Soccer Basics
Soccer Stats 101: Understanding Key Soccer Metrics for Players
Measuring, understanding, and analyzing youth soccer metrics is a key part of player development in select youth soccer programs. The term “metrics” simply refers to the way an individual player’s or a team’s performance is tracked in a measurable quantitative manner. These statistics provide useful insight into a player’s strengths and weaknesses, which helps them…
Read MoreDynamic Warm-Up Exercises for Soccer Players
Most coaches and athletes know just how important it is to warm up before practicing or playing in a game or match. According to the American Heart Association, warming up helps expand blood vessels to allow more oxygen flow to the muscles, and it helps reduce the amount of stress placed on your heart when…
Read MoreSoccer Strategy Breakdown Series: Part 3
Soccer Gameplay Decisions Learning how to identify a gameplay opportunity isn’t easy and abilities vary widely among young players. Key decisions that players must make include estimating the distance to the goal, knowing when to pass to another teammate, and learning when to kick the ball toward the goal to score. It’s common for young…
Read MoreSoccer Strategy Breakdown Series: Part 2 — Defense Formations
In youth soccer, strategy, careful planning, and teamwork are all important parts of mastering this exciting, competitive, beautiful game. Helping young players learn about effective defensive formations and strategies can make a big difference in their performance on the field. Read on to learn about some of the winning youth soccer defensive formations that can…
Read MoreThe Importance of Youth Soccer Strategy
When it comes to youth soccer, strategy, teamwork, and careful planning are key parts of this beautiful game. Teaching young players about effective formations and strategies can make a significant difference in how they play on the field, ultimately impacting their enjoyment of the game. Read on to learn about some of the winning youth…
Read MoreA Parent’s Guide to Core Positions and Rules – Part 4 “The Offside Rule – Explained
Learn About the Offside Rule Without a doubt, the offside rule is the most misunderstood of the 17 laws of soccer. In fact, a memorable scene in the 2002 film Bend It Like Beckham used condiments in a café to illustrate how the offside rule works: “Don’t tell me. The offside rule is when the…
Read MoreA Parent’s Guide to Core Positions and Rules: Part 3 – Offense Fundamentals
At its core, soccer pits each team’s offense against the opposing team’s defense. Players use multiple skills to defeat the defense by scoring the deciding goal to win the game, as well as preventing the other team from scoring. As players grow and advance, the number of players increases, making the game even more challenging.…
Read MoreYouth Soccer Series: A Parent’s Guide to Core Positions and Rules – Part 2
Basic Rules of Soccer Part 2 Coaches are soccer players’ main source of knowledge when it comes to playing the game, especially when it comes to following age-appropriate youth soccer rules. Because many coaches may have their children on their teams, players’ families should understand the basic rules of soccer and the positions. Families cheer…
Read MoreYouth Soccer Series: A Parent’s Guide to Core Positions and Rules – Part 1
Core Soccer Positions Part 1 According to U.S. Youth Soccer, U6 to U12 players use smaller fields and modified rules to help make the game safer, more fun, and easier to learn. All U6 to U19 players must have the opportunity to play 50% of the game, as determined by the coach. The number of…
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