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I'm a first year coach. After 4 weeks of using your Practice Games and advice, the boys won their first game 12-0. Their biggest win last season was 4-2. --Coach Daniel, U-11 Boys, Sydney, Australia, Premium Member
"I subscribed to SoccerHelp Premium 3 months ago. I coach a U-10 Girls team with a mixed lot of players. Using your advice this season we played a 2-1-2-2 with great results. As of this point we are 9-0 scoring 58 goals while giving up 11." --Coach Dave, U10, Maryland, USA, Premium Member
You know you are doing the right thing when you say practice is over after 90 minutes in 93 degree heat and 7 year old girls still want to play the Win the 50/50 Ball or be the First Defender 1v1 Attacking and Defending soccer practice game. --Coach Troy, Premium Member MD USA
Using the SoccerHelp concepts and the incentive patches, my U-8 team just finished the season 8-0-0. This is the same team that last Fall was winless and only scored one goal, and my 4-yr-old team finished their season also undefeated! My kids and parents could not be happier! I am just about to place my third order for more patches, so man did they work!! The kids were more concentrated at practice, gone was the crying after getting knocked down, and their positioning changed almost overnight. They worked so well, I even started using them for my son's 4-yr-old team. In two weeks, they turned us from unaggressive-standers-around, to a well oiled machine. Throughout the season, I had at least 6-7 opposing coaches/parents come up to me and ask me how I got my kids to do that! --Coach Dan, U8 and U5, Georgia, Premium Member
"Just wanted to thank you for the website and all the information contained therein. Two years ago I didn't know anything about soccer, and now my U9 girls' team has a two year record of 17 wins and 4 losses. My parents were excited about how well the girls played, I received many complements on how well they were coached, and most important, my
kids had fun. I attribute much of my success to your SoccerHelp Premium and the patches. The website gave me the knowledge to coach, and the patches gave the girls the motivation. I'll be a member for as long as I coach." --Mike, Washington USA, U9, Premium Member
"I have been a member of SoccerHelp Premium for about 2 years and so far, everything has worked. I have coached 2 different Rec teams, one 8v8 and one 11v11, and my record is 22-1-1 (the single loss was my very first game so it almost doesn't count!) There is no way I could have done it without Premium." --Coach Matt, USA, U-12, Premium Member
I thought my 12 year olds might be too old for the patches, but I thought I would give it a try. They love them! They have team sweatshirts that they iron them on to. I handed them out at practice after the game and they all remembered what patch they were to get - and knew what patches their teammates were getting too!
One other thing - thanks so much for your practice games. We extended our practices from the normal 1 hour the league says to 1.5 hours. Last practice, in the rain, when I shouted out "practice is over" half the girls were saying "Already? Boy that was fast. Can we go a little longer if our mom isn't here (yes!)", etc. Thanks for making it fun (and successful) for everyone.
--Coach Phillip, Premium Member, WA
Great site, well worth the subscription. I paid more money for books in the first year I started coaching that didn't have 1/10th the information. Fantastic job. Thank you. --Coach Jonny, U11 Competitive
Hi SoccerHelp,
I have been coaching soccer for the last 6 years. My boy's team is
having their best season so far and I believe it is due to the patches
I started giving out after the third game of the season. Since then
we have played much better soccer and are scoring like crazy. We've scored
10 goals in the last two games alone. My girl's U-9 team struggled until recently and they too have come around. They connect the patches
to what they are supposed to do on the field. I give them patches for
everything from crosses to drops to lucky goals and throw-ins. These
patches have turned my girls team around. We only scored 3 goals last
season. This season we have scored 20 goals so far and 5 in the last game, beating a team we lost to earlier. The whole team gets gold stars if they score 5 goals or more and both teams have scored 5 in the last 2 games....thanks Soccerhelp. --Dave, NJ USA, U-11 Boys Select/U-9 Girls Select, Premium Member
"I love SoccerHelp! I'm convinced it is what makes my mediocre team successful. We had 2 games today - 15-2 and 3-1. Both teams had bigger, faster kids on them but we won both games. You're so right - kids with little talent can be successful if they just learn to be BRAVE! Thank you, thank you, thank you." --Donna, U10 coach, Premium Member for one month when this was written
Dear Soccerhelp,
I am a rec coach who has been coaching youth soccer for 4 years, 3 of which I have used soccerhelp. This year I am coaching U10.
My love for the game is immense, but my knowledge in coaching was quite limited until I began using soccerhelp. Once I began using your Practice Games, coaching became much easier and the kids began having more fun! I also began to learn different dimmensions of the game I never realized existed.
As a result of what we applied from SoccerHelp, our teams have won a total of 86 games, lost 5, and tied 5 over the course of three years (I have coached 2 teams in that time).
Consequently, I am, hands down, the most requested coach in our rec league. My kids sign up year after year, and go on to do very well on other teams.
Thanks Soccerhelp. --DF
I have coached rec soccer for the past 4 years (GU12 and GU14). Using the techniques and information from Premium, we have won the division the last 2 years and come in second the other 2. --Chris, CA, U12 and U14, Premium Member
In November 2007, my 15 & Under Tournament team won the Alabama Rec League State Championship. I grew up in this town and there was no soccer. No one knew anything about it, let alone how to coach it. When my kids became interested and moved up in the age groups and coaches became scarce, I decided I loved it enough to try it. Then I turned to SoccerHelp.com for desperately needed help on managing players, practices, parents, skills, and strategies. Now I'm the coach of a State Championship team. I had some good players and some not so good, but determined players. They all had great fun in practice and it translated to great fun in games. I couldn't have done it without you! Thanks from the bottom of my heart for all you do with this site. You have made possible a lot of cherished memories for me and my family as we have grown together in this sport we have grown to love. --Sincerest regards,
Doug, U16, Premium Member since 2004
Last year we played at U14 and switched to the 3-2-3-2 formation as described in Premium. We went 17-0-2!!! --Coach Alan, U14, Premium Member since 2005
David,
Hi. I wanted to send you a quick email to let you know how much I appreciate you and what you are doing. You saved me countless hours of frustration and work. Seriously, I know that we would not have accomplished what we did in such a short amount of time without SoccerHelp. I committed to coaching my daughter's U10 soccer team last year. I have never played soccer, and, frankly, probably have only watched about 3 games my entire life. Anyway, obviously needing help, I searched for any resources that would bail me out. We had a decent team at the time, they had won 3, lost 3 and tied 2. I was hoping to just do that well under my watch. We were playing against teams coached by coaches that had previously coached travel teams, premier leagues and ODP teams!
After finding your site, I decided I would commit to doing EVERYTHING you said to do. So I practiced the way you said-- signed up for the premium access to the website, practices, patches and game lineups.
Long story short. My girls practiced Dribble Across A Square, I taught COACHING RULE #3, and, most importantly, we began using the patches for hustle, bravery and sacrifice. I HAVE NEVER SEEN A BIGGER MOTIVATIONAL RESOURCE THAN THE SOCCER PATCHES!
You wanna know what happened, right? Well, this was the first year that they were giving out trophies...actually, one trophy.. for first place only. Not only did we win our U10 division, we were undefeated! (7-0-1) The 'better coaches' were absolutely upset about losing to us...after all, they 'knew more', they were more experienced, there was no way they should lose to someone who had never even played! Now we have moved up to U11 and we have begun the season 2-0. I cannot thank you enough! You guys rock! --AB, U11, Premium Member
Last season we lost most of our games. Never having have been a fan of soccer I searched the internet and found your site. I joined Premium and purchased patches not knowing what to expect. At practice we did a lot of the games like dribble across the square and lots of others and found what worked and got the kids the most touches. I did everything Premium said and we went undefeated during the season and second in the tournament winning 4 games and losing the final game to a team that had not lost in 4 years, except to us during the regular season. Many thanks. --Coach Dave, U-10 Rec, VA, USA, Premium Member
I taught my players Coaching Rule No. 3 from Premium and the results were immediately phenomenal! I couldn't believe I had neglected this basic tactic - they immediately stole several balls in the game following our 1st practice where I had introduced the concept, and it completely changed the flow of the game during several long stretches. This resulted in our nearly tying what had been the best team in the league. While we lost 2 to 3, it was night and day compared to how they had played just a week or two before. --Coach Charlie, U10, Premium Member
Hi SoccerHelp,
Thank you so much for your wonderful website. We
coached a U-10 Boys Rec Team this year and the
advice and practice games that we learned from
your site enabled us to coach our boys to all the
way to League Champions!
What worked for us? We ran a 2-1-3-2 for the
whole year and defended deep. We finished the
regular season at 10-4 with most of our losses
coming in games where we were missing several
players. We found that we were fast break team,
and that almost every one of our scoring
opprotunities was created because the team stayed
in their positions. We constantly praised our
kids for playing position and took time to single
out midfielders who made passes that enabled our
forwards to score. We also discovered that after
posting a several goal lead, we could put our
least able players at forward, allowing us to keep
the ball away from our net with greater ease AND
giving those kids scoring chances.
Once the playoffs began, we never lost a game.
Thanks again for your great website. We plan on
using it again next year when we move up to U-12
and start playing 11 v 11.
--Dylan and Ray, U10, Premium Member
Hi SoccerHelp,
I am a first year coach and have developed my practice and game strategies around the information I have read on SoccerHelp. Our team went 8-1-1 and finished second. The girls on my U10 team had never played together before and they got better as the season progressed. They are having fun and learning the sport. The girls would complain that practice was over. You just don't achieve this by running laps and drills. I know, my 11 year old who I don't coach dreads going to her practices and complains that it just isn't fun. Practice Games work.
I purchased your patches and the kids loved them. At the end of the season, I gave each girl a duffle bag with her name on it so she could iron the patches to it. We decided to play indoor soccer this winter and just had our first game. The girls showed up with their bags and had the patches for all to see. My wife told me that during the game, parents kept asking if I were giving out patches for the indoor league. I had not planned on it but....I don't want to stop a good thing. So I am placing an order for more patches after sending this reply.
Keep up the good advice. There are those of us who really appreciate it.
--Coach Dave, USA, U10, Premium Member
"I coach a girls' middle school Rec and Ed - grades range from 5-9, mostly 6th graders - and I recently subscribed to SoccerHelp Premium. I have to admit, when I first read about the patches I thought they would be considered corny by my girls, but I'm open-minded enough to have given it a try.
Here's what happened in the outdoor league that we just finished in June: against the same competition that we'd previously gone a combined 3-10-1 against in the past two outdoor seasons, we finished a combined 9-2-2. Our two losses were to a team that averaged two years older per position and had previously beaten us 7-0 last fall. We lost 2-0 and 3-2. Our two ties were against our archrival that had beaten us 5-0 last fall.
Every game the girls showed up with the most recent patches they'd earned. Each had a unique pattern of how they ironed the patches on their shirts. It was beautiful.
I am now 100% sold on the idea of patches to motivate players. They have also helped me keep my team together as we move to private league next fall, when many other teams have seen their teams split apart at this age for the myriad leagues around town. Now everybody wants to play for the Pumas - I even had two girls from our archrivals want to jump over to our team!" --Coach Nick, Michigan, USA
"This site is the first place I found good information on how to teach positions and formations which I knew nothing about 1 year ago. We play 9 vs 9 including the goalie." --Coach Jim, U-10 Rec
Wow, I can't say enough good things about the approach to teaching soccer through games. I am a first time coach, I learned alot from this website. The kids all participate in practice and seem to enjoy it. We had some first timers on the team and after our first practice were saying "This was fun." On Saturday, we won our first game!!!! But more importantly than that, through using the patches, even the kids were telling each other the good things they were doing. The parents seem to really like the patch idea too. So, I just wanted to say thanks for the website and all the great information on it. I was using the free site, but soon after I signed up for the premium package. It has been a lifesaver for me. Thanks again and keep up the excellent work. --Coach Kris, Kansas
"The concepts that you teach on SoccerHelp Premium are easy for recreational players to understand and, perhaps more importantly, really do lend clarity to the key teaching points of the game. The field positioning concepts and 1 v. 1 win the ball games helped reinforce things that were extremely important to the team against solid competition. From my perspective, the best suggestion provided by SoccerHelp was moving to the 2-1-3-1 formation. We controlled the ball the great majority of the game in the last 5 games that we played and the girls truly enjoyed having the ball on their end of the pitch. We were also able to effectively hide one or two of our weaker players on the outside mids, while still controlling the middle of the field.The girls ended up winning three of their last four games and played to a dead even 0-0 match in the post-season tournament finals. They received trophies for finishing second in the tournament and everybody was extremely excited with how they played. Thank you so much!!" --Coach Blair, U-11, Premium Member and former college player
I started coaching in the spring this year and with the help of SoccerHelp we had a very good season. I coached a rec team (U-12 coed) and we went 8-2-0 finishing second in our division. We also scored the most goals (41) and our defense was third (20) in goals allowed. That was with 13 kids and 2 of them had never played before. Your web site, DVDs and patches are great. I have learned a lot and my kids enjoy the incentive patches. With all the practice games and touches on the ball my kids are having a blast. I receive good feedback from the parents telling me their child has played for 3 or 4 years and never had this much fun. --Coach Ed, MS, USA
Hi SoccerHelp,
We have used your patches and practice games with great success.
We have a 9 year old city rec team in south Florida. Its our first year playing together, except for 2 of our players.
Your patches have inspired them all to be much better players. The difference in everyone's play, since we started with the practice games and patches is amazing. I started the season’s first practice without SoccerHelp, and most of the kids were lethargic, unexcited, and bored. My wife found your site, and I realized that your training "principals" made lots of sense. (every kid has a ball in practice, no lines, several hundred touches on the ball in practice each, etc.) The patches arrived in time for the first game, and you would think I was passing out $100 bills after the game. All the kids are very proud of the patches they have earned, and can tell everyone how they earned each patch.
We are half way through our season and have won all games except for the second game. Our greatest success was winning against a team (and coach) that has been undefeated for 3 seasons. Most of the league players all go to the same school, and the players on the other team had bragged (understandably) about their record at school, and my players were nervous about the game. We had a practice 2 days before the "big game", as always, we did your practice games - cone relay race, square dribble, and throw in practice, along with an offense against defense game. On Saturday morning, Before the game we warmed up, and did your 2 practice games again. It was the best kids soccer game I have ever seen, both teams played as hard and aggressive as I've ever seen 9 year olds play, it was very exciting. We won the game 1-0. I was so proud of them, everyone received several patches, as every player was a star.
SoccerHelp has definitely made me a better coach, and shown me how to motivate and create better players. --Coach Michael
I know there is know way my team would have been this prepared without your website. --Aaron
I realized that I never did give an update on how our team finished up for the Fall season. You might recall that I have 12 boys on my U9 roster, where we're playing a 2-1-2 formation. I have 4 very strong players, 4 OK players, and 4 VERY weak players. After losing our first 3 games, we won 4 out of the last 5 to finish at 4-4 for the season. In our first 3 games, we were outscored 17-4. In our last five games, we outscored our opponents 30-14 (giving up 8 in our loss and 2,2,1,1 in our wins.) Our loss was incredibly frustrating as the opposing team had only 8 players, but played their best 4 the entire match. The other 4 players rotated through the other 2 positions the entire time.
Our improvement, I think, was due to 2 factors. First, our schedule worked out where we played the best teams early in the season. Second, our team came together incredibly during the season. Out of our team of 12, we inherited 4 players from a team that folded which hadn't won a game in 2 years and had 3 players that never played organized soccer before. We played Dribble Across the Square and Dribble Around the Cone and Pass at every practice, and the results were phenomenal. We've learned 'marking up', Coaching Rule #3 and short corners. [Our best player even scored on a 'long' corner, "bending it" into the goal.] As the season went on, our parents couldn't stop talking about the improvement of many players individually and our play as a team.
SoccerHelp Premium has been a terrific resource for me, and I couldn't be happier with the advice and ideas I've received from the Forum and the site as a whole! --Coach Greg, Premium Member, AR, USA
"I owe the improvement in each individual's team players foot skills, teamwork, and aggressive play to the games we learned on SoccerHelp Premium. Thanks again to all of you who have written to the Forum with encouragement and tips. We are the newest, least skilled, least experienced team, but we are making great strides every week, and we owe a big part of it to the SoccerHelp community." --Coach Larry, Premium Member
"We only had 1 win and 4 narrow losses until I subscribed to Premium, used the Practice Games and put into place your tactics for playing a Stopper, marking on throw-ins, goal kicks, punts and free kicks (Coaching Rule No. 3) and using patches as incentives to motivate players. The team we played today would have normally beaten us, but we beat them 3-0 !! The number of assists and striking in the goal box was amazing. The parents were screaming their heads off - they couldn't believe the change in our team. All the kids came off the field heads held high and smiling. SoccerHelp - I am raising a glass to you guys this evening - I think the team is starting out on a great path. You've made the difference today mate! All the best and have a great weekend. The start of ours has been awesome." --Coach Chris, New Zealand
Hi SoccerHelp,
Thanks!!! I want you to know that I really appreciate your site and will remain a Premium member as long as I am fortunate enough to coach. The patches are the absolute best motivational tool I have found in seven years of coaching three daughters. I currently coach a U12 Girls team in the toughest division of our league. The Premium tips and games are great. We were losing almost all of our goal kicks this year until I taught the girls the Spread the Field Goal Kick play I found in Premium that spreads the field and has the sweeper follow the ball out. I think we might have lost one goal kick in our last three games of the season. Excellent play. I also started using the Short Corner Set Play with two players in the corner where one passes the ball between the other's legs. I can only attribute one goal to it but we had sooooo many opportunities that were opened up by that play. Our season has come to an end but I will be on your site plotting and planning for the next 7 or 8 months. I might have to try out your indoor section just to get my fix between now and the next outdoor season.
Thanks again for all that you do. --Coach Chad, CA, USA
I have been coaching rec U12 Girls for 2 years now playing 11V11. My first year was definitely a learning year for me and my team ended up winning about half it's games. This past season, however we tied our first game and went on to win every remaining game for the year to take the championship - truly unbelievable. I just wanted to say that I owe my success mostly to you for all the information I gained from your site. Thank you! I was awarded by being given one of our all star teams. --Coach John, Florida, USA
Congrats to you and Kay on the website. While I am not surprised that you are #1 due to the caliber and quality of your site. I have to admit, being number one out of 3 million sites is a stunning statistic, absolutely stunning. I hope I am responsible for a few hundred of them as I am not kidding you when I say I refer folks over there all the time. The new coaches I am constantly recruiting are soooo appreciative once they get to see your site! You are providing a great service to the Soccer Community, so keep up the great work!” --Coach Tony, Georgia, U.S.A.
The improvement in both of my daughters from last year to this year is amazing. --Coach Troy, Premium Member
SoccerHelp has been incredibly helpful. I played soccer for 14 years, but coaching kids is different. SoccerHelp has enabled me to be very structured and to work with kids, some of whom had little or no experience. I was late signing on as a coach in the Spring and drafted the last team with very little experience. We didn't win one game. This Fall we moved up to U-14 from U-10 (they combined U-12 and U-14 due to size). We lost our first 2 games and have won our last 3 games by a combined 14-6. The SoccerHelp system works and gives you the information and resources you need. Thanks. --Coach Chad, USA
Thanks for your website and for all the great ideas. Until this season my girl's team (U10, with most of them playing together since first grade), had not one a single game. This season I started using soccerhelp.com rather than the drills that we had learned from the coaching seminars. We came in second in our division with a record of 6-2-2 and allowed the fewest goals in our division (Division 4). The girls had even more fun at practices and of course it was more fun to win games.
Every practice and game started with "Dribble Across a Square" which is a great warm-up both physically and mentally. Practicing shoulder tackles was also done every practice and before games (more of a mental thing).
So - thanks to SoccerHelp for a HUGE improvement in the girl's playing ability and teamwork. I can't wait for next year to learn and improve more, and will also begin to use the soccer patches. --Coach Phil, Washington State, USA
A Testimonial from a U-4 Coach (this letter was posted on the SoccerHelp Forum):
You have no idea how much my 3.5-4 year old all 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 a 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!!!! --SoccerHelp Forum User
I'm 41 and have played and coached soccer for many years. I didn’t think you could teach me anything new, but boy was I wrong!!! I’ve used your free Practice Games in my last 2 practices and the results were truly phenomenal. I can't wait to use the Premium games. --Coach Jon, USA
Our team has now scored 8 goals in the last two games while our opponents have yet to score. We have been doing the Premium practice games and, you know, they really work. Our defense which was questionable a few weeks ago is now rock solid. We are also using your idea for patches that the boys can iron on their uniforms for attendance, hustle, bravery etc...They love it. --Coach Will, USA
The kids can't get enough of the SoccerHelp method and your Practice Games. Neither can I. It is a lot more fun playing and coaching when the team wins. The kids do not want to come off the field when I sub them. --Coach Don, CA
I NEVER played soccer before. My daughters team needed a coach and no one stepped forward. The team was going to be canceled - that is how it started for me.
I now coach two teams each season and learned how to coach all on www.SoccerHelp.com. PLAY THE GAMES and read the helps. You will be amazed. I use the patches, too. I love the current suggestions found on the website, but previously I had used them only for assists.
The results were amazing. I had 8 kids on the team and we played 4v4. By the third game in the season, we had 100% of the kids scoring a goal in just about every game because our more skilled players WANTED a patch, so they set up the less aggressive players. Once those less aggressive players got the taste of scoring and having the crowd cheer for them, well, I will just say it was exciting!
My parents loved our league games because all their kids scored (we were VERY liberal on determining who had assists so that all the kids had multiple patches before the end of the season). To see 3 year olds passing and assisting astounded me, too - I never would have thought it possible.
This is compared to our competitors who had one or two skilled kids score all their goals. Even at that, with the SoccerHelp system, we generally outscored the other teams 3 or 4 goals to every one they made. We often scored 18 or more goals in a game. Several of the other teams had kids cry or walk off the field because they were too tired, or some would simply play with the grass. NOT the SoccerHelp kids. We had a blast! --SoccerHelp Coach, USA
I've only been a "Premium" subscriber for 1 hour but this is awesome. So many books and videos contain too much inferior drills that it's a waste of time trying to find the good drill or game. Your site is jam-packed with perfect soccer games/drills. My head is swimming with all the potential improvement that my team can make after practicing your games for awhile. Is it too goofy to suggest that I have already gotten my money's worth in 1 hour? Our first game is next Saturday - I plan on updating you with the results which I feel will be mostly attributable to your website. Thanks!! --Coach Richard, U.S.A.
"After implementing some of the offensive formations that I learned from the premium site, my team has not been beaten. This is after losing our first four games by wide margins." --Coach Scott, TN, U.S.A.
I found your site about a year ago, became a subscriber, and love it. I have read so many books and searched websites but I never felt comfortable with how things were explained. Your site explains things very clearly and I am able to easily transfer what I have learned to the practices and games. My U-9 team went undefeated last year and I then coached the All-Stars to a 2nd place finish. --Coach Brian, U.S.A.
Since taking up coaching again with my daughters U-14 team I have been using your website extensively to help me with practices, it has been great! First two games of the season we let in 9 goals. As we applied your defensive suggestions we have reduced the damage to 3 goals in 3 games. --Coach Richard, U.S.A
David, I'm a coach in a Catholic parish in St. Louis (4th grade girls). I've been recommending SoccerHelp wherever I can. We went from 3rd place division C last year to 2nd place division B this year. We didn't give up a goal for 7 straight games, all with rec players. --Coach Rich, St. Louis, USA
I really enjoy your newsletter and website. Your idea about using a strong player at the front defender position helped to win a 6v6 tournament for us. I would never have thought about doing that if it was not for your website. -- Coach Sean
To all at Soccerhelp,
I should be thanking you. Before I joined SoccerHelp Premium today, for the past 2 soccer seasons I have bought and used your patches and have been using the 10 free Practice Games you offer on your site. I have stayed within your guide lines of being a good coach by making sure my kids have fun during practice and at the games. The patches have become a very important part of my team because it has led to perfect attendance both at practices and games and that leads to good team spirit. My girls are 7 and 1 this season. I have had other veteran coaches come up to me saying how spirited and well my team plays as a team. Parents have already made sure that I am their child's coach next season. For a guy who 2 years ago knew nothing about soccer it's a great feeling. Again, I thank you.
--Coach Jim
"Your website has been a tremendous help to me. I have found that performing practices using your Practice Game has been much more enjoyable for the kids and me." --Coach Bradley, Pennsylvania, U.S.A.
"Just wanted to let you know that I am still finding SoccerHelp to be an outstanding coaching resource. I have been using it since U7, and have found it particularly valuable now that I am coaching Girls U9 Rec.
This is the first year the girls have been playing soccer using something approaching the "complete" game, as in our Association U6 - U8 use a continuous-play micro game (3v3) with no restarts (corners, throw-ins, goal kicks, etc.) and no assigned positions. The girls had a lot to learn, and the SoccerHelp activities and coaching resources make it much easier to teach them the fundamentals quickly. As a result, my team is 4-0 and has dominated play, outscoring their opponents 30-5." --Coach Bryan, California
"Each game I see our practices (Practice Games from SoccerHelp.com) pay off. The girls really enjoyed this year and SoccerHelp was the base that we built off. Each game parents tell me that they thought the talent on our team was very weak at the beginning of the year, but each week they become more impressed with what this team does. We have beaten a team with multiple travel players and gave another team the game of their lives even though they play with the same girls each year. Some of our wins have been 9-0, 10-3, 7-1, etc. Anyway, thanks for being there, I will be coaching 2 to 3 teams next year because it was so much fun."
--Coach Brian, NY, U.S.A.
"I have learned more in the two weeks since subscribing to Premium than
I learned in seven years of coaching. I searched the web long and tediously
before signing up." --Coach Rion, USA
"I am a 2nd year premium subscriber. Excellent info and worth every penny." --Coach Tony, Florida USA
I love your SoccerHelp site; have been a Premium subscriber for
several years and it has helped me a lot. I have a U-12 Rec team with very average
talent and skill (we're working on it) and have finished 2nd, 2nd, first,
2nd in our age group /division the last 4 seasons. --Coach Joe, USA
"I've played soccer competitively for about 20 years at various levels, but I just started coaching last year. It had been a good decade since I had played outdoor, so I scoured the Internet for information to make sure I was up to date. Everything I found was way too fundamental or just simply out of touch. When I came across SoccerHelp I felt like I hit the lottery. I have learned so many valuable things." --Coach Dan, CA, USA
"Hello again, I know you are getting tired of hearing from me, but we had another successful weekend playing your system of 2-1-2-2! Two of our better offensive players were out of town, and our other players stepped up. We won 6-1, and two of our players scored their first goals ever! This had been an exciting season, thanks to your formations, practice games and patches. The girls really are working hard. Thanks again." --Coach Dave, U.S.A.
"I had never played soccer, but SoccerHelp Premium has given me the confidence to teach the game of soccer to my team and make them winners. In the fall we are moving up to the Competitive League." --Coach Hal, U.S.A.
"I have been coaching for 3 years as a recreational coach. Your web site has been extremely helpful in the past years. The first year coaching a rec team we lost all games except 1 tie.(This was before I found your web site!) The second year coaching a rec team they won half their games and the last season's U-10 rec team lost only 1 game out of 11 and won the league and tournament. We ran a 3-2-3-2 (as you suggested on the web-site) and the girls dominated most of the games. The only game they lost they just could not get their foot on the ball. Thanks a bunch for the advice over the last 3 seasons. I have moved to coaching a competitive team this year." --Coach Allen
I'm a newly recruited U10 coach and just went through the "F" license class which they taught most of the same style that I’ve seen on your site. The little bit I have used has made a Huge Difference in not only the way our guys play but they're even having fun and not just because they're winning. --Coach Jeff, New Jersey, U.S.A.
"This is my first year coaching after I was persuaded into coaching my daughters U-10 team. I knew very little about the sport of soccer let alone coaching it. Luckily, I found SoccerHelp.com as we are 5-0 halfway through the season. We have scored 21 goals and have only given up 5. It was very helpful to learn you do not have to rotate player to every position in Rec soccer." --Coach Mike, Arizona, U.S.A.
Our first practice was last Thursday. It went great! The kids loved the practice games and never lost interest in what they were doing. Also, several parents mentioned how impressed they were with our coaching abilities (my husband and I are coaching the team together). Thank you for making us look so good! --Coach Elizabeth, Texas, U.S.A.
"It is great to be able to quickly choose a few of your age appropriate games, print out descriptions, then drive home to go to practice. Thanks for your help during the season and keep up the good work on the website. It's a great resource." --Coach Joe, U.S.A
My U-11 girls finished in first place in the "A" division. Our record was 8-1-1. The formation you recommended helped us score more goals. WOW!! What a change. Thanks for introducing this system to me and my players. --Coach Lisa, U-11 Girls, Texas, USA
The head of my soccer league said this to me: "I hope you will stay with coaching, because I believe you are the best candidate we have for our coaching future with the girls.” Unbelievable! The girls and SoccerHelp are making me look good! --Coach Joe, U.S.A.
"Thanks for all of your advice. I’ve learned more about coaching than in 8 years before as coach or assistant coach." --Coach Kirk, U.S.A.
"Just wanted to let you know I subscribed to Premium. What a
difference practice was yesterday. For the first time I felt like I
knew what I was talking about. I coach a junior high girl's team in New Jersey. I am very excited about teaching & coaching this year. Thank you."
--Coach Bob, NJ, U.S.A.
"Thanks so much! We love your site and it has been an invaluable tool for the Pink Panthers. I can honestly say that using the drills and resources we have found on your site has made a great impact; we have found that 99% of the time our girls are better prepared for situations that occur in the games and are slightly more advanced at basic fundamentals than other teams we play. Much of my girls play is a testament to your site because 80% of the drills and techniques we work on are from your site!" --Coach Jim, Texas, U.S.A.
"I have been a soccer coach for over 10 years. I signed up for your program and love your site. It is very informative and it saves me time, but best of all it is working for the kids. My U12 girls will be better players at the end of the season because of the program. Thanks for all your work." --Coach Joe, U.S.A.
I can't say enough about the tried and true results of using these patches! My team lost all 8 games last season, and moral was low. Nothing I tried seemed to make a difference. I try to make soccer a very fun experience for the kids, not bad, by yelling at them. When I came across these patches, I figured I would give it a shot. What could it hurt? Well, I will tell you that this very same team that lost ALL 8 games in the fall, won 7 out of 8 games this spring!!! The kids wanted those patches!!! We placed 2nd, and got the silver medal! Thank you Soccer Help for helping me, help my team!!! These little patches gave them so much more to work toward, and have something to show, for their progression, and accomplishments!
I can't say thank you enough!!!
Thanks!! --Coach Gayla, Missouri
The Dragons
Love your website...lots of good info. To be more specific...I feel that it equips recreational soccer coaches with a very sound base at which to teach the game. I felt that the training I received prior to my first year coaching was rather inadequate and boring. What I liked about your system is that elevated my knowledge very quickly and gave me the confidence and tools that I could pass on to the girls in a very fun way.
I've been assisting my daughter's U10 Spring Select and when I've had a chance to use some of the practice games from premium I've noticed that the girls quickly learn and refine the skills practiced.
I liken this "practice games" style to the movie "The Karate Kid". In other words, the girls learn the soccer skills by doing the practice games...yet they don't realize how those games are actually building up their skills (Much like how Daniel learned to fight by painting the fence, waxing the car, and sanding the floor). I've seen those skills come out during games over the past few weeks. THAT'S EXCITING! --Coach Bruce, Ca
"I am the head coach of a U-10 girls Rec soccer team and have been for a good 3 years. I learned the game from SoccerHelp. We have progressed from a team that lost almost all of the games we played to winning the championship last outdoor season." --Coach Hal, Texas, U.S.A.
"Hello SoccerHelp, I'm a coach in England for an under seven team. I use your site more than any other. You're the best site there is, all your drills work and the kids want to play even after the training has finished. The soccer patches are brilliant; they are a brilliant idea and award." --Coach Dave, England
"In my first season ever as coach, we have gone 7-1-1 thanks to "SoccerHelp" and have beaten the toughest team in our division twice despite their coach having coached most of his girls for 5 years." --Coach Michael, Arizona, U.S.A.
"It really is a quality site, I learned a lot from it. I signed up last summer; "my" 7-8 year old team went 8-0 fall season, 8-0 spring season. Thanks for the work you guys do in putting the site together." --Coach Peter, U.S.A.
"Great Site! I've played soccer for 18 years through all the development, Junior Olympic, even tried out for the pros (in Canada way back when) so the technique and tactics are nothing new, but the drills for coaching kids (coaching 10 and 11 year olds) is very thorough. I have coached kids before, but lost their interest running more advanced drills, and look forward to implementing some of these "games" at practice to keep their interest, and still teach the skills, and let them have fun." --Coach James, U.S.A.
"Great site, I've been playing for 30 years, but that doesn't make me a good coach, this site is very helpful in seeing things through the eyes of a 9 year old girl! Got to keep things fun! Thanks" --Coach Tony, ILL., U.S.A.
"I just wanted to give you an update on our progress since your reply. Our play has improved a lot. The kids really look forward to practices with all the games I’ve introduced: on our team of 9, we never have less than 7 show up, and usually have all 9, pretty good for a non-competitive league where they don't keep scores or standings! Thanks for your help." --Coach Don, Canada
"I would like to just write in and say thank you for your valuable information. I am a coach for girls U10 Rec soccer league and we are 4-1-1 with 2 games left. Each game I see our practices (drills from Soccerhelp.com) pay off. The girls really enjoyed this year and SoccerHelp was the base that we built off." --Coach Brian, U.S.A.
"I am a U-10 boy’s soccer coach. I think your site is great. I feel that too many mom’s and dad’s volunteer for Rec soccer program coaching positions without learning how to coach young children in Rec programs. Your site filled this void for me. Thank you for making the tools available to help me to be good 'teaching' coach." --Coach Dave, California, U.S.A.
"THANK YOU!!! For saving us coaches hundreds of hours of time wading through the multitude of resources available. God bless you." --Coach Karen, Georgia, U. S. A.
"I saw one of your articles in the WSYSA Play on publication and got really excited about your resource. I can’t agree with you more on your philosophy and I am just visiting your site for the first time." --Coach Jeannie, U.S.A.
"Your ideas and practice games are fun and they really work. I am looking forward to again using your ideas and suggestions this fall." --Coach Dave, U.S.A.
"You are a real credit to the sport of soccer. Thanks for being so devoted to helping other coaches." --Coach Bruce, U.S.A.
Hello again, I know you are getting tired of hearing from me, but we had another successful weekend playing your system of 2-1-2-2! Two of our better offensive players were out of town, and our other players stepped up. We won 6-1, and two of our players scored their first goals ever! This had been an exciting season, thanks to your formations, practice games and patches. The girls really are working hard. Thanks again. --Coach Dave,U.S.A.
"I’m so grateful to a fellow coach who turned me on to your site. I already used your six free drills/games for my first pre-school practice last week and my practice time was terrific. As a new coach, your site will be invaluable. I feel like I’ve just scratched the surface on soccer instruction. I can’t wait to dig deeper!" --Coach Kevin, U.S.A.
"I found your site about a year ago, became a subscriber, and love it. I have read so many books and searched websites but I never felt comfortable with how things were explained. Your site explains things very clearly and I am able to easily transfer what I have learned to the practices and games. My U-9 team went undefeated last year and I then coached the All-Stars to a 2nd place finish." --Coach Brian, U.S.A.
Since taking up coaching again with my daughters U-14 team I have been using your website extensively to help me with practices, it has been great! First two games of the season we let in 9 goals. As we applied your defensive suggestions we have reduced the damage to 3 goals in 3 games. --Coach Richard, U.S.A.
Great website. Thanks very much. I was looking for some practice drills, several sites visited before yours were duplicative and uninformative on this topic. --Coach Karen, U.S.A.
I absolutely love this website and my team is coming along great with all of your advice and tips. Thank you, thank you, thank you. --Coach Nancy, U.S.A.
I think your site is AWESOME! I am a U-10 Advanced girls coach playing 7v7. Many of my girls have poor technical skills. I have never played soccer, but have been coaching U-6 and U-8 for 2 years. Thanks for offering coaches like me such a wonderful place to find information. --Coach Alison, U.S.A.
I used the "Dribble Across A Square Practice Game" last season in exactly the way you suggest, and you are correct, we did see results very quickly. In my opinion, the "Dribble Across" game alone is worth the Premium membership. --Coach Bryan, U.S.A.
I'm a newly recruited U10 coach and just went through the "F" license class which they taught most of the same style that I’ve seen on your site. The little bit I have used has made a Huge Difference in not only the way our guys play but they’re even having fun and not just because they’re winning. --Coach Jeff, New Jersey, U.S.A.
"This is my first year coaching after I was persuaded into coaching my daughters U-10 team. I knew very little about the sport of soccer let alone coaching it. Luckily, I found SoccerHelp.com as we are 5-0 halfway through the season. We have scored 21 goals and have only given up 5. It was very helpful to learn you do not have to rotate player to every position in Rec soccer." --Coach Mike, Arizona, U.S.A.
"Your website has been a tremendous help to me. I have found that performing practices using your game scenarios mixed in with drills has been much more enjoyable for the kids and me." --Coach Bradley, Pennsylvania, U.S.A.
"I used the 3-2-2-3 formation for my U-14 Rec girls' team with some success in a late spring season tournament in North Texas. The "hole" in the middle of our shape disappeared. I'm planning to continue that formation this fall." --Coach Garry, Texas, U.S.A.
This website is absolutely crammed with information that will help any coach at any level. This is a lot of information about evaluation of your team, positional play, improving scoring and fun instructive games. A lot of the website is free but Kay Huddleston offers a premier level that is subscription. I have already got my moneys worth and have only scratched the surface. I highly recommend this website. --Rogue Valley Soccer Club Newsletter, September 2002
Great website! I’ve picked up several tips and have used them at our practices. I’m using your suggestions and trying to be more efficient. --Coach Kent, Hawaii, U.S.A.
I would like to just write in and say thank you for your valuable information. Each game I see our practices (drills from SoccerHelp.com) pay off. The girls really enjoyed this year and SoccerHelp was the base that we built off. Each game parents tell me that they thought the talent on our team was very weak at the beginning of the year, but each week they become more impressed with what this team does. We have beaten a team with multiple travel players and gave another team the game of their lives even though they play with the same girls each year. Some of our wins have been 9-0, 10-3, 7-1, etc. Anyway, thanks for being there, I will be coaching 2 to 3 teams next year because it was so much fun. --Coach Brian, NY, U.S.A.
My son is 4 and will be playing soccer this fall in our small town and I have volunteered as a coach. I have never coached before and while I am pursuing a degree in physical education I still had the feeling of, "what have I gotten myself into?" I know nothing about the sport and yours was the first site I came across and the only one I need. I appreciate your taking time to offer all of the information on this site and will refer to it often, I'm sure. I am so looking forward to working with these kids (all 4, 5 and 6 year olds) and I know it will be an amazing experience. I just wanted to commend you on such a great website. Thank you so much for making my first coaching experience easier! --Coach Kandace, Florida, U.S.A.
"I subscribed to your one year premium service about two weeks ago and find it fantastic." --Coach Keith, Missouri, U.S.A.
"I think you are dead on with some of your observations about the typical games like 5 v 2 in a square. They do teach passing, but only passing to feet. Last season, after having taken the F License course in Massachusetts, I believed that the games I learned were good, but were not always game applicable. Many of your games really are." --Coach Gary, MA, U.S.A.
You have a wonderful website. --Coach Andy, U.S.A.
Kudos on a great and very helpful website, by the way! As a novice coach, it's helped tremendously (perhaps me more than the boys), but we had a great fall and winter indoor season, and looking forward to spring soccer. --Coach Dick, U.S.A.
I really like your site. In preparing for the season I reviewed stacks of old material printed from the web. Your info is more approachable, logical and strategic. --Coach Ken, Canada
Thank you very much for your website. I have a child at primary school and he has to play a winter sport for interschool competition and has the choice of Australian Rules football or Soccer. At practice, no one has told him the rules, positions or play and everyone he asks, give him a different answer. So we decided to look on the internet, found you site by accident and was able to get the information needed. --Joanne, Parent of Soccer player
It is great to be able to quickly choose a few of your age appropriate games, print out descriptions, then drive home to go to practice. Thanks for your help during the season and keep up the good work on the website. It's a great resource. --Coach Joe, U.S.A.
I think your website is fantastic! With the help of SoccerHelp.com we won the girls U-8 Soccer championship. --Coach Hal, Texas, U.S.A.
I have been a subscriber to SoccerHelp for about a month, and I have thoroughly enjoyed the site. The information is very thorough and has already paid for itself with the section on 'practice plans' alone. --Coach Jim, Illinois, U.S.A.
Thanks for putting up the website. It has saved me a boat load of time. --Troy
I have a eight year old daughter who has been playing soccer for three years now. Because of her I always try and help coach. This year another father and fellow soldier has volunteered to coach his son and our team. He has no soccer experience, as I was looking for information on the internet to help us out. I found your website and just wanted to thank you for taking the time to make this outstanding web page. It has been a great help, every question we have had we have been able to find an answer on your page. Thank you very much for your help. --Soccer Coach and U.S. Army Sergeant David, U.S.A.
Thanks for the great website. This is our first year coaching our 4 year old daughter's soccer team. The certificates were so easy to do. I really appreciate it! I have book marked your site and plan to use it lots more in the future.
--Coach Holly
Welcome to SoccerHelp.com
MORE PRAISE FOR SOCCERHELP PREMIUM
- U-9 Team Goes From 0-4 to 4-0-1 (California, USA)
Hi Soccerhelp,
Wow! Who would have believed this stuff would work this well. I am coaching under 9 boys. I was using a teaching method I learned at an F clinic I took to be a coach. I learned nothing about teaching formations or positions, let alone any actual plays. They had the kids doing figure 8's around cones. The kids hated it and it was hard to teach. The kids weren't learning.
We had gone 5 games without a win (0-4-1) when I started using SoccerHelp Premium in mid-season. The next game we tied. Since then we have won 4 straight games, outscoring the opponents 17-2. The kids can't get enough of it. Neither can I. It is a lot more fun playing and coaching when the team wins. The kids do not want to come off the field when I sub them.
Next game we are trying "Short Corners" for the first time. This should be fun.
Thanks, Don
CA
- Letter From Junior High Coach (New Jersey, USA)
Dear SoccerHelp,
Just wanted to let you know I subscribed to Premium. What a difference practice was yesterday. For the first time I felt like I knew what I was talking about. I coach a junior high girls team in New Jersey. I am very excited about teaching & coaching this year.
Thank you,
Bob
- Letter From U-9 Coach (USA)
Dear SoccerHelp,
Your pearls of wisdom have been invaluable. Our team has now scored 8 goals in the last two games while our opponents have yet to score. We have been doing the Premium practice games and, you know, they really work. Our defense which was questionable a few weeks ago is now rock solid. We will continue to stick with the discipline. We still bunch up too much on the offense. I keep telling them to stay a pass away but it is just too exciting to chase the ball. Do you have any other drills to specifically address the crowding issues?
Also we are using your idea for gold stars that the boys can iron on their uniforms for hustle , bravery etc...They love it. We have been awarding them after each game to one or two of the boys. Another great idea.
Again thanks for all your help.
Will, U-9 boys Rec coach
- Letter From "Soccer Mom turned Soccer Coach" (South Carolina, USA)
Dear SoccerHelp,
I have alternated between soccer Mom and soccer coach for 4 years now. I had quite settled into the Soccer Mom role for the past two seasons, when I was called upon last week to coach my son's team. I was frantic because this is U8, and most of these kids have been playing 4 years, and are pretty darn good! I have only practiced twice with them. Our first game was yesterday (I was told we lost by two goals, but I was so excited, I was not paying attention to the score!) During our practice, I had some fathers helping out by drilling the kids- I don't like line drills, but only knew of a few things to do from a previous coach…then I found your website! Fantastic! I am instructing my new parents to review it to learn the game, and the old parents to review for tips to help their player at home. This is the absolute best soccer site I have seen- very detailed and accurate. I must say it obvious you have a sincere love for the sport, thank you for sharing!
Lori A.
Soccer Mom turned Soccer Coach
- Letter From U-8 Coach (USA)
We had a great game today thanks to your help. The parents couldn't believe how well our boys played even though we lost to the best team in the league. Your site truly is invaluable. You really have done a great job putting all of the information together. Your suggestions about teaching defense are great. Many of my players are actually getting it.
- Letter From Coach Jon
I am coaching my son's team and did not know that much about soccer or coaching it. Your site has been a great resource. I have done a lot of looking on line. Your site is the best I have found and I like what you have to say. I wish the coach's thought like you when I was a kid, I may have played more sports.
- Letter From Coach David (Italy)
My name is David, I am a Staff Sergeant in the U.S. Army stationed in Italy. I have an eight year old daughter who has been playing soccer for three years now. Because of her I always try and help coach. For the last two years I have been an assistant coach. This year another father and fellow soldier has volunteered to coach his son and our team. He has no soccer experience, as I was looking for information on the internet to help us out I found your web site and just wanted to thank you for taking the time to make this outstanding web page. It has been a great help, every question we have had we have been able to find an answer on your page. Thank you very much for your help.
--MORE PRAISE FOR SOCCERHELP
Soccer Coach Comments
Soccer Coach Comments
(Become a better soccer coach. How to coach soccer, soccer coaching, coaching soccer and coaching youth soccer)
We can help you become a better soccer coach. Our emphasis is coaching youth soccer, but coaches of adult soccer teams will also benefit. Many soccer coaches have had remarkable coaching results using the soccer practice games, formations, styles of play, tactics and soccer tips recommended in SoccerHelp and SoccerHelp Premium. Following are excerpts from some of the e-mails we have received from soccer coaches. As you can see, SoccerHelp Premium really works, is easy to teach and can achieve quick results:
- "What a huge difference. We have outscored opponents 18-3."
Coach Chuck, U-10 Girls, California, USA
- "I'm a first year coach. After 4 weeks of using your drills and advice, the boys won their first game 12-0. Their biggest win last season was 4-2."
Coach Daniel, U-11 Boys, Sydney, Australia
- "Wow! Who would have believed this stuff would work this well. We had gone 5 games without a win (0-4-1) when I started using SoccerHelp Premium in mid-season. The next game we tied. Since then we have won 4 straight games, outscoring the opponents 17-2. The kids can't get enough of it. Neither can I. It is a lot more fun playing and coaching when the team wins. The kids do not want to come off the field when I sub them."
Coach Don, U-9 Boys, California, USA
- "Thank you for your invaluable help this season. I have coached girls rec soccer for three years now. Up until midseason this year I was doing some things right and a lot of things wrong. Then I ran across your site. I applied your program. The transformation of my team was incredible. My daughter has blossomed into an exceptional player and now wants to be the next Mia Hamm. Using your techniques in one on one practices, her skills and understanding of the game allowed her to become a dominating force on the field. I can't wait until next year when my daughter moves up to U-10. I will get to start the season with your program."
Coach Dave, U-8 Girls, Florida, USA
- "After going to the system you recommended and adopting your Practice Games philosophy, my team finished this season in second place with a 6-2-2 record. We scored 24 goals and let 14 goals in. I believe the system you recommended made the greatest difference. This system is not only effective, it is very easy for the players to grasp. Throughout the entire season my practice participation was an average of 60% attendance. This is further testimony of how easy it is to grasp this system. I had two players who couldn't make a single practice but learned the system on the fly and played it well. I want to thank you again for all your help this season. I'm looking forward to next season." (Scott had only won 3 of the past 30 games).
Coach Scott, U-13 Boys, Texas, USA
- "Your pearls of wisdom have been invaluable. Our team has now scored 8 goals in the last two games while our opponents have yet to score. We have been doing the Premium practice games and, you know, they really work."
Coach Will, U-9 Boys, USA
- "I had so many parents tell me how much their child enjoyed soccer this year. Even first year players were scoring, playing like third and fourth year players and having a great time. Your hints, strategy, practice games and web site are fantastic. I'm moving on to division 5 next season. I noticed a big improvement in dribbling. It was amazing. The team scored a lot of goals, we usually had 6-7 a game. Your site has not only helped the kids, but it has helped me gain greater confidence as a coach."
Coach Suellen, U-8 Coed, Pennsylvania, USA
- "My U-11 girls finished in first place in the "A" division. Our record was 8-1-1. The formation you recommended helped us score more goals. WOW!! What a change." In an earlier letter she said: "Thanks for introducing this system to me and my players."
Coach Lisa, U-11 Girls, Texas, USA
- "Just wanted to let you know that the practice games, advise, etc. really work. In the last 5 games, we have won 4. Thanks for all your help."
Coach Tara, U-9 Girls, New Jersey, USA
- "After starting our season 0-4, we continued to work on those things in practice and it finally began to click as we went 4-1-1 and won our season ending tournament while outscoring our opponents 17-5 during that stretch. As a first year coach, I am grateful for your help. My daughter progressed so well that she has made a U-11 traveling team for the fall at age 9."
Coach Bryant, U-10 Girls, Pennsylvania, USA
- "I have to say that using the attacking style and formation you recommended were extremely effective with my U-14 team. The girls scored many goals, and they really enjoyed playing. They were confident they could score on any team if they hustled (and they did). I should note that our practice attendance was very low (< 50%), particularly late in the season. It only took about 3 practices to teach them this style of play, however, and they hit the ground running as soon as we started playing games. Also, your advise about not pushing up the fullbacks worked very well. I'm convinced now that, at the recreational level, pushing up your defense is very overrated. We had very few goals scored against us when our fullbacks "stayed home". The idea of using Premium practice games during practice, rather than drills, also worked very well, particularly with my U-10 girls. I had a lot more fun coaching this year, and I'm sure the girls had a lot more fun playing."
Coach Jack, U-10 and U-14 Girls, Nevada, USA
- "Through the use of many of the Practice Games on your Premium site my U-10 Boys team improved immensely and had a successful Fall season. We had only one win in our first tournament against three lopsided losses. Since then we have gone 10 and 2 with a second place finish in the State Recreation League Tournament and a 2 and 1 record in the state-wide club level tournament. This is a new team and we will try to continue to improve on our accomplishments this Spring and next Fall. 10 of the boys will be eligible to play U-10 again next year. As the boys have learned positioning and become more accustomed with the level of play we have moved to a 2-3-2. So far so good. Thanks for your help."
Coach Randy, U-10 Boys Tournament Team, USA
Subscriptions to SoccerHelp Premium support the continued improvement of SoccerHelp. Premium is "The Next Step" and contains over 300 pages of additional material that is not on SoccerHelp Basic.
CLICK HERE FOR PREMIUM PRICING & SUBSCRIPTION OPTIONS
CLICK HERE TO READ MORE TESTIMONIALS
--Soccer Coach Comments
TESTIMONIALS AND SUCCESS STORIES
For SoccerHelp and SoccerHelp Premium
Click here to view a copy of the Premium Home Page
Following are a few of the hundreds of success stories and letters of praise we have received for the SoccerHelp Program. We particularly enjoy the success stories and some great ones came from our SoccerHelp "Testers" group. The Testers were a group of coaches who volunteered to help us test the coaching concepts that are now on SoccerHelp Premium. Most were Recreational coaches, but a few were travel team coaches. We had Testers from 20 U.S. states, Australia and the U.K. Since 2002, when we brought Premium online, we had added over 150 pages of additional information and over 1,000 internal links to make it easier to use.
SUCCESS STORIES:
- Coach Scott (U-13 Boys, Texas, USA) was our first SoccerHelp Premium "Tester" Coach and gave us the idea for the Testers Program. He liked the ideas and Practice Games on SoccerHelp and sent us an e-mail on March 1, 2002 asking where he could buy a copy of the book that Soccerhelp was based on. At that time we were working on Premium and asked if he would like to test the new material and he agreed.
- Scott's team had only won 3 of their prior 30 games over 3 seasons, during which time his team "scored less than 10 goals". After adopting the Premium program, they finished the season 6-2-2 (6 wins), came in second and scored 24 goals.
- On March 1, 2002 he wrote: "I have been using your games for practice and I immediately noticed a higher level of enthusiasm over the old "drills" method. I really like your style and methods. I realize now that I was trying to force my team into a system instead of fitting a system to the team. We no longer have that empty midfield problem."
- On March 11, 2002 he wrote: "My team exploded this weekend and won 5-1 over a team that defeated us with a similar score last year. I'm noticing the confidence of the team growing… I can't put into words how happy I am for these boys! My team is now 3-0 with 12 goals for and 4 goals against."
- On June 20, 2002 he wrote: "After going to the system you recommended and adopting your Practice Games philosophy, my team finished this season in second place with a 6-2-2 record. We scored 24 goals and let 14 goals in. I believe the system you recommended made the greatest difference. This system is not only effective, it is very easy for the players to grasp. Throughout the entire season my practice participation was an average of 60% attendance. This is further testimony of how easy it is to grasp this system. I had two players who couldn't make a single practice but learned the system on the fly and played it well. I want to thank you again for all your help this season. I'm looking forward to next season."
- Coach Suellen (U-8 Coed, AYSO, Pennsylvania, USA) was one of our Premium Tester coaches. She credits SoccerHelp with helping not only the kids, but also helping her "gain confidence as a coach".
- On July 6, 2002 she wrote: "Our AYSO season came to an end June 15 and we were 7-1! Our only loss came on a hot Monday with only one sub and 4 top players missing. We only lost 3-1, so I was impressed. I'm so glad I found your site. I had so many parents tell me how much their child enjoyed soccer this year. Even first year players were scoring, playing like third and fourth year players and having a great time. Your hints, strategy, practice games and web site are fantastic. I'm moving on to division 5 next season."
- On July 25, 2002 she wrote (in response to our request for more feedback): "I noticed a big improvement in dribbling. It was amazing. The team scored a lot of goals, we usually had 6-7 a game. Your site has not only helped the kids, but it has helped me gain greater confidence as a coach."
- Coach Myron (U-10 Girls, Missouri, USA) was among our first Premium "Tester" coaches and is a great success story.
- Myron's team had not won a game in 3 seasons and only scored one goal during the prior season (in 8 games). When he first wrote us on March 5, 2002 he was thinking of quitting coaching.
- On March 5, 2002 he wrote: "I have been a coach for 3 seasons now, but we have still not won any games. In fact, last fall's season we only scored 1 goal all season (in 8 games)! Due to this lack of success, many girls have left the team, so I am starting this season with 6 new girls, 3 of which have never played soccer before. Given my lack of success, I am looking for this to be my last season coaching."
- On June 5, 2002 he wrote: "We ended the season with 4 wins, 5 losses and 3 ties and we won our last game 7-2 against a team that clearly had superior footwork skills but didn't know how to use those skills to create an advantage. Our team didn't have the best footwork skills in the league, but we proved that passing, positioning and improved field awareness (knowing where teammates and opponents are) were skills that elevated the whole team. After last season, wild horses couldn't keep me from coaching next fall."
- Coach Lisa (U-11 Girls, Texas, USA) was one of our Premium Tester coaches.
- On June 8, 2002 she wrote: "My U-11 girls finished in first place in the "A" division. Our record was 8-1-1. The formation you recommended helped us score more goals. We only allowed 6 goals in 10 games. Using the system, we couldn't get beat on fast breaks like we used to. We scored 29 goals in those 10 games as well. WOW!! What a change. My weakest player scored 2 goals this season (her first playing) by (using SoccerHelp tips)." In an earlier letter she said: "Thanks for introducing this system to me and my players."
- Coach Daryl (U-10 Boys, Australia) was one of our Premium Tester coaches.
- On March 18, 2002 he wrote: "We went out blazing with our second game and won 8-1, a brilliant turn for our u/10's district team. That was from reading your Scoring More Goals ideas. Terrific stuff,..."
- Coach Tara (U-9 Girls, New Jersey, USA) was one of our Premium Tester coaches. Her team started out 1-3, but then won 4 of the last 5 games, for a 5-4 record.
- On June 16, 2002 she wrote: "Just wanted to let you know that the practice games, advise, etc. really work. In the last 5 games, we have won 4. Thanks for all your help."
- Coach Bryant (U-10 Girls, Pennsylvania, USA) was a Premium Tester coach. He was a first year coach who started 0-4, but used the Premium program and was 4-1-1 in the last 6 games and won the season ending tournament, outscoring opponents 17-5. And, his 9 year old daughter progressed so well that she made a U-11 travel team.
- On June 10, 2002 he wrote: "After starting our season 0-4, we continued to work on those things in practice and it finally began to click as we went 4-1-1 and won our season ending tournament while outscoring our opponents 17-5 during that stretch. It was incredibly satisfying to watch our girls blossom during the games in those areas we worked hardest on in practice. Once it all came together we were superior to our opponents in ball handling, clearing the defensive half and especially throw-ins and defending throw-ins. As a first year coach, I am grateful for your help. My daughter progressed so well that she has made a U-11 traveling team for the fall at age 9."
- On June 17, 2002 he wrote (in response to our request for more feedback): "We practiced throw-ins from an offensive and defensive perspective at every practice. I took to heart the fact that with upwards of 25 throw-ins per game, the team that threw better and defended better was going to do better. (As explained in Premium). We constantly drove home the "don't get thrown over or kicked over" rule (Coaching Rule No. 3). The "Dribble Across" and breakaway and shoot practice games worked very well for us, too. I took your mid-season advice and worked on long kicks and clearing our half to the outside. I must say that as an ex-football guy who never played soccer, I found your site to be an invaluable resource. Thanks again!"
- Coach Dave (U-12 Boys, Pennsylvania, USA) was a Premium Tester coach. He was unique in that his team had not lost a game in almost a year, but he wanted to try the Premium program because he "felt that we weren't playing as well as we could." You can read our response to him at "14 Tips & Tactics For Undefeated U-12 Rec Coach".
- On May 26, 2002 he wrote: "I received your suggestions on 5/1 and implemented several of them at practice. The kids had fun. The following Sunday we beat a team 7-0 that we usually beat, but not that bad. We got a game in last Thursday against a team that was 8-0 during the Fall season. We won 2-0 at their field and should have scored a few more. We were missing 2 of our top 3 goal scorers. I think a lot of the improvement in our play the past few weeks has been a result of your suggestions and simplification of our playing system (to the system recommended in SoccerHelp Premium)."
- Coach Barry (U-10 Coed, North Carolina, USA) was a Premium Tester coach.
- On June 16, 2002 he wrote: "We just completed our season with an end-of-season tournament. We had a good season, our record was 2-7-1, but it was much closer than that. We finished the regular season with 2 wins of 2-0 and 5-0 respectively. We entered the tourney yesterday as the tenth seed of 12 teams. We took the first game 2-0 against the seventh seed team and ended up playing the # 2 seed an hour later. This was their first game of the day and we lost to them in overtime 1-0. SoccerHelp has been a great resource. Thanks for allowing me to participate in the Testers program."
- Coach Brian (U-11 Boys, Oregon, USA) was one of our Tester coaches.
- On June 9, 2002 he wrote: "Last season we were 1-6-1 and we just finished this season 2-3-3. I believe your system, and your breakdown of the game itself, really helped me out. The teams we lost to were clearly better in talent, and the teams we tied may have had an edge in talent, but our team played a better team game. What really helped me the most was the breakdown of each position and providing me, a non-player, tactics to use at our level. I've found that most kids at this age need specific direction on what they need to do, and your system provides that. Thank you for your help this season."
- Coach Matt (U-8 Boys, Massachusetts, USA) was a Tester coach.
- On June 17, 2002 he wrote: "The problem is that our league, and I'm sure many others don't offer anything in the way of training or guidance for new coaches. Being in a competitive division for the first time I looked everywhere for help. That is when I found your website...The practice games were very helpful in keeping the kids focused instead of just playing scrimmages. As I'm sure you know, keeping first and second graders focused is not easy. The best advice I could offer a first time coach is that SoccerHelp is just the right starting point."
- "What a huge difference. We have outscored opponents 18-3."
- Coach Chuck, U-10 Girls, California, USA
- "I'm a first year coach. After 4 weeks of using your drills and advice, the boys won their first game 12-0. Their biggest win last season was 4-2."
- Coach Daniel, U-11 Boys, Sydney, Australia
- Coach Tony (Director, MNYSA Boys & Coach MNYSA Girls U-12)
- It has been a very long time since we communicated. I contacted you a few times a couple years back before you added SoccerHelp Premium and I have been cruising along in Girls Rec U10s over at Metro North Youth Soccer Association in Marietta, GA. Before I started using SoccerHelp my girls went 2 - 9 in the first season in U10s. Using a lot of tips I got off SoccerHelp my girls went from a 2 - 9 first season in U10s, to a 4 - 4 - 1 second season. We then went 13 - 0 in out third season, including a 4 - 0 run in an In House Tournament. Our 4th season we went 11 - 2, going 7 - 2 on the season and 4 - 0 in the In House Tournament.
Now…skip to the present. We have moved up to U12s and are "first year U12s". So far we are 2 - 0, but by narrow scores of 2 - 0 and 2 - 1 over 2nd year U12s. I was still hankering for the old "Soccerhelp.com" so last week I subscribed for the one year subscription deal to Premium. I am loving it all over again. I think I need a "lifetime membership"! The thing I love most about SoccerHelp is it seems to be written in everyday terms we can all understand. So many of the books you see in the stores seem to be more than I need. SoccerHelp, on the other hand, seems to be perfect.
I continue to refer coaches from Metro North your way, so I hope they are all signing up.
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--Success Stories
I have been using your practice games and they are really working. -- – Coach Brent, U-13 Select Coach
I coach girl's high school 14-18. I have used your "Dribble Across A Square" drill. Within three days I could tell a difference in the girls' skills. --Coach Ellen, USA
I subscribed to Soccerhelp Premium just a few days ago and have already found a number of things to improve training sessions. I was surprised to find so much useful information on one site even after I have read numerous books, seen videos, obtained coaching certificates, and coached soccer for six consecutive seasons, four of them competitive and two rec level.
Thanks for a great site!
--Coach Goran, Canada
"I never had an opportunity to play growing up, town was too small to have
soccer, but got involved when my sons started playing when they were 4.
I've learned through attending state level courses and reading. So as I
enter my second year as a premium member you can be proud your site has been
helpful in my soccer education." --Coach Wil
Also, we did use the practice games, and they do work. --Coach Chuck, Lexington
I just wanted to thank you for your dictionary. I have two boys who play soccer, and I don’t know a thing about it (other than take their muddy cleats of before we get in the car). Your dictionary has spared me countless embarrassments and has allowed me to figure out what’s going on out there. My stated goal was to understand the off-sides rule before I died of old age. By George, I think I got it…and not quite forty years old! --Ami Samuels
David and SoccerHelp were big helps last season when my girls got started. They played better, and enjoyed the game after we switched to the formation David recommended. --Coach Charles, Kentucky
Wow...I didn't expect you guys to be working during the Holiday weekend! I really appreciate your website! I never played soccer as a kid, but ultimately ended up coaching my older daughter's rec league team through U12 and U14. Never really was comfortable, though.
Now I'm coaching my younger girl's U6 team, and your website makes me feel like an "expert."Thank you. --Coach Jeff
I don't even know how the guy got my number-- I guess he kept calling coaches on the YMCA list until someone would talk to him. He said he was pressed into service because the original coach didn't show up.
He kept peppering me with questions (after all, he'd finally found someone to help) so I eventually just said "Soccerhelp.com". That stopped him for a moment, and then I told him what the site did for me.
I told him it helped. The sections helped me organize my thoughts and provided me with enough to fill my first two practices. Plus, it gave me a coaching philosophy: games not drills. Parents whose kids had played before loved that.
The parents were also thrilled with the paperwork that I downloaded, and to my surprise volunteered quickly.
Everybody thought I was "so organized", and felt guilty if they didn't pitch in to help.
I told this guy that Soccerhelp.com helped me, and that I still subscribe off and on (nowadays only when my teams move up an age bracket). I said it was well worth the money.
I DIDN'T tell him about how valuable the soccer patches are--his team's in my division. Can't reveal all my secrets now...
I hope he subscribes, because I saw a lot of myself in him, and I just lucked into this website. it would certainly cut down on his learning curve. --Coach Jay , Texas
I just wanted to drop you an email to let you know how much the info on your
site has helped me this year. I am coaching U12 and U14 girls teams and the
improvement from last year to this year is night and day. --Coach Bruce, California
It's great to know there are still sites out there that actually care about
their subscribers! -- Coach Mike, Ill. USA
I credit SoccerHelp with helping to develop a rec team of 7 year olds that went undefeated last year and are doing the same this year. More importantly, they are "getting" the game, not just letting it be one big scrum, and the discipline from skills training lets them work on other things like sportsmanship. --Coach Kent, Ark. USA
My name is Joaquin, and I wanted to take this time to thank you for putting together this website. I am a first time coach to soccer and have not had much help from the atheltics director at the Y. So that I did not go out and look like a complete fool at my first practice, I frantically searched the web for resources on teaching this sport. I found your site and have began to incorporate what I have found here. After each practice, I come back and check to see what else I can do for next time. Thanks again and keep up the good work! --Coach Joaquin
David & Kay:
I have been a subscriber of your Premium service for the past two years and have been very thankful for discovering your site. Like many of your testimonials have stated, without your site, I would not be as good of a soccer coach as I am today. Thank You! --Coach Terry, Ohio
This is my first year coaching soccer. My 9 and 11 year olds play on the team I coach. It has been a challenge for someone who knew relatively little about soccer strategy, but very rewarding. Your website and the coaching information on it (and yes the soccer ball patches, too) have been a HUGE help to me. Thank you for what you do.
--Regards, Coach Doug
I have utilized your website for close to 3 years now and it is my soccer bible. I currently am coaching a GYSA U14 girls team. We are 5 and 0 with a combined score of 14 goals for and 1 against. I use a 3-2-2-3 as outlined in one of your teaching segments. Thanks for putting together a great website.
Respectfully, --Coach Jim, Florida
Hi David / Kay,
I haven't written to you in a while. I have been coaching rec U12 Girls for 2 years now playing 11V11. My first year was definitely a learning year for me. My team ended up winning about half it's games though I did gets lots of compliments for coaching. This past season, however we tied our first game and went on to win every remaining game for the year to take the championship - truly unbelievable. I just wanted to say that I owe my success mostly to you for all the information I gained from your site. Thank you! --Coach John- Florida
I am a huge fan of your site and have shared it with many of my coaching friends as well as kids who I have coached in the past. --Coach Allison, USA
I've been a premium subscriber for 3 years and really like your site. It has great, SPECIFIC information for Rec. Coaches that want to have teams that can play well and be competitive. --Coach Joe, USA
Wow, I can't say enough good things about the approach to teaching soccer through games. I am a first time coach, I learned alot from this website. The kids all participate in practice and seem to enjoy it. We had some first timers on the team and after our first practice were saying "This was fun." On Saturday, we won our first game!!!! But more importantly than that, through using the patches, even the kids were telling each other the good things they were doing. The parents seem to really like the patch idea too. So, I just wanted to say thanks for the website and all the great information on it. I was using the free site, but soon after I signed up for the premium package. It has been a lifesaver for me. Thanks again and keep up the excellent work. --Coach Kris, Kansas
"The article from Coach Doug Burgoyne on coaching U4
was immensely helpful. I assited a friend last fall
and found myself in the headcoach position this
spring. The differences in the practice and games is
amazing. All the kids have had more touches the first
two games and practices than all last season. I would
love more such articles from Coach Doug. I've never
played organized soccer, but I definitely have the
couching bug. These 3 1/2 to 4 year olds are doing
great, and with SoccerHelp and Coach Doug I have some
useful tools to help make every kid's first season a
great one. Thanks so much!" --Coach Tony, WA, USA
"In response to the Gatorade letter, I completely agree. For 3 yrs, I have supplied my team with drinks and half time snacks. It is good having the kids around at half time to get their drinks. You have your whole team right there to keep them pumped-up for the game with good reassurance on their play and go over any key things they need to do. I have found. if you make a players box for your kids and keep the ones not on the field together, it makes a much better team. Before the box idea, the kids not playing were on their parents laps or playing around with there siblings and not paying attention to what was going on in the game. Now, they chant and give great team support. I hear them talking about how the other teams we play leave open spaces, I think they’re starting to see the game. If they utilize what they noticed and make a good play it gets them one of those new Gold Star Patches. Thanks Kay and David for not only being a great help to us with all the info, but also letting the coaches from time to time use your site as a forum to share ideas." --Coach Jim, NY
I signed up for the Soccerhelp Premium when I agreed to become the coach, and
started reading. I printed out all of the U8 games, and they really helped keep
the players interested during practice. I varied the sizes of the field and
other things as they got better just to keep them interested. Your games are
great, much better than regular drills. Thanks again!
--Coach Jeff, USA Navy
"Well I can't believe what happened tonight at practice.
I have 14 nine year olds and believe me they are they most
unruly bunch you have ever seen. Huge fun, but man their
concentration spans are so low. We have had 1 win and
4 narrow losses so far this season.
Tonite I used your Premium Practice Games and put into place 3 of the
Premium Quick Improvement rules between the Practice Games. The kids enjoyed
the Practice Games enough to ask to repeat two of them! I couldn't believe
it, they never did that with drills. For 10 minutes they were soccer players
for every Practice Game!!
The marking explanation and demo from Quick Team Improvement Program
worked great.
We play 9v9 here and I have put into place a formation
of 2-1-2-3 based on the teams strengths and where I think we have
been a little weak. I have 5 players as subs - hard on them but
I propose to sub them into midfield positions and the stopper positions,
every 10 minutes to give some freshness to play and fairness to the
subs to get a game.
I just want to say thanks so far - the change in one night was unbelievable
from a practice management point of view and the kids enjoyed the new structure.
I'll stay in touch and let you know how we progress.
Kindest Regards,
Coach Chris, New Zealand --Coach Chris, New Zealand
Importance of Stopper, Patches and Coaching Rule No. 3; Letter from U-10 Coed Rec Coach Playing 9v9:
Hi SoccerHelp,
We had 1 win and 4 narrow losses until I put into place your tactics for playing a stopper, marking on throw-ins, goal kicks, punts and free kicks (Coaching Rule No. 3) and using patches as incentives to motivate players. The team we played today would have normally beaten us, but we beat them 3-0 !! The number of assists and striking in the goal box was amazing, lots of far post positioning by our team, I changed the Stopper half way thru first half. My first choice at stopper ended up having no real energy, the second choice was amazing - he went like a steam train. I told him the whole field was his, as long as he ran back to position each time the other team went on attack - he did this - and performed incredibly well. Our defenders did see some action but it was more clearing type work.
As you recommended, I played our best goalie in the field because he’s a great athlete and our second choice goalie was in goal - I was nervous at commencement of game. But the other team hardly got near our penalty box!!!
Marking improved all thru game, I gave out patches at half time for marking and assists. This really got my team going. Me yelling out to player as he/she went by – "you've got a patch for marking Logan".... or "Jack, you're patched for hard attack!" You should have seen the kids faces then watched them react on the field!!
The parents were screaming their heads off - they couldn't believe the change in our team. All the kids came off the field heads held high and smiling. They knew they'd achieved something great.
SoccerHelp - I am raising a glass to you guys this evening - I think the team is starting out on a great path. You've made the difference today mate!
All the best and have a great weekend. The start of ours has been awesome. --Coach Chris, New Zealand
"I am very excited about this season. I was an assistant coach on my daughters team the last couple of years. The head coach has moved up to U10, so I am taking over for U8. The head coach that I assisted turned me on to soccerhelp.com. The Practice Games not only taught the fundamental skills, but gave the girls the courage, and confidence they needed on game day. Keep up the good work!" --Coach Mark
I have been coaching this Rec U10 team for about 5 years with few player changes.
I just wanted to post an update.
We played our first game this past week and our new formation was a resounding success. To my delight the kids had it all figured out and responded beautifully. The score of the game was 5-2. I mention the score because the opposing team only made two goals, one of which was sort of a fluke (kick-off directly into the goal which our goalie inadvertently tried to block).
I gave out one blood patch to the kid in our newly implemented stopper position. Although not a real strong ball handler, this kid played with fearlessness and used his body many times to block shots and generally disrupt the offense. All the kids agreed he deserved the patch.
I am convinced that one of life's true joys is to watch a team sync together and make beautiful, seemingly choreographed plays. I was truly proud of our kids.
Thanks to SoccerHelp.com for all the tips and the input. It has made a difference. --U-10 Boys Rec coach, U.S.
"I have been a Soccer Help Premium subscriber for almost a year and have
learned a lot from your website. Thanks for all the great ideas. My wife
and I have coached for the last few years and have had teams from K-1 to
4-5th graders. The kids love the games and I have been amazed at how
quickly they have improved in such a short time. Great work!!" --Coach Brian
"I am a parent of a U13 boys player. I sort of helped coach for a year or so, until mid season last year when the regular coach quit. I know bubkas about soccer, but we needed to step up or else the kids would not have a team. We struggled through the last few games of the season, and I was very apprehensive about coaching another year with no knowledge of the game.
Another parent and I made a pact to stick it out and keep the team alive. A couple of weeks ago he told me he found this awesome site for soccer. I had done a lot of searching but did not find anything that I could easily understand.
Can I just say that www.soccerhelp.com is like a nirvana of coaching soccer for dummies? Not only was I amazed at the amount of material readily available, but I was also relieved that I could understand it and take it to practice and use it. In the past I could never figure out how to correct or overcome the mistakes I was seeing in games. I knew there were problems, but did not know how to fix them.
That has changed. I am actually excited to go to practice, the kids stay motivated, and if I see something new, I hurry home and log on to find an answer. While we are not ready for the world cup yet, we see an improvement in the kids and how they see themselves as a team and as individual players.
So thank you very much for all the hours and resources spent to make soccerhelp.com what it is. Call it a Godsend, answer to prayers, or just a totally sweet find, you have helped us out immensely." --Al
"I have become a much better coach because of what I have learned from SoccerHelp Premium!"
--Coach Rich, U-12
I just joined Soccerhelp.com Premium last weekend. I had been using the
Basic site for about a week and had tremendous results with my 4 year olds.
They have so much fun at practice. Thanks for your site. It is great! --Amy
Team outscores opponents 30-5. I have been a Premium Member since U7, and have found it particularly valuable now that I am coaching Girls U9 Rec. This is the first year the girls have been playing soccer using something approaching the "complete" game, as in our Association U6 - U8 use a continuous-play micro game (3v3) with no restarts (corners, throw-ins, goal kicks, etc.) and no assigned positions. The girls had a lot to learn, and the SoccerHelp activities and coaching resources make it much easier to teach them the fundamentals quickly. As a result, my team is 4-0 and has dominated play, outscoring their opponents 30-5. They also went to a recreational tournament, and had a win and a draw against U10 teams playing 6v6 (my team normally plays 5v5). --Bryan
I coached for one year before I found this site and did not win a game. We had a few ties and the rest were 1 or 2 goal games but we were still winless. Since I started using the ideas I found here we have had two winning seasons and are on the way to our 3rd. Best of all, the kids enjoy the practices and they take a lot of pride in the skills they have learned. SoccerHelp Coach
--SoccerHelp Coach
In my first year of coaching our record for the regular season was 3-4-1, but it was what happened afterward that is truly amazing. Our league plays a season end tournament and we won the whole tournament, going 3-0 and scoring 11 goals to 0 scored against us! Thanks again for all of the suggestions and helping me through my first year of coaching! The information on SoccerHelp Premium was critical. The practice games made all the difference! I look forward to next year! --Corey, U-12 Rec
I just finished my first time coaching soccer. It was for my daughters kindergarten school classes. I think SoccerHelp was a huge help for someone like me who had minimal knowledge. I think that it allowed me to do the best possible job, and I am being requested to be tee-ball coach. According to the schools PE teacher, it was the first time he had not received any complaints from the parents. SoccerHelp did more than just help. --Coach A
At one point in the tournament, my great attacker got kicked in the face, but never broke stride and almost knocked one in from outside the box. At the break, he ran up to me and declared, "I want my blood patch now. Im not waiting until after the game." He played the whole second half with the patch clutched in his fist, and did a great job keeping the score where it was. Both of my teams finished undefeated, so thanks again for the great resources and patches. They work great! --Coach Dan GA, USA
Let me start off by saying that your advise has been invaluable to me as a coach and, strangely enough, as a player.
Last spring I coached U7 rec league and it was the first opportunity I had to implement your suggestions. The improvement the kids made over the course of the season was noticeable not only to me but the parents and the kids themselves!
I like to practice with the kids when they do the drills (dribble across the square, relay race etc..) and practice games. They get excited when they get a chance to "beat the coach". Because the kids are small(U8) I have to be really careful not to bump them, trip them,or hurt them. This forces me to be really aware of my ball/body control. So when I go play a pickup game with adults I find myself having an enhanced sense of control and balance. Also seeing the kids improve and have fun motivates me to go and play more. --Coach Akbar
We had a great year this year, and a lot of the credit goes to SoccerHelp Premium. I know they are better players because of SoccerHelp! --Tony, USA
I've been a Premium subscriber for 3 years and really like your site. It has great, SPECIFIC information for Rec. Coaches that want to have teams that can play well and be competitive. We play 8v8 (7 Plus GK) and I use 2-1-2-2 using single stopper in front of my FB's. My question is: What do you recommend as guidelines for my 2 Midfielders in defense? How far back should they go to defend? I have told my FBs to stay in the GK box, so do my Midfielders need to go "all the way" back on defense? Advice appreciated. Thanks.
--Joe, Premium Member since 2004
I just wanted to write and say thank you for SoccerHelp.com. I began coaching my daughters team here in San Antonio this fall. I had coached baseball before, but not soccer. I found your website, used your drills and the rest is history. I coached a group of 10 five and six year old girls who had never played before. Using only your website as a resource, we went from a ragtag bunch of girls to an effective soccer team. It was an absolute blast!!! This season 7 of the 10 girls came back and we are having another great season. God bless you and thanks for your encouragement and support of coaches. --Coach Greg, Connections Pastor, TX, USA
Thanks for your prompt reply. Your personal touch is just another reason why SoccerHelp is the best soccer website to be found. --Coach Jim, IL USA
I'm definitely a big fan of SoccerHelp. I've used both the basic and premium portions the last several years and it's made a big difference in my coaching and more importantly in player development. --Coach David, WA USA
I coach U-7 girls in the YMCA rec league. We play 7 vs 7. I have 12 players of which 5 had never played before. I do dribble across the square and dribble around the cone relay race at every practice. I really focus on dribbling as the skill I really push. We are currently 4-0 with a 18-0 goal differential. I am most proud of that 0.
--Coach Greg, GA, USA Premium Member
"Hey all - Coach Greg here. What an awesome site. I discovered Soccerhelp.com back about 6 years ago when my now 9 year old son started playing soccer and me coaching. I can tell you - there is nothing even close. That little soccer team back then, The Hurricanes - they were awesome!! Many of those kids still play soccer to this day and I run into many of them who still remember the good ol Hurricane days.
Well, here it is several years later, and I now have a 3 year old daughter. We just started soccer and yep - I coach but not without Soccer Help and Coach Doug's infinite fun!! We play our 4th game of the season tomorrow and the improvement game after game is astonishing. Last weeks game - all I saw were elbows and smiles. Lots of big smiles.
Thanks Coach Doug - Thanks SoccerHelp - My children continue to benefit from your passion!
Play Hard - Play Fair - Have Fun!"
--Coach Greg
Hi SoccerHelp,
We had an end of the year soccer tournament with individual games as well. Four of the top five scores in the obstacle course were from my team. Most of my success this year is really based on stuff I used from this site. From the patches to games/drills, I got most of that from here. --Greg, Premium Member
This is my first season as a coach and I just wanted to send you guys
a big THANK YOU. I would have never made it without your site, I'm a
Premium subscriber and it was worth every penny.
I also wanted to write you to tell you that one of the ABSOLUTE MOST
IMPORTANT games for U-10 and under is 3 Man Direct, Wing Attacking
Game. This game should easily qualify for the TRY THIS
designation, if not the DEFINITELY TRY THIS designation.
Thanks again for a great resource. --Nate, MT USA, Premium Member
"I coach a girls' middle school Rec and Ed - grades range from 5-9, mostly 6th graders - and I recently subscribed to SoccerHelp Premium. I have to sing the praises of your many, many helpful articles. I believe my team plays better due to your formations. I had to go with a 2-1-3 because I had two girls who were initially not very effective that I "hid" at right forward, otherwise I would have gone with a 2-2-2. (One of these girls turned out to be my most dramatically improved player and earned the "A" patch and scored a goal in her last game!). The 2-1-3 was effective because I had (a) oustanding goaltending and good defenders, and could get away without a sweeper; and (b) outstanding "stoppers" in the middle who were everywhere - they were assigned basically to help on offense and defense, and to cover all throwins, corners, and free kicks, and (c) at least one forward in the game at all times who was always a threat to score." --Coach Nick, Ann Arbor, Michigan
I am a member of Soccerhelp.com. The 1-3-1-2 formation for 8 on 8 worked wonders! --Coach S.D.
"Thank you and all at SoccerHelp for running the site, it's tremendous." --Coach Chuck, U-10 Rec
I started coaching soccer with my daughter at U5. (Now U9). Before that, I knew absolutely nothing about this sport. I checked the box when I registered my daughter that I would be willing to help and next thing I know, I'm the coach.
Looking back, I did a pretty crappy job that first year because most web-site discussing coaching make assumptions that aren't valid for mini teams. For example, 4v4 is difficult with a full roster of 6. Also, trying to teach defensive positioning to 4 year olds was stupid and I realize that now. SoccerHelp was the lifeline that really helped me get through to what was important and appropriate for the little kids. Since finding SoccerHelp, I think I have become much better and have had a lot more fun. In fact, since that first disastrous year, I involved the other parents in your soccer drills as well and 4 parents in 3 years have branched out to coach their own teams. I can't thank you enough for your help. I have also joined the board of our local soccer club and I am trying to ensure that more parent - coach volunteers don't go through the same start-up problems I went through. --Darren, WA
Thank you so much for setting up the free Club Trial Membership. I just forwarded the info to our Coaches coordinator. I have been a member for several years and have found your site to be a terrific source of info for a newbie and experienced coach. I have used the games and the patches - Both work well. We have a coed rec league. I have been fortunate enough to keep most of the same kids coming back (now U15) mainly because I use the games to teach. I have had many of these kids since U8.
Hopefully, this will get some of the other coaches interested in how to
teach soccer by letting the kids have fun and play games rather than
drills with few touches or worse yet -- just scrimmaging.
Thanks again.
--Chuck
Your site is fantastic and has been a great resource for my BU11 team
since they started as a U6 team. I have been through several clinics
and an E Certification course, and I still find your practice games and
coaching recommendations to be the most practical and successful I've
used.
Thanks for providing such a great resource. --Ray
I have been using your soccer practice games for about 3 years now for my U9 Rec team and just became a premium member. Tonight we had our first game and after having most of these kids for a couple of years now, we shut out the opposing team 5-0. We could not have done it without SoccerHelp. In fact, we have had several new coaches join our league and I told them to go to soccerhelp.com. Thanks for the encouragement and keep up the great work. --Coach Amy, U-9, Premium Member
Hi SoccerHelp,
I am the coach of a U10 girls travel team and we made the switch from a 2-3-2 to a 2-1-2-2 with stopper and my team looks like a completely different team. First of all, we dominated the attack side and won 5-1. The other team only got 6 shots on goal.
The following were the benefits of this new formation and I owe it all to Premium:
- Forwards stayed in position and were always ready for the fast breaks.
- Fullbacks were very rested and were able to easily contest anything that got past the stopper.
- Stopper worked hard, but I subbed this a lot, so it was always fresh and keep the opposing team back or on the sides.
- Midfielders suddenly became offensive and were not tired from covering the whole field.
It was a great experience and I recommend it to every coach of younger girls playing 8v8.
Thanks. --Jeff, U10 Travel, Premium Member
SoccerHelp is so great. It's the best site for teaching kids to play soccer and develop their skills in a fun, age appropriate way. I played for many years and I learn something new everytime I use the site. Coach Doug is amazing! It's so cool to see such little kids playing so well and having so much fun. I love that you focus on practice games that have kids moving and engaged.
Thanks, --Alexis
I very much appreciate your site. My rec league team has gone from 2-10 several years ago to 9-2-1 last year and 5-0 so far this fall. Much of the improvement is a direct result of using the SoccerHelp games at practice. --Tim, Premium Member
Thanks for all the good info that you make available. I started coaching my youngest daughter when she began playing soccer at age 4. I had observed an excellent coach with my oldest daughter and implemented some of what he did, but finding SoccerHelp really took my knowledge and coaching to another level. Using your practice games and teaching tough, aggressive play has allowed our U8 team to be undefeated to this point in the season, outscoring the opposition 37-9. If our players keep playing the way they have all season, we will win the championship. Our team does not have physically superior players - they just work hard. --Coach B
I have been using games and articles from soccerhelp.com and it has really improved the play of our team. Since the opening weekend, we have played great and have managed to win all of our games. --Coach ML
Hi David,
I have a girls U8 rec team.(8v8) 2 seasons ago you helped me by suggesting a 2-1-3-1. Playing my most talented player at stopper and "hiding" the weaker players at left and right mid field. I have had great success with that.
I’ve been asked to coach the Girls U9 Signature team (All-star Rec). I’m wondering, since I won't need to hide players, what formation would you suggest; 2-1-2-2?
What do you think about a 1-2-1-2-1?
Thanks, --Aaron
My name is Josh and I live in south Nashville and I am a second year parent coach of my son's U7 soccer teams. I found your site during a few late nights searching the web for help to create a better soccer experience for my boys and for me as a parent coach.
Your site was exactly what I was looking for! Since becoming a
premium member I have seen a dramatic improvement in my team performance and the boys have responded beautifully to your motivational patches. I have had coaches of U12 boys and girls asking
me how I have been able to get my U7 boys to understand the soccer
"theory" and perform well in games. Each time I am asked I tell them
about SoccerHelp.com! --Josh, TN
Thanks for running and coming up with this site, and giving me the tools to help my girls be the best soccer team they could possibly be! You should have seen their smiles at the party! They LOVE soccer! See you next season.
--Al, Premium Member
We entered a tournament this past weekend and we won the tournament. It was a 7 v 7 tournament so I used a 2-1-2-1 formation. We had very few goals scored against us. I\\\'m not sure whether I can attribute the win to the revised formation or to the competition, but it was a nice result. --Coach Mike
With one game left, this has been a great season and coaching experience for me. I have learned so much about how to COACH a rec soccer team. I have learned where I can play different types of players. I have learned which formation works for the team and players I have. I can use this knowledge in the future to assess players and teams that I coach and coach against. --Coach Al, Premium Member
My Girls Rec U10 team has had a phenomenal season. During the season we only lost 2 games, both of them blowouts to vastly superior teams.
We had our end of season tournament this weekend and my girls came in 4th place. We play from a round of 16 down to a champion.
For most of the season I played a K-2-1-2-1. It was effective for us. In the round of 16 we won 3-0. For our quarter final we played what I considered the best team in the league, a team that had beat us 5-0 previously in the season. They had 4 very good players on the team, that could dribble and strike the ball well. They were also well coached in passing.
For this game I switched to a K-1-2-1-2. I put my bravest girls at stopper and sweeper and had the 2 defenders ready to play 2nd defender to clean up any passes or balls kicked passed the stopper. If the opposing forwards got passed my stopper and defenders they were told to sag back and cover the Sweeper. The only player allowed to defend any wider than the goal box was the Stopper to shut down crosses. I constantly emphasized "don't get pulled wide, defend the front of the goal" and "don't get thrown over."
The coach of the opposing team had told several people he would be up at half-time 5-0. Well half-time came around and the score was 2-0 in our favor. Both goals coming from the forwards winning cleared balls and playing them into space behind a high-line defense.
We ended up giving up two goals in the second half and played two additional periods at the end. The girl's continued to defend the front of the goal, and gave up nothing in overtime. We ended up advancing 4-3 on the shootout (something we practiced the week before the tournament just in case)
The vindication of beating such a good team was great for the girls, and moved them into the final four. In the semi final game we played the same strategy against a superior team and held them to 1-0 for most of the game, but ended up giving up two goals at the end of the game. For the consolation 3rd-4th place game we played an all out attack to just let the girls try to score since the result between 3rd and 4th would not make a big difference. We ended the season with every player on the team having at least one goal.
The key thing is that by using the tactics on soccerhelp my girls were able to knock out what most considered the best team in the league, something 3 other coaches thanked me for. So I am passing that thanks on to soccerhelp.
--Coach M., Premium Member
Great site, well worth the subscription. I paid more money for books in the first year I started coaching that didn\'t have 1/10th the information. Fantastic job. Thank you. --U11 Coach, FL USA
Great site. Wish I had found it 3 years ago. I can't tell you how many books I have read recently that were no where near as insightful as the information you have here. This site should be required reading for any new, or even as I have seen, not so new coaches. Nice work, and thank you. I would like to bring the site to the attention of the club if you have no objections. The garbage they hand out for the beginning coaches should be illegal. A whole book that says teach basics without really saying what "basics" are, and not to worry about positions or formations, they will get that later on their own, or not as I have seen. --U11 Competitive Coach, Premium Member
I really enjoy researching your website. You have helped my coaching skills in rec and select. I appreciate you much. --Coach Tom
Hi there I have been with the program for a year now and I just wanted to say thanks for all the info. Thanks. --Jurgen
I find your web page very helpful and refer to it constantly, even though I have been coaching for over 12 years. There is always something useful and I really find the information has improved all my teams from being good to being exceptional.
Best Regards,
--Jubin
I have been a member since about 2003 (I think). I have learned so much through your site. The emphasis on teaching while being competitive while making it FUN for the kids is spot on. I have been involved in childrens baseball, softball and a variety of other sports where the parents and coaches take the fun out of it for everyone by making it too focused on winning and not about learning and having fun. My own kids quit both baseball and softball for this reason. We tried soccer and I got roped into to coaching. I knew absolutely nothing about soccer and started scouring the Internet for good soccer sites. That is how I found your site. Super job! It has been a tremendous help to me personally. I still don't count myself as a super coach but my teams usually are competitive for Rec soccer and most importantly -- the kids have fun and want to comeback.
Again -- thanks so much.
--Chuck, IN USA
I have been using the "Dribble Around a Cone and Pass" Practice Game for two seasons and really like it. The "50/50" game hasn't worked out as well, but I've only tried it twice. I sensed some pushback from the second grade girls. I'll try it a few more times.
Here are some thoughts on why playing games at practice is a superior philosophy, especially for Rec coaches.
"It occurred to me that there is a fundamental difference to the way I approach soccer coaching and the way the girls approach soccer playing. As an adult, the concept ingrained in my psyche is "if you want to improve, you must pay the price", or "no gain without pain". Children approach soccer from the other side. They just want to have fun. They don't care about perfecting their skills and winning games. I do. But, if I don't sneak up on them and teach them without their knowledge and I don't make it fun, they won't be back next season. If I yell at them during games and push them to win, they won't be back next season. A few of them will decide to become better and they will move on to more competitive teams. That has to be their choice or they will leave the game. As a coach the only thing I can do is encourage these players to move on." --Coach Rich
Our 5th and 6th grade girls Rec team always seemed to be kicking the ball away while on the attack. Anyway, we took your suggestions, used them, and they definitely worked. Before I used your suggestions we had won our 3 previous games by scores of 2-0, 2-1, and 4-1......after implementing your suggestions and working on ball control, our next three games were won by scores of 7-0, 4-2, and 8-0.....the two end games could have easily been double digit wins but we had to move players around so as to not run up the score too much more. --Coach Matt
I'm a Premium member and have used SoccerHelp for three seasons. I never played or watched soccer growing up, so the site has been a tremendous help to me. I have used the practice games extensively, taught Coaching Rule #3, and awarded patches for bravery, hustle, assists, etc., and my players have improved a lot and enjoyed themselves each season. --Coach Tom, U8
I'm a big fan of SoccerHelp and use many of your tips in our games and practices. I'm coaching a rising U-12 Girls team and brought them up from rec 1 year ago. They have gotten better every season and just finished undefeated! --Coach Mike
I like your website and it has me extremely pumped up. I am so enthusiastic to start this season because of the website. I played soccer for 12 years up to my senior year in high school, but never really thought about how much more different it is to coach (evaluate, strategy, controlling the middle of the field, etc). I just played and did what I was coached. By the way, I was having my girls mark in front of the other team’s players and won’t be doing that anymore. Your football analogy of getting thrown over for a TD, makes complete sense. Same idea, different sport that many can relate too. Thanks again for this great site. I have already told two other first time coaches about your website and their eyes lit up like a weight will be lifted off of their shoulders. --Coach A, OH, Premium Member
You totally rock. I don't know if you realize what a great service you perform. Thank you so much. --Coach Nick
Finding SoccerHelp.com is 100% responsible for why I've been able to succesfully coach for 9 years (I'm defining succes as a winning record AND having kids request me year after year as their coach). --Coach S
I played college soccer but SoccerHelp has really helped me learn how to coach kids. My U10 team only lost 1 game in my first year of coaching. I\'m going to tell the other coaches in my league about it. --Coach Richard, TN
Your site is the best. --TQ
Amazing is the only word I can think of as to how my U8 girls played.
We won 3-1. We played on the other team\'s half of the field 90 percent of the time.
Three big differences:
(1) My girls won 99% of the ball challenges.
(2) My girls turns were amazing. The other team was clearly had trouble turning the ball around. You and Coach Doug really emphasized this.
(3) Dribbling in a crowd. I definitely saw them to kick the ball to an open space and run onto it. This obviously is a result of the Dribble Across a Square game.
Even our most timid player got in the mix, She fell down, cried, held her arm. I told her to go dip it in the ice water bucket and come back out and that she would be alright. She came right back out and played tough. She fell down again, cried dipped her arm in the bucket and came right back out again. She played very well.
As a result of the girls confidence in these areas and because much of their skill had been committed to muscle memory, I believe that they were able to concentrate more on positioning as the game went on.
At the end, one the parents said these girls could beat my son\'s team.
The one goal the other team scored because our goalie was too far inside the goal. When she picked up the ball, she was behind the line.
I think that was the only shot on our goal.
Thanks for all of your help. --Coach Troy, Premium Member
I coached two teams last season, one went 14-0-0 and the other went 12-2-0. Thanks for the help. --Joe
My daughter is on a U9 team. She tied their first game 1-1 when she used the outside of her foot to juke the goalie out of position. She also had about five to six other shots on goal. She learned to control her kicks so they were long enough to get the goalie to commit to a charge, but didn't go so far that the Goalie could just pick up the ball, by playing the Dribble Across a Square Game with my U8 team. Then she would use the outside of the foot to tap it to the side and kick it in. She's the smallest player on the team. --Troy, Premium Member
Your website is very informative I must say. I am a webmaster too, and I have come across very few websites that offers such valuable information. --Jennifer
I like your website and it has me extremely pumped up. I am so enthusiastic to start this season b/c of the website. I played soccer for 12 years up to my senior year in high school, but never really thought about how much more different it is to coach (evaluate, strategy, controlling the middle of the field, etc). I just played and did what I was coached. --Coach A, Premium Member
I'm a new coach on a recreational U-10 co-ed team. We have had one practice, and one game which we won 5-1. The information on this site has been invaluable. I played club soccer beginning in the late 1970s and a whole lot has changed! Anyway, I have one big slow player, a few average players, a few timid players, and one Superstar. I played a 1-1-2-1 (6v6) and it was really amazing how well the big slow kid as FB did when I left him deep. I decided to stay strong in the middle from what I learned on this site and it worked really well for us. I would have never tried that kind of formation if left to my own. --Coach Bob, Premium Member
Hi David,
I can't believe it has taken me this long to touch base with you. I am still coaching girls Rec Soccer and we are in our second year in the Girls Rec. U16 division. I got started using Soccer help before you had the paid Premium membership....do you remember that far back? As you may remember, for several years I had a great team, but last year I lost a lost of my players to the high school team (which I take as a compliment) and had to start over. We lost our first 3 games and did not score a single goal! I had to regroup, re-think, re-tool. What had I slipped away from, what had I neglected? I looked at my notes from each game. We were giving the ball up on throw ins, we were not winning the majority of the goal kicks and punts and we were not stealing the opposing teams throw-ins, punts or goal kicks either. With my old experienced roster, they all knew my expectations on Coaching Rules 1, 2 and 3 and we did not routinely practice those. The kids knew what I expected and they executed. Now I had a lot of new kids in the roster and had failed to teach the new kids the old rules! How silly was that? The next week at practice we practiced, mostly Coaching Rule #3, but really, for about 2 weeks, we worked on nothing other than Coaching Rules 1 – 3. Interestingly enough, we went 6 – 0 in game four and 3 – 0, 4 – 0, 3 – 0 and 4 – 0 in games 5, 6, 7 & 8! What a relief! The take home message in all of this is, last Spring showed me, you always need to readdress the fundamentals (like Coaching rules 1, 2 and 3, and especially 3), each and every season, as the one time you don't, it will definitely come back to haunt you.
You continue to do great work David, serving the soccer community, and continuing to improve the lives of a great many coaches and thousands of players around the world and you are to be thanked for the great work and service you provide!
Best Regards, --Tony, Premium Member
I love the Premium website and have found a ton of wonderful information there! --Coach Kelly, U12, Premium Member
I love your site. This is the third coaching season that I have used it for reference.
Thanks, --Coach Will, TX, Coach Doug Member and now Premium Member
I saw a lot of improvement from the Dribble Across a Square practice game in just 2 practices. --Doug, FL, U8 Rec, Premium Member
I have nothing but good things to say about the patches, your website, and the excellent customer service you guys offer. If only all vendors and retailers were so easy to deal with!
Thanks again. Looking forward to receiving my most recent order and placing future orders with you as well.
--Brett
I really feel like I hit the jackpot when I find your website! I love the self-teaching games and the abundance of information is just incredible! --Coach Kelly, FL, Premium Member
I am so glad to have found your company. You have been a great source for ideas and materials. My players love your patches! --David, MI
After 3 weeks of playing the "Win the 50/50 Ball or be the First Defender 1v1 Attacking & Defending" practice game has made a tremendous difference for my sweeper. He just annoys the other team back there with his patience and always blocking the direct line to the goal. --Coach Brian, U9 Travel, Premium Member
I'm facing a tough season. I love SoccerHelp Premium, and have hope because of it.
--Coach Pat, Premium Member
Just wanted to send you a note on the quick and dramatic results I've gotten after using the tips and strategies on your Premium site for just a few weeks. I coach a 12U boys AYSO (rec) team in the Chicago area. We play 9 v 9, and I've got a mix of about 5 travel and travel-quality players, 4-5 average players, and 2-3 weak players. I've always used a 3-3-2 system with success, but early this year we were having trouble scoring goals, and worse, were consistently getting beat on the outside at defense for a lot of goals. One difference with this team from past teams I've coached is that we don't have much team speed.
After we lost 7-5 a few weeks ago, I started devouring everything on the Premium site, especially Quick Improvement, 22 Coaching Rules, Formations, and some of the key practice games (I'd already started using some of the free games, Dribble Across a Square, and Dribble Around the Cone and Pass.)
Well, the results have been unbelievable. The key things I've adopted are playing my defense deep and in, and working on long balls and through balls to the forwards. Playing the defense deep was contrary to my own soccer inclinations, but I have to admit that it has worked wonders. In practice, I've added Shoulder Tackle & Strength on the Ball, Pass to Space, Run With the Ball and Shoot, Win the 50/50 ball, and Chips/Lofted Passes. Since adopting these strategies, we have won 3-1 (against a team from a neighboring suburb that usually dominates us with very skilled players), 4-1, and 1-0. We are no longer giving up breakaways, the kids are getting much more aggressive and strong on the ball, and they are getting the idea of passing to space to our faster forwards. I'm sure we'll hit some road bumps, but now I feel we can stay competitive in almost any match. --Josh, IL
Thanks for your website! --Philip, Premium Member, Washington
Just ordered some more patches. I have never enjoyed a soccer season like this one and your website deserves kudos for that. It has made coaching and preparing for practices much easier. Thanks a bunch. --Aaron, Premium Member
The kids love the patches. I took your suggestion and purchased some maroon soccer balls as "Blood Patches". "Blood" patches are a special favorite. The kids brag about the Blood patches more than anything else. I will stock up on them before next season. The "A" are a good way to recognize a few players with good attitudes and limited talent. I have a few kids who sometimes only play 10 minutes per half with limited effectiveness. Things like "Blood" patches and "Attitude" patches help me get the most out of them. It's a perfect thing for 14 year old boys. I think Gold Star "General" patches have helped bring out some good vocal leadership in a couple of players and my defensive players love the "D" patches. --Sean, middle school coach and Premimum Member
Seven games and many adjustments into the season, I have to thank this site for helping me understand the importance of the Stopper, even if the Stopper is used as the back of a diamond midfield. It's the most important position on the field, as far as I'm concerned, whether you defend deep or play push up a flat four. I'm convinced letting fullbacks push up with a sweeper behind and a stopper in front is the worst option. You don't benefit from with width of the flat four or the safety against breakaways of two in the box with a good CB out front. The one time I tried it that way, the results were just horrible. You either have players with the speed to push up or you gotta defend deep, and even if they push up, they need to know how to defend deep. --Sean, middle school coach and Premimum Member
Our kids are so excited about soccer I actually have a waiting list for me to be the coach for Spring! I will continue to recognize, refer, and be a member of SoccerHelp because I am a first time soccer coach and never played soccer before! I have recruited 2 other families and another soccer coach so far this season to your products. My son's Teachers have taken notice and will hopefully adopt the reward system as well. I coach my son's football and baseball teams and you can rest assured that I will continue to be an advocate and customer of your products! --John
I enjoy your website and use the information often Thanks for the great service you provide! --Bob, U8 Coach and Commissioner, Premium Member
I'd like to thank David for this website and post a little story about my rookie year coaching co-ed recreational U-10
I had so much fun with these kids. I am hooked on coaching. It was only about 8 weeks ago that I had no idea what to do or how to coach. This website helped immensely. We ended the season 6-1 and I saw such a remarkable improvement in these kids that I just had to post here about it.
We played "dribble across a square", "dribble around a cone and pass relay race" and "win the 50/50 ball" every practice. I had horrible problems with the kids bunching up at the beginning of the season but somehow beat it into their skulls to get open and run away from the teammate dribbling the ball.
Some of the most valuable things I learned here...
- Don't get thrown over. This little gem really is worth a couple goals a game. When we marked up properly , we easilly won the ball 90% of the time. Super easy to teach, and super easy to coach from the sidelines.
- Stay strong in the center. I played 1-1-1-2 in 6v6 and it was really hard for the other team to get past my waves of defenders, we gave up very few goals.
- The patches really work. Kids really wanted one at the end of the game. I got about $100 into buying the dang things but I should have enough for Spring season and I'm going to see if I can get parents to chip in five bucks or so next season.
I'm just so proud of these kids. We played our last game today, and kids were staying open, raising their hand and calling for the ball. There was actually some passing going on and they were mostly staying in position. The improvement I saw in 8 weeks was just astounding, and I think I was a much more effective coach by devouring so much of the information in here.
Now I can't wait till Spring to do it all over again!
Coach Bob, Premium Member --Coach Bob, Premium Member
Because I have learned so much from this site, I thought I would offer the following comments. We are a small town that plays teams from much larger communities. We had 22 girls that wanted to play competitive soccer at U11 but couldn't find a good way to do two teams. So, I didn't cut anyone and found a way to rotate five girls out each game--even my best players. We are playing competitive teams that are used to winning, especially against smaller towns like us (we're the smallest that fields a state competitive team regularly). We lost all of our first games but I kept trying ideas from Premium and we won our last 4 state league games 4-0, 6-1, 2-0, 3-0. These scores are not indicative of how much we dominated the other teams. Going from the worst team in the state in our bracket to 2nd place in overall play made me a believer. -- Coach B, U11 Competitive, Premium Member
"My team lost the first 3 games of our season and when I started playing a 2-1-2-2 with a good athlete at stopper as recommended on Premium and moved a very good player from forward to FB we started winning. We won the League and I was chosen to coach the All Star Team to play against other leagues." --Coach PR, U12, Premium Member
Thanks for a great website! --Mary Beth, Premium Member, U11 Competitive
Dear David,
I thought you'd enjoy hearing of my U14 girls rec team fall season, 6-1-3, winning the tournament final 1-0 over a previously undefeated team.
Although we didn't really draw it up as a 3-2-3-2 (we actually began the season in a nominal 4-3-3), my center mid would play more as a holding midfielder, and my center forward would track back in the center to play as more of an attacking mid. The stopper and defensive mid worked together, going forward when on the ball, freeing up the mids and forwards to go on the attack, exactly as you\'ve outlined. In practice, it was usually 3-1-1-3-2, but it worked like a charm.
Thanks for all the tips and info at Soccerhelp - you are a great resource for all us rec coaches out here.
Thank You,
--Coach Chuck, Premium Member, Lexington, KY
Last year this team (which I took over coaching duties after an 0-2 start) was 2-6-2 during the regular season and we went 0-2 in the tournament for a 2-8-2 season. This year, this same team with one new player who had never played a lick of soccer in her life, went 5-3-2 during the regular season and went 3-2 in the tournament for an 8-5-2 season. This team made it to the final 6 in the tournament and of my 5 losses, three of them were to the best team in the league who only allowed (at least so far) one goal, which my team scored. Fantastic season, amazing improvement and last night when I was talking with my wife, I asked her would she had ever imagined we would have won 8 games this year and she said absolutely not. The one thing I can say is that I know for a fact, I would not have been as successful as a soccer coach if it wasn't for www.soccerhelp.com and the help of reading the importance of the stopper position and creating a formation to fit the team you have vs trying to make the team you have fit your formation. If I would have put my Stopper in any other position, she would not have excelled as much as she did and our team would not have controlled the games like we did without her being in her correct natural position. I can't wait for spring soccer to begin.
Thanks a bunch,
--Aaron, Premium Member
Doug and David:
Well we did it.
My girls won the championship tournament in a shootout.
To get to the finals we were short two of our good players on Saturday. The girls who were normally our substitutes played extremely well and we won 1-0.
On Sunday, we had all of our players and played to a 0-0 tie. We then had a shootout. One ball squibbed by the other team's goalie. That was it - we won.
The Soccer Help Program really worked well on two girls, who at the beginning of the year, I wouldn't have picked to play on my team. One cried every time she fell and the other just stood there.
It was Doug's Video that gave me the tools and encouragement to train these two and help them obtain the confidence to play at a level beyond anyone's expectations. The examples Doug showed of the various personalities on his team were tremendous. Doug showed me that patience and fun works in the long run.
These girls never scored a goal but they always stopped the ball and turned it around and helped the team. They were always in the right place at the right time. In the semi final, when it really counted, they performed and because of them the other team did not score a goal. The patch rewards and fun games worked extremely well for these girls.
It was a fun road.
Thanks again and again.
Troy, Premium Member --Troy, Premium Member
Your site is great, wish I knew about it 7 & 8 years ago. My daughter was online last night putting together her practice drills for today. She's exactly why I subscribed. I can't tell you how excited she was about the information. --Kathy
Hi David,
I have to tell you that thanks to you I have been able to turn my teams around the past two years into winners. The U8 indoor team I emailed you about 3 weeks ago has now won its last 2 games using the 2-3-2 formation. We scored 4 goals in each game and did not give up any goals. We could have scored more goals today, but we are good sports and did not want to run up the score. We worked on things to improve during the game.
The bunching up game has already helped us to spread out more. We ran it in practice on Thursday and we saw immediate results. It is a winner!
Thanks for all of your great advice!!!
--Bob, Pittsburgh, Premium Member
Hey all - Coach Greg here. What an awesome site. I discovered Soccerhelp.com back about 6 years ago when my now 9 year old son started playing soccer and me coaching. I can tell you - there is nothing even close. That little soccer team back then, The Hurricanes - they were awesome!! Many of those kids still play soccer to this day and I run into many of them who still remember the good ol Hurricane days.
Well, here it is several years later, and I now have a 3 year old daughter. We just started soccer and yep - I coach but not without Soccer Help and Coach Doug's infinite fun!! We play our 4th game of the season tomorrow and the improvement game after game is astonishing. Last weeks game - all I saw were elbows and smiles. Lots of big smiles.
Thanks Coach Doug - Thanks SoccerHelp - My children continue to benefit from your passion!
Play Hard - Play Fair - Have Fun!" --Coach Greg
"Thanks again for a great website! My U12 girls won the end of year tournament. The main thing I saw in my girl's was a huge increase in their confidence while playing. Some of that was better skills, but more important was being used to playing under pressure and in chaotic conditions due to your practice games. I'm ordering the "V" patches to give my girls so they can remember their 1st Place Victory!!" --Philip, U12, WA
Thank you for all of the help that I have received from your site. I have really enjoyed and learned from the vast amount of information available on SoccerHelp premium! I believe that I have been able to make a difference with a large number of kids with the help of the SoccerHelp patches and the DVDs that I received from you. I am the Soccer Coordinator for my city. We had approximately 600 kids playing soccer and close to 50 coaches participating in our program this fall. As a result, I have been a bit of an ambassador for SoccerHelp and am seeing the SoccerHelp methodologies spread across the league as more coaches begin to adopt your patches reward system and coaching techniques. Obviously, I see this a big win for our kids and our organization!
Regards, --Chris, NC
I coach a U7 girls team that plays 7 v. 7 with goalies. It was our first season on a larger field with larger goals, goalies, referees, etc. We had nine games. The first three were with the 1-2-1-2 or 2-1-2-1 formation. We tied the first game 0-0; tied the second 1-1; and lost the third 2-1. For the remainder of the games I implemented a 1-1-2-2 formation with my strongest players at midfield to cover the defensive as well as offensive end and we went 4-1 Win; 4-0 Win; 4-0 Win; 3-0 Win; 0-0 tie; and 3-0 loss in the finale against the best team in the league (we got second). --Coach Chris, U8 TX, Premium Member
My two Fall teams (both girls) went undefeated, My U-10 travel team was 10-0 with 59 goals for and 2 against playing 7 v 7 utilizing a 2-1-2-1 formation. My U-10 rec team (7 year old daughter) went 12-0 with 70 goals for and 7 against playing 6 v 6 utilizing a 1-1-2-1 formation. --David, WV, Premium Member
I have been a hockey coach for years and have coached all levels up through and including high school. I have 7 children - 5 boys and 2 girls and it wasn't until one of my girls needed help to make it to the high school level in soccer that I started paying any attention to soccer. The youngest 5 of 7 of my children all love and play soccer and only one of them cared for hockey, so I changed my focus and started soccer. Your information has been invaluable to me as my daughter will graduate this spring and has made the High School Soccer team every year. The patches, videos and tools have given my daughter a chance to play varsity soccer. It has been fabulous to watch her progress and grow in confidence and ability. Thank you so much! I am still coaching hockey (even though the two oldest have graduated and moved on, oldest may yet play hockey at the college level) and have tried to teach the other coaches to implement the small games concept and stop standing in lines waiting for drills. It's a battle, but it's worth fighting. I will also coach soccer this spring and look forward to it. There is so much to learn and so much joy in the journey! I use your principles and drills/games in both soccer and hockey. It's great!
Thanks again, --Mike, Premium Member, UT
"I've been a fan of soccerhelp.com for a few years now, using it with both regular season teams and all-star teams. This past fall I had a regular season U12G team comprised of 4 girls with real talent, 4 average girls and 4 girls who had limited knowledge, skill and very limited physical ability. I stuck with the soccerhelp.com practice games, repeating the basics over and over, including Dribble Across a Square, Dribble Around a Cone and Pass, Passing Pairs, and games that emphasized the 1st Defender, 2nd Defender concept. Our season was dismal, 2 wins and 6 losses, most of them blow-out losses. Nevertheless, with fun practice games and patches, the girls had a great season and continued to have fun. It all finally came together for them, and they played themselves into the end-of-season tournament championship game, taking second place. I credit the tried and true practice games and patches I found at soccerhelp.com. Thanks!" --Coach Jill
Great web site. You make me look great as a coach. --Howie, GA
I just love Soccerhelp. --Coach Dan, NV, Premium Member for 3 years
I started using the Practice Games last season and love them. Thanks. --Coach Elizabeth, U9 Travel, MA
My real purpose here is to compliment SoccerHelp for providing a different way of recognizing and teaching concepts. My girls are "outskilled" right now because they are playing girls who play more often under the direction of better coaches. The concepts I have gotten here have enabled me to help these girls be more competitive while their skill level improves. --Coach BT, Premium Member, U12
In the Fall, my U-10 girls rec team went 12-0-0 and scored 70 goals and gave up 7. --Coach U, Premium Member
Just wanted to let you know the "bunching up" game is really working for my U8Gs. We had a situation last week where our "short corner" was well defended, and the other teams defense cleared the ball. Our MFs and Fs started to run back to the ball, and when they saw our Stopper move up to win the ball, they stayed spread out. Our stopper won the ball, and passed to our F, who scored. The other coach complimented us on our ability to stay spread out! --David, Premium Member, SC
"First, let me give you the rave reviews that are deserved. Whenever I have a concern with my soccer team's progress that I'm unsure how to address, Soccerhelp is my first and only stop to find the answer. I've been using the techniques and drills for 2 years now with much success. I've been coaching both recreational level and traveling level soccer for 6 years now and am looking to enhance my coaching abilities to advance my team. I've taken several coaching clinics and attended MYSA meetings regarding coaching techniques and practice methods.
Last year, I had a U12 team playing 8v8 including GK. The team had several young and inexperienced players, and to compensate I attempted to implement a 2-1-2-2 formation to better utilize the strengths our team did have. We had a very strong GK who was also our top scorer. We had a very talented and calm Defenseman and we had several fast and enthusiastic midfielders and strikers. Unfortunately, we did not have success with this formation because I was unable to properly instruct each player on his specific areas of responsibility, and more importantly the areas that were NOT his responsibility.
This season I am coaching a U11 traveling team with many similar dynamics to my team from last Fall. I wish to implement this 2-1-2-2 formation, but I do not want to repeat my failures of last year with another group of boys because I fear it will impede, rather than accelerate, their progress.
I very much want to take advantage of the skill sets my more talented players have, while putting my less talented players in positions where they can be successful and contribute to the overall success of the team.
I put in an order today for 130 motivational patches, and am BEYOND excited to introduce them to my team next week. I have no doubt that adding them to our reward system will motivate them even more!
Thanks again for all you do!" -- Matt
U11 Boys Coach
Minnesota
Thank you so much...I have had the opportunity to get on it some today and
read up. Great information!! --Danielle, U10, FL
I'm a new member of Premium and have already found the information to be immensely valuable. Thanks for such a great site. --Brandon
SoccerHelp has helped tremendously. I consistently use the Dribble Across a Square game and the Dribble Around a Cone and Pass game. They have done wonders for my team. Now for the icing....last Monday night we played the "top" team in the league from last season (who were undefeated again this season) and beat them 7-1. It was heaven to say the least. --Coach Chris, U8, TX, Premium Member
I appreciate what you do. SoccerHelp saved me years of learning the hard way and last year we won a tournament using things I learned such as strength on the ball, an organized defense and counterattacking. The patches really help motivate my players. -- Matt, U10 competitive coach, FL
We start every practice after warm up ball dancing with Dribble Around the Cone & Pass Relay Race and the Shoulder Tackle game, these are great drills. We are still struggling with space, the girls pass great to the feet. However, the games from #19 - must have helped and we will keep working on them. The girls won Sat 6-1 best of all. I have to remember the girls are only in 3rd grade, but we work at teaching them "why" not just do it. I know it will pay off in years to come. --Thank you, Jaini
We had our last soccer games and practices last week, and I used the dribble around a cone and pass with my u10 team. It was such a simple game, but made a big difference. I can't wait till next fall to use it as part of my regular practice sessions.
Thanks,
--Tim, OK, U10
I really, really like SoccerHelp Premium. It has helped immensely with my U8 boys team. I announced that patches would go to whoever did a rake or a pullback during a game. They were running over to me during the game (even with a live ball on the field which they shouldn't do!) to make sure I noticed when they did it to make sure they win their patches. Their patch challenge has changed now with each one having a different challenge. For example, and I wouldn't do this as a general principle, but the ones who haven't scored a goal yet will win their next patch either by scoring a goal or making a long dribble. And if they still haven't scored by the last game I may add "or if I see you close to the score goal!!" Again thanks!! -- Coach Don, TN
Thanks for all your help. I used soccerhelp.com 12 years ago when my kids were small and just starting to play soccer. I didn't know much about the sport. The information was very helpful and my teams were always division winners or second place. When I stopped coaching soccer, I actually gave a manual I made from all the drills I used to a rival coach who hated me because our team would always beat his. Now I am going to start coaching my four year old grand-daughter in soccer. I know I need some help. Glad to see SoccerHelp is still around. Thanks again. --Larry
I LOVE the site. Helps me Coach, a LOT!!! Frankly, Its 110% of what I now know! --Michael, CA, U15, Premium Member
I coach a 3rd grade recreational girls' team and just finished the spring season 7-1 after a 1-5-2 fall.
--Coach R, Premium Member
I want to thank you. Here's the bottom line with my U12 Boys travel team. In Fall 2009 we were 4 wins 5 losses (19 Goals scored and gave up 25 Goals). In Spring 2010 our record was 9 Wins 1 Tie (60 Goals scored and gave up 5 Goals). We totally dominated the same teams as the fall with basically the same group of 15 U12 players. The reasons: we used the 2-1-2-2 formation (who cares who's in goal when the other team can't get off a shot?). At every practice we religiously do Dribble Across a Square, Dribble Around A Cone and Pass, etc, etc, - I can go on if you want but the poise my boys have on the ball is leaps and bounds above other teams now.
The boys thank you even though they will never know you.
We are in our leagues champion's tournament, the Commissioner's Cup this weekend and I am hugely confident about winning it.
Regards and respect,
--Thomas Sullivan, U12 Boys travel team, MA
We had a great season. We went 8-3 and took runner up in a double elimination tournament.
--Mark, OK , Premium Member and soccer patches customer
Dear SoccerHelp,
I'm in my 3rd year of coaching soccer at the local "Y" (rec league) and have been a SoccerHelp "mentee" for my entire coaching career (ha!). My son is only 5 1/2 yrs old and will start his 6th session/season in another month.
In the last fall session, I coached a team of twelve 3-4yr olds playing 6v6 without a goalie. Of the 12 players, 4 had played with me in previous seasons. Unfortunately, there was not enough 3 yr olds to sign-up, which resulted in the combining of the 3/4 yr old divisions. Needless to say, the skill set between a first session 3yr old versus a 4th session 4yr old could be quite drastic. Obviously at this age, we don't keep score and focus more on getting the kids comfortable with the game and having fun; however being a competitive person in nature, I'm always tracking goals, turnarounds, acts of bravery, defensive stops, etc. (primarily for my use in awarding soccer patches).
In short, my team clearly dominated as we were undefeated in the 7 games we played by outscoring the other teams 115 to 14 goals. My team only had 4 2nd session 4 year olds on the team and had a child that was only 2 1/2 (and probably too young to have signed up). I think the team's success was a direct result to leverage the SoccerHelp games we play in practice teaching the fundamental concepts of kicking the ball, keeping our heads up and just having fun. By end of the season, every player (except the 2 1/2 yr old) had scored a goal.
Thanks again for your continued support and wisdom on this game that I'm growing to love . In watching the World Cup games with my son, it was a great experience (even though the scoring was minimal). At one point during a game, my son turned to me and said, "Dad, did you see how he kicked the ball to open space." It's great to see he's starting to understand and put some of the concepts together.
--Tim, KY
I want to take a moment to let you know how much I like, and appreciate, your site. I came across it early in my coaching career and I have used it extensively over the years to help me progress from coaching 3, 4, and 5 year olds up to this upcoming season when I will be coaching my first season of 11v11 soccer with my U-14 girls team. Between the coaching and learning more about soccer, I have become a soccer fanatic. I love the game and I love coaching the kids. To me, there's nothing more exciting than seeing that light come on in their minds when they "get it", whatever "it" is.
This past year, fall and spring combined, my U-12 girls went (I think these numbers are right, there were a couple of cancellations) 17-0-1. (The one was questionable but that\'s the way it goes.) Over the past few years, at least since U-10, we have only lost approximately 6-7 games. I attribute a lot of that to learning ways to play my less skillful players in ways that utilize their strengths thereby making them successful as well as making the teams successful. Like you mention so often, I have had some surprises over the years. I have had some players that just couldn't get it and were constantly being beat but my making changes to where/how they play, they became some of my "go to" players for certain positions. I also find it amazing that many of my girls truly love the game and continue to play even while many other activities are pulling them in many different directions.
Anyway, thanks for the site. I'll continue to use this site for at least as long as I continue to coach. --Coach Jason, Premium Member for 4 years
We train young children soccer at our village to keep them away from drug abuse & other social issues.
Your drills are excellent keep it up guys.
Thanks,
--Kianyaga Gift of Nature Youth Group, Kenya
I have used SoccerHelp over the past 4 years and love it. I am sure our coaches will find soccerhelp.com to be a great resource. --Ida, Maryland
"I am a first time assistant coach and slowly becoming the primary. The information I have gotten from here has inspired new ideas." --Carleton
I have enjoyed your website and many great suggestions as I coach my daughter's Kindergarten team. --Srdjan, IL
SoccerHelp Premium is awesome. My coaches love it! --Kristina
I am a Marine Captain stationed at Marine Corps base Quantico in Virginia. I am coaching a young team of military dependants (children of military members) for the first time and I have found your website very helpful in my teaching techniques. I would like to respectfully request your consideration with a special "military" discount on a selection of your patches. (Note from SoccerHelp: We offer a military discount. If you are in the military, let us know. We greatly appreciate the sacrifice our military makes).
--Cesar
In my search to figure out how to better coach our little ones here on base, I found a great website called soccerhelp.com. After signing for a 30-day membership, I found some motivational patches that would incentivize our kids to do better during both practice and games. --Cesar, USMC
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