James has been coaching for over 10 years. He started his career with the Liverpool FC Youth Academy and coached them to a FA Youth Cup Final. James has now joined DMS 11 in Southern California and is a freelance writer for AVID Soccer.

Teams such as Barcelona and Manchester United have recently been winning titles and Championships with an active playing squad of up to 25 Professionals. Back in the 1960′s and 70′s Liverpool FC dominated English and European Soccer using just 13-15 players.

Squad rotation is now hugely important to coaches. The physical, technical and mental demands at the top are so high. This push for increased team numbers has filtered down to youth soccer. For me it provokes many thoughts, chiefly the all important and sensitive issue of kids playing time/opportunities on the field.

I follow the belief that the strongest players should play and be given the best chance to develop and shine. My background, in football, is working at the professional level. At that level, the objective was quite clear – help produce a player (s) who can play for the clubs first team. The importance of the individual can often, therefore, outweigh the development of a team.

The talented player needs a training platform that is often only provided by a squad. Sufficient numbers are needed to facilitate effective practices that are both challenging and realistic. As a coach, I tend to learn most about my players during small and full sided games. The competitive weekend fixture is also the time when they will be recognized individually and collectively. It’s simple, without the numbers a team cannot play.

I was guided by a Dutch Technical Director during my time as Liverpool Football Clubs Academy U18 coach. He championed the need for a larger playing squad, based on the theory that it would stimulate competition for places in the starting eleven and enhance specific player recovery. He wanted a 2 team system, where the strongest players would play matches, and the remaining squad would train together at the same time.

A good ethos at the Elite level. The better individuals are playing and given the opportunity to demonstrate their talent. The remainder of the squad are challenged to reach the ‘Team’ – Psychological strength and focus often becomes equally important as technical ability.

My future is now. I have a new challenge and environment to work in. I’m delighted to be coaching youth soccer in the US. It’s a great opportunity for me to share my knowledge and ideas. It’s very much a period of discovery and change for me. The game is the same, but the demands and expectations are very different. I’m learning every day. I must appreciate that there is a greater need for inclusion. All the boys in my current squad should be given the chance to play.

It goes back to ‘Numbers.’ I strongly believe in quality not quantity, improvement not enlargement. I have a responsibility to provide opportunities and satisfy the Director of Coaching and the parents at my Club.

This is the first in a series of three articles on national coaching manuals.  FIFA is the  governing body in soccer world wide.  Below that, there are regional bodies (Concacaf in our case).  At the national level, US Soccer is the governing body that oversees all national/olympic team, professional (MLS, USSL, PSL, WPL, etc.), and amateur play.

The manual is self described as:

“The definitive playing and coaching manual for youth soccer.  Compiled by the coaching, educational, and technical staff of U.S. Soccer, this book offers extensive information on all aspects of the game: technique, tactics, laws, prevention and care of injury, coaching preparation, organizational structure, model training sessions, and more than 100 practice games suitable for developing aspects of every player’s game.”

Obviously that is a lot to cover in just over 300 pages, but it does a remarkable job.  Most techniques are covered in one or two pages with a description, tips, illustrations and common mistakes.  Goalkeeping actually receives as much attention as the field players.  Since this position is unique, it is usually the focus of or ignored by most manuals.  Tactics are described at an introductory level, but include graphics that explain the text.  The laws are described briefly with some diagrams, but off-sides requires a much better definition.  The coaching section focuses on an age appropriate environment.  There is a small blurb on each age/development group and what to expect from these players.  The book includes details field sizes, warm-up/cool down and injury prevention.

The final section of the book is the games.  They are grouped by technique/tactic in order to make practice planning easier.  Each game has a name, rules/set-up, benefits (targeted techniques or tactics), phase (tactical group size – i.e. individual or large group), and age recommendation.  Some games also have diagrams to explain the field set-up or appropriate player movement.  Most of the games are less than a page in length and would run 10 to 15 minutes in practice.

The book itself is visually stunning.  It has hundreds of full color photographs and 3D graphics to illustrate the material on heavy bond paper.  The margins are wide and there is room to write notes.  It is every well organized and can be read cover to cover or as a hunt and find reference manual.  Unfortunately, it is a paperback with a glue binding.  As I move through the book, I found myself wishing it had been published as a binder.  I would love to be able to insert my practice plans for future session.  I also wanted to lay the book flat to make it easier to highlight and read while writing.  I wonder how long it will take for the binding to break and for pages to start falling out.

 Over all, this manual should be in every coaches library.  For recreational coaches, this probably covers every topic you need.  For club and amateur coaches/players, this provides insight into the US strategies and development program.  For professional coaches, this is THE Official Manual.

Soccer: How to Play the Game; The Official Playing and Coaching Manual of the United States Soccer Federation is published by Universe Publishing.  Universe is a division of Rizzoli International Publications, Inc.