Book excerpt: Each spring and fall, hundreds of thousands of kids across North America join local recreation department soccer teams—and thousands of unprepared adults are drafted as coaches. Similarly, every summer, camp counselors are expected to play soccer with children from age five to fifteen. Knack Coaching Youth Soccer applies the unique quick-reference, visually organized Knack format to present a season’s worth of plans, exercises, strategies, and tips to help coaches avoid embarrassment, have fun, and leave kids with the happiest experience possible. It addresses the different levels of coaching, both by age and by league. And it expertly covers soccer mechanics, strategy, and coaching philosophy, and provides extensive examples of drills and games for practices. Its 450 full-color photos plus charts and diagrams are complemented by easy-to-follow instructions and plenty of ideas for creating a winning team. • 450 full-color photos • Charts and diagrams • Kindergarten to middle school • Covers soccer both for boys and for girls