Baird, David: Scoreboard Soccer: Creating the Environment to Promote Youth Player Development

Scoreboard Soccer develops players through play and praise. The Scoreboard Soccer concept derives from the belief that the environment created for players will influence the behaviors they will practice and refine over time. This book presents the fun, inclusive, and nurturing environments which can be used to develop young players‘ skills. When participating in a Scoreboard Soccer game, players will work in an environment that creates realistic game situations, practicing opposition, change of direction, and transition. In these situations, the players will work on those skills coaches wish to develop in young players: passing, dribbling, shooting, and tackling. What sets the Scoreboard Soccer concept apart from traditional training methods is the added incentive for players to demonstrate these positive behaviors: the scoreboard. Using the scoreboard gives each practice a fun challenge in addition to learning the tactics and techniques and can encourage and reward player effort and involvement. In addition to the Scoreboard Soccer concept, coaching, and content is a complete Scoreboard Soccer curriculum which can be used as a longer-term development plan.