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Coaching Resources

The U.S. Soccer Federation identifies Six Tasks of a Coach:

  • Coaching Games
  • Coaching Training Sessions (Practices)
  • Leading the Team
  • Leading the Player
  • Managing the Performance Environment
  • Leadership/Role Model

On this page you will find resources to primarily help with Coaching Training Sessions. We encourage anyone who is more interested in coaching to explore the coaching education available through the United States Soccer Federation or United Soccer Coaches. If you create a free profile on the United States Soccer Federation Learning Center, you can take the free introduction to Grassroots course.

Grassroots Soccer: Play, Practice, Play

The U.S. Soccer Grassroots Coaching philosophy utilizes a "Play, Practice, Play" methodology for training sessions. Check out the Maryland State Youth Soccer's Grassroots Coaching Page for outstanding resources including:
- Training session plans to cover your whole season for all ages
- "Play, Practice, Play" session manual
- Grassroots curriculum and philosophy



Check out the Free Introduction to Grassroots online course at US Soccer!
You can also plan your session using a series of activities leading up to a scrimmage. Notice that we used the word "activities" rather than "drills." We want the players active and moving as much as possible, getting hundreds of touches on the ball at every practice. Whether you use the Play, Practice, Play method or an Activities-based method, we want to avoid the three L's:
- Laps
- Lines
- Lectures
Maryland State Youth Soccer Association has another Coaching Resources Page with Activities-based session plans for a full season at every age group. The activities in the 12U section are suitable for older teams as well.

EYO is proud to partner with Soccer Source 360. Coaches can download SS360 training manuals with session plans and guidance for their age group here:

Soccer Adventures - U6/U7

U8 Soccer

U9 Soccer

U11 Soccer

U13 and Up


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