Soccer IQ: Things That Smart Players Do, Vol. 1

As a father of three young soccer players aged 8 to 11, I can’t recommend Soccer IQ Volumes 1 & 2 enough! These book as well as its audiobooks have become a staple in our household, and we’ve read and listened to them multiple times. Each chapter is short, engaging, and packed with practical insights that have truly transformed how my kids approach the game. The lessons in these books aren’t just theoretical; I’ve witnessed my children applying them on the field. From understanding positioning to making smarter decisions during play, the impact is clear. The author, Dan Blank, offers invaluable tips in a straightforward manner that resonates with young players. It's refreshing to find a resource that speaks directly to them, making it accessible and fun. Whether you’re a parent, coach, or player, Soccer IQ is an essential read. It’s not just about practice; it’s about cultivating a smart approach to the game that will serve them well for years to come. Thank you, Dan Blank, for creating such a fantastic resource!

Enough good things cannot be said about this book. I got it for helping me to coach as well as to see if it would improve my own play. I was able to immediately apply the information from this book after only reading a few pages the first day. There is so much good stuff in here, you have to be careful to pace yourself since you won't remember it all, and you certainly can't coach that many points in a practice or two. As the book suggests, I coached about one new point per practice. I could see immediate improvements in the game of my U14 rec girls. Some of it may be a repeat of what you have already learned, but presented in a way that you can teach it better. As for my own play, I'm in my late 30s and have played soccer for 20 years, but didn't get to a high competitive level and did not have good coaching during my formative years. I learned how to play my own game better as I coached my girls and I had to figure out how to improve their game. This book helped me become a better player in addition to a better coach, and I remember the first game where I applied a couple of the points in this book, and I was complimented for how well I played that day. I didn't play any harder, but I definitely played smarter, and that's even more helpful when you're my age trying to keep up players 10 and 15 years your junior.

This is written in a very casual tone, as if the author is speaking to you at a practice. It has some good points for those coaching older kids, but if you are looking for a book to help coach younger kids, this is not it, as it does not focus on technical training. It doesn't focus on any topic or set of related topics but, instead, covers a wide range of topics, with about a page or page and a half devoted to each topic.

I gave this book to my grandson for his birthday. He was so excited he excused himself & left to start reading it because he had a game Saturday to prepare for ! He had always been an avid reader from picture books at the age of 2 continuing to now age 12 . By midafternoon he had corralled his sister and one of his friends up the street into a strategy & passing practice . They practice for two hours different plays & his sister who is 9 also on a soccer team was just as excited as her brother learning new passing moves . Before you knew it Saturday game day & everyone was filled with anticipation . Sure didn’t take long for my grandson to score. He attributes his passing abilities & strategy all to the book Soccer IQ vol 1. He now wants vol 2 ! He mentioned there were a lot of tips he never thought of, & some don’ts as well. They Won the game 3 to 2 A happy ending for all !! He highly recommends this book to improve your game ! Thank you Dan for a well written soccer book filled with do and don’ts, strategies, passing tips, & Encouragement !

I have the paperback, which has 119 pages. The book consists of a series of short chapters (1-4 pages or so) on 54 different aspects of soccer. The book has a few drawings as well. Since I think that American football has peaked in its popularity, I'm looking for other sports that may rise across time. Don't get me wrong, I think the Super Bowl will still be played 20 years from now, but quarterbacks may not be receiving multi-million dollar guaranteed contracts. This book provided an entertaining start for my study of soccer. The author is an experienced college soccer coach in the SEC and elsewhere. He coaches women's soccer. His book is directed to players and coaches. He won't leave you confused on his coaching points - "DO THIS" or "DON'T DO THAT". I appreciated his approach. He also uses humor to make his points. For instance, on page 84, he observes: " Trying to keep possession from a throw in from your own defensive third is like trying to organize a jail break in broad daylight. It's not impossible, but there's a really good chance you're going to get shot." These kind of observations make the book an enjoyable read. I expect that soccer coaches and players would find these tips useful. I'm glad I started with this book in my study is soccer. I recommend it.

This book is perfect for players 8+. Bought this for my 9 year old. Chapters are short and can by very impactful. Highly recommend for your kids and their teammates. To be honest, adults could learn a lot as well.

No matter how much you think you know, this book is going to teach you to always strive to learn more. It doesn't matter if you are a coach, a player, a soccer parent, a referee or even just someone who likes to read about sports, this book should be required reading material. This is one of those books you keep around and re-read each season. I have coached this game for nearly 20 years and I still find a wealth of information in this one, last season my team went undefeated and many of the philosophies that Dan Blank teaches I applied with great success. If you're a coach, recommend it to your parents (if at the youth level) or to the players if they're older. If you're a league official, you should suggest all coaches read this. Various leagues around the country always have their own "training" they rush you through to prepare you to coach, but this book is for a coach at any level. This is the kind of great soccer wisdom that will last as long as the game is played. You can tell the author genuinely has his heart in the game and is sharing valuable information and not trying to massive profit of it. (This book is priceless!)

Several Years ago, one of the smart dads from our High School Soccer Team encouraged me to increase my Soccer IQ so I'd have more credibility discussing Soccer with my son. I greatly regret not finding and reading this book sooner. After reading most of the book and I'm about finished, I've purchased 4 other of Dan Blanks books and started reading Happy Feet (for Soccer Parents) as well. These books are a must if you want your child to thrive at soccer AND Enjoy the game more. I love how short and concise the chapters are. Easy read and the better your son or daughter understands these concepts, the more playing time they are likely to get. I've seen my son play at Soccer Camps at Akron University and be a huge difference maker. I've seen him play for his High School and now College coaches and not play to his potential which is naturally frustrating for him. Why is he so much more aggressive at a Soccer Camp and not for his HS or College Coach? I think it's too much of a focus on trying to do everything perfectly and not doing the little things that come instinctively to smart players that can make a huge difference even for non technical players. At the College Level, you have to play faster and to play faster you have to be smarter. I'm excited to give this book to my son when he comes home from College next week. There's so many little things most players can do better that can elevate their game and the game of their team mates. I so wish I had purchased this book 4 years ago.