Soccer Attacking Down the Center

There are two schools of thought with regard to the coaching of young soccer players. One puts the emphasis on technique, while the other is based on the situations that occur in real matches. The "soccer method" is a combination of both approaches. It deals with the development of soccer insight in the context of a given system of play, while also incorporating the coaching of technical skills.

The method is described in four books. Book 1: Build-up play. On the basis of a number of typical weaknesses in the build-up play of young soccer players, this book builds up to an extensive collection of drills. Book 2: Attacking play down the flank. Wing play gives soccer players lots of opportunities to make individual runs. This aspect of play is integrated in drills for the whole team. Book 3: Attacking play down the center. The themes dealt with in this book include the creation of goal-scoring opportunities, the final pass, individual runs, and finishing. Lots of drills. Book 4: Defending. The team defends with the aim of scoring (by exerting pressure), or attacking (in midfield), or building up a move (in its own half). This is developed in lots of practical drills.

Together, the four books form a complete soccer course. The method enables the coach to focus on the typical age-related aspects of the players' soccer development within the framework of a given playing system. A distinction is made between 10 to 14-year-olds and 14 to 18-year-olds. Players should be asked to do the things they are capable of doing at each stage of their physical and mental development. The books include a large number of drills, which coaches can use to take a structured approach to working onspecific soccer problems with their players. Dozens of current and former amateur and professional soccer players and youth and chief coaches from a variety of countries have been involved in the creation of these books.