.

Step 3: The last lesson in this setup is the weight of the pass. Only a few players naturally pass in space, meaning where the player is running towards. Instead, almost everybody passes to feet, i.e. where the player is at the moment. As the third player is running toward the empty cone and we know where he would end up. This is an opportunity to challenge the players to pass in space and get the time and weight of the pass right so that it arrives at the same time as the player.

No opponent soccer rondo 4v0

Setup

Same cone setup as before. However, this time each player is between two cones. This is the first time they will really see the diamond that will become their natural playing shape. Make sure you tell them that they can move anywhere along the line between the two cones. You should also show them that the movement is sideways always facing the inside of the square.

Game

There are two games that you can play at this point. The first one is to set two 4v0 rondos side by side and challenge them to get to 30 passes. Whichever group gets to 30 passes first wins. You might need to add more limits, such as the fact that backpasses are not allowed. Otherwise, two players will come close to each other and just pass the ball until they win.

The second game is to make players go and touch a cone after they pass. This game is to counter the static passer from the 3v0 rondo and to eliminate the issue from the previous game by passing back. Feel free to combine the two games together and have fun. At this point, the players should be more proficient in passing, so challenge them to try a one-touch pass.

Instructions

This is the first time the players will do decision-making in terms of the actual position to pass the ball to. As a result, they will not actually pass the ball to the backfoot, not pay attention to the weight of the pass and not care about who they are passing to. The last is ok, but the first two should be addressed even at this point. Remind them that in order to have a complete pass, both the passer and the receiver need to try their best and work together.

People love playing soccer all around the world, and I have played in teams where I didn’t couldn’t understand any words the teammates were speaking. I have even heard of coaches speaking to their players in a language they don’t understand. However, in addition to soccer being a universal language, there are soccer icons that have left an everlasting legacy on the game. Luckily, some of these life stories have been documented in (auto)biographies and they’ve been translated into many languages.

What are the best soccer biographies?

I love audiobooks and these are all great to get through Audible. As you don’t have to look at the formations or any detailed numbers, these stories are great to be read on your commute to work or even to long drives before or after games and practices. However, we included the links in case you decide to get them as a gift for your child, significant other or a friend. Let’s get going!

1. My Turn: The Autobiography by Johann Cruyff [Best Overall]

2. Ronaldo: The Children’s Book by Roy Brandon [Best for Children]

3. I Am Zlatan by Zlatan Ibrahimovic [Best for Players]

4. My Autobiography by Sir Alex Ferguson [Best for Coaches]

5. Fever Pitch by Nick Hornby [Best for Fans]

6. A Game of Extremes: 25 Exceptional Soccer Stories: What Happens On and Off the Field by Roy Lingster

Decision time

Soccer biographies offer a window into the lives of football legends, revealing the triumphs, tribulations, and human stories behind their on-field achievements. From the self-confidence of Zlatan Ibrahimović to the managerial genius of Sir Alex Ferguson, each of these biographies provides unique insights and lessons that extend beyond the boundaries of the sport. Whether you’re a die-hard fan or simply fascinated by remarkable individuals, these soccer biographies are essential reads for anyone seeking to understand.