Science and Practice of Youth Soccer

Soccer remains the world’s most popular sport with significant numbers of the world’s population engaged in grassroots soccer, particularly during childhood and adolescence. There is considerable scientific and practical data focused on soccer science available, most of which relates to elite performers and does not address the needs to grassroots coaches in understanding the science of soccer and translating this into practical messages and learning to help coaches maximise the experiences, enjoyment and development of the more than 250 million players who play grassroots soccer worldwide.

Science and Practice of Youth Soccer presents a comprehensive and accessible introduction to key topics relating to effective player and team development in youth grassroots soccer. Written by international experts and practitioners in the field and with a particular emphasis on the development of children and youth, the book provides essential guidance of how science translates into practice for coaches and those working in youth grassroots soccer. Each chapter outlines the scientific research base for each topic, highlights myths and misconceptions that are commonplace in current practice of grassroots coaches and then provides practical solutions that coaches can take and use in their coaching practice.

This book is key reading to those working in or studying sport and exercise science, sports coaching and sports development and also of interest to grassroots coaches and parents of soccer players.

Michael Duncan is a Professor of Sport and Exercise Science at Coventry University and a British Association of Sport and Exercise Sciences accredited (BASES-accredited) Sport and Exercise Scientist with research interests in the field of children, motor competence, movement science, physical activity and exercise. He is a Fellow of the BASES, a member of the International Motor Development Research Consortium and a UEFA licensed football coach.

Mark Noon, PhD, is a Senior Lecturer in Sport and Exercise Science. He is a Chartered Scientist, a BASES-accredited Sport and Exercise Scientist, an accredited strength and conditioning coach, and a UEFA A licensed coach (accredited level 4 coach). Mark’s previous employment includes sport science and coaching roles in football at international, professional and semiprofessional levels.

André Seabra, PhD, is a Professor at Faculty of Sport, University of Porto, and Director of the Portugal Football School, Portugal Football Association (PFA). He holds a PhD degree in sports science, a master’s degree in high performance training and a master’s degree in public health. In 2013, he received the sponsorship of UEFA and PFA to implement an intervention study titled "Football as Novel Therapeutic Approach to Prevent Childhood Obesity in Portugal".