A PRACTICAL GUIDE TO RECREATIONAL SOCCER - FOR NEW & BEGINNER COACHES
Learn how to plan, organise and deliver engaging soccer sessions, even if you've never coached before.
WHO IS THE COURSE FOR?
Have you Evered wondered, how to become a soccer coach, or is there a online soccer coaching course for beginners. This course is designed for anyone taking their first steps into soccer coaching. An online recreational soccer coaching course.
Whether you are a current or former player, a passionate fan, a parent wanting to support your child’s team, or someone aspiring to become a professional coach, this course is for you.
Alongside practical coaching content, this course includes a simplified breakdown of the Laws of the Game, making the rules easy to understand and apply in real coaching environments.
This football coaching course also includes a clear, easy-to-follow guide to the Laws of the Game, helping beginner coaches understand and apply the rules with confidence.
You will also learn about the different football formats used across age groups in the United States and Canada, giving you the knowledge to deliver age-appropriate coaching sessions and support long-term player development.
Course Duration
⏱️ Over 5 hours of expert-led content, designed to give you practical tools you can apply immediately on the pitch.
Become a Confident Grassroots Football Coach
This soccer coaching course provides a clear understanding of the role of a coach and teaches effective, practical coaching methods that can be applied immediately on the pitch.
You will learn how to:
- Communicate effectively with players and manage a group
- Structure and deliver well-organised training sessions
- Develop player performance through engaging practices
- Create enjoyable and dynamic coaching sessions
- Teach technical skills with clarity and confidence
- Design fun skill games and small-sided games
Using a combination of video examples and diagram-led explanations, the course will guide you step-by-step, giving you the confidence to lead and deliver your own coaching sessions.
Technical Player Development Focus
The course places a strong emphasis on developing players’ technical ability, covering the core areas of:
- Travelling with the ball
- Turning and changing direction
- Passing and receiving
- Shooting
- Dribbling
- Defending in 1v1 situations
This structured approach ensures players improve fundamental skills while enjoying the learning process.
Start Your Soccer Coaching Journey Today
If you’re serious about improving your soccer coaching and developing your players, this course gives you everything you need to get started.
👉 Enroll now and start building your coaching confidence today
.PROBLEMS NEW COACHES FACE -
❌ Unsure how to structure a session
❌ Lack confidence in coaching players
❌ Running repetitive sessions
❌ Struggle to keep players engaged
AFTER THIS AFCAS COACHING COURSE -
✅ Plan effective coaching sessions
✅ Coach with confidence
✅ Deliver enjoyable practices
✅ Develop players through structured activities
Example Video Title
CLICK BELOW FOR VIDEO CONTENT
EASY TO FOLLOW DIAGRAMS AND VIDEO EXAMPLES.
To support you throughout this course, we have created clear, easy-to-follow diagrams and detailed information to help develop your understanding of soccer coaching concepts.
In addition, we provide video examples to give you a visual guide to the techniques, drills, and small-sided games featured in the course. These videos help you see exactly how to teach and demonstrate the skills in practice, creating a clear and easy-to-understand picture of effective coaching methods.
The players taking part in the videos are youth players, as well as new and beginner soccer coaches.
By combining diagrams, written guidance, and video demonstrations, you can learn at your own pace, reinforce your knowledge, and confidently apply the techniques and games with your players.
On completion of the course, you will receive your AFCAS - Course Certificate.
Easy to Follow Guides
Master technical skills through clear, step-by-step guidance designed for immediate application. Our coaching methods and techniques are delivered in easy-to-understand, diagram-led formats, giving you the clarity, structure, and support needed to improve both your coaching and your players’ performance.
Technical Video Examples
Video examples are carefully created and broken down to demonstrate techniques in a clear, easy-to-learn format. This allows coaches to confidently understand and recreate each practice, helping to enhance both delivery and overall coaching confidence.
Technical Fun Games
Our coaching programe includes fun, easy-to-deliver skill games that are designed to maximise player engagement while developing key techniques. Each activity directly supports the technical skills covered in the course, helping players learn, improve, and enjoy the process.
Rules Of The Game (Laws) Of The Game Explained
This course also provides a clear and easy-to-understand guide to the Laws of the Game, breaking down the rules in a simple, practical format for coaches at all levels.
In addition, we explain the different formats of football across various age groups in both the United States and Canada, helping you understand how the game is structured and delivered at each stage of player development.
Small-Sided Games
Our programe includes easy-to-deliver small-sided games that maximise player enjoyment while directly supporting the key skills taught on the course. These sessions are designed to be engaging, practical, and highly effective in developing player performance.
Downloadable Sessions
The course includes downloadable resources, giving you permanent access to all technical skills, practices, fun games, and small-sided games covered. Use them as a session reference or build your own library of coaching material to support your development long after completing the course.
By The End Of This Course You Will Be Able To:
✅ Plan your own coaching sessions
✅ Teach core soccer skills with confidence
✅ Manage and organise groups of players
✅ Deliver enjoyable training sessions
✅ Use skill games and small-sided games effectively
✅ Develop players in a fun and structured environment
Why AFCAS?
AFCAS - COURSE CREATORS
Created by Ged Searson, based in London, UK, with over 30 years of coaching experience from recreational soccer to the professional level, this course is backed by the AFCAS coaching team, who collectively bring over 120 years of experience across all levels of the game.
This depth of real-world knowledge has been used to build a comprehensive, high-quality programme designed to develop confident, knowledgeable, and effective soccer coaches.
Start Coaching With Confidence Today
Join AFCAS and gain the knowledge, tools and practical coaching ideas needed to run enjoyable, effective football sessions from day one.
👉 Get Instant Access Now
FAQ Questions
Do I Need Previous Coaching Experience?
No. This course is designed for beginner coaches.
How Long Do I Have Access?
You have access to the course for six months, so you can revisit at any point.
Do I Receive Certification?
Yes. You will receive your AFCAS Certificate on completion of the course
Can Parents Take This Course?
Absolutely. The course has been created for anyone starting their journey into football coaching
Curriculum
- OBSERVATION, COMMUNICATION AND DEMONSTRATIONS
- THE ART OF OBSERVATION - OBSERVATION POSITIONS
- COMMUNICATION
- TECHNICAL DEMONSTRATIONS (0:50)
- COACHS' POSITION - WHEN DEMONSTRATING
- AS A COACH – REHEARSAL OF TECHNIQUES TO IMPROVE DEMONSTRATIONS (0:26)
- ASK QUESTIONS OF YOUR PLAYERS
- WORKING WITH A PLAYER ONE-TO-ONE TO SUPPORT A PLAYER (1:50)
- PROBLEMS NEW AND BEGINNER COACHES MAY FACE WHEN COMMUNCATING AND DEMONSTRATING - AND SOLUTIONS
- RULES OF THE GAME
- BASIC RULES OF RECREATIONAL SOCCER
- HANDBALL
- RESTARTS - KICK-OFF'S
- FIELD BOUNDARIES
- RESTARTS - FROM THE SIDE-LINES
- RESTARTS - CORNER KICKS.
- FOULS - AWARDING FREE-KICKS AND PENALTY KICKS
- DIRECT AND IN-DIRECT FREE-KICKS
- RESTARTS - PENALTY KICKS
- YELLOW AND RED CARDS
- THE RETREAT LINE / BUILD-OUT LINE. (0:52)
- THE GOALKEEPER
- GOALKEEPER - BACK-PASSES
- HEADING OF THE BALL
- OFFSIDE RULE (LAW). (0:33)
- PLAYER EQUIPMENT
- US - 6 - 8 YEARS OLD - 4V4 SOCCER.
- US - 9 - 10 YEARS OLD - 7V7 SOCCER.
- US - 11 - 12 YEARS OLD - 9V9 SOCCER.
- US - 13+ YEARS OLD - 11V11 SOCCER
- CANADA - U7 - 3v3
- CANADA - U8-U9 - 4v4 / 5v5 (WITH GOALKEEPERS)
- CANADA - U10-U11 - 7v7
- CANADA - U12 - 9v9
- CANADA - U13 - 9v9 / 11v11
- SMALL-SIDED-GAMES
- SMALL-SIDED-GAMES - STRUCTURES
- SMALL-SIDED-GAMES - WITH NO GOALKEEPERS.
- SMALL-SIDED GAMES WITH AN ODD NUMBER OF PLAYERS
- MARKING OUT MULTIPLE FIELDS
- SIZES OF FIELDS - MAKING THE MOST OF LIMITED SPACE
- COACH AND REFEREE - POSITIONING
- COACH AND REFEREE - AND RULES OF THE GAME
- SMALL-SIDED GAME RESTARTS
- SMALL-SIDED GAMES - WITH MULTI BALL
- SMALL-SIDED GAMES - THE NUMBERS GAME
- SMALL-SIDED GAMES – FUN, DEVELOPMENT, AND COMPETITION
- SMALL-SIDED GAMES - DO NOT RESTRICT YOUNG PLAYERS TO POSITIONS
- PROBLEMS NEW AND BEGINNER COACHES MAY FACE WITH SMALL-SIDED GAMES - AND SOLUTIONS.
- BALL FEELING
- THE IMPORTANCE OF BALL FEELING AND BALL SENSITIVITY
- BALL FEELING - PLAYERS WORKING IN THEIR OWN SPACE (0:33)
- BALL FEELING EXERCISES - USING THE SOLE OF THE FOOT
- FOOT ROLLING - BACK AND FORTH (1:11)
- FOOT ROLLING - SIDE TO SIDE (1:27)
- FOOT ROLLING - CIRCLES (1:22)
- TOE ROLLING (1:26)
- HOPPING WITH THE BALL (0:29)
- FOOT TAPPING (0:32)
- FOOT TAPPING - MOVING FORWARDS AND BACKWARDS (0:26)
- SOLE OF THE FOOT - BALL FEELING EXERCISES - DOWNLOADS
- BALL FEELING EXERCISES - WITH DIFFERENT SURFACES OF THE FOOT
- TOE TAPPING (0:59)
- TOE TAPPING - MOVING FORWARDS AND BACKWARDS (2:00)
- HEAD-UP - TOE TAPPING AND CATCHING A BALL. (0:35)
- PULLING THE BALL WIDE (0:31)
- ANKLE FLICKS (0:39)
- CUT AND CHOPS (1:29)
- DOUBLE CUTS (0:35)
- SIDE ROLLING (0:35)
- TOE TO SOLE (1:09)
- SOLE TO HEEL (2:22)
- TRAVELLING WITH THE BALL
- TRAVELLING WITH THE BALL - TECHNIQUE
- TRAVELLING WITH THE BALL - THE IMPORTANCE OF VISUAL AWARENESS.
- TRAVELLING WITH THE BALL - PRACTICE (1:17)
- TRAVELLING WITH THE BALL - 'STATUES' (1:12)
- TRAVELLING WITH THE BALL - 'CARRYING' THE BALL WITH THE OUTSIDE OF THE FOOT. (0:55)
- TRAVELLING WITH THE BALL - 'MR. WOLF'.
- STRUCTURING A TURNING SESSION (0:35)
- TURNING WITH THE BALL - TECHNIQUES.
- BASIC TURNS - STOP TURN (3:01)
- BASIC TURNS - DRAG-BACK TURN (3:44)
- BASIC TURNS - INSIDE TURN (1:35)
- BASIC TURNS - OUTSIDE TURN (1:56)
- PROGRESSION - TURN AND ACCELERATION (1:07)
- TURNING WITH THE BALL - SUMMARY AND TECHNICAL DOWNLOADS
- SHOOTING - STRIKING THE BALL WITH THE LACES
- STRIKING THE BALL WITH THE LACES - TECHNIQUE (0:26)
- STRIKING THE BALL WITH THE LACES - TECHNIQUE PRACTICE (0:27)
- STRIKING THE BALL WITH THE LACES - STRIKING A MOVING BALL (0:35)
- STRIKING THE BALL WITH THE LACES - STRIKING A MOVING BALL vs A GOALKEEPER (0:35)
- STRIKING THE BALL WITH THE LACES - WITH A BALL MOVING TOWARDS THE PLAYER
- DRIBBLING WITH THE BALL
- DRIBBING WITH THE BALL - BEATING OPPONENTS
- DRIBBLING SESSION - STRUCTURE
- DRIBBLING - SHIFTING THE BALL (0:49)
- BASIC DRIBBLE MOVE - SCISSORS (2:43)
- BASIC DRIBBLE MOVE - SCISSORS - PRACTICE BREAKDOWN
- BASIC DRIBBLE MOVE - SIDE SHUFFLE (1:41)
- BASIC DRIBBLE MOVE - SIDE SHUFFLE - PRACTICE BREAKDOWN
- BASIC DRIBBLE MOVE - ZIDANE (1:02)
- BASIC DRIBBLE MOVE - ZIDANE - PRACTICE BREAKDOWN
- DRIBBLING PAST AN OBSTACLE (0:21)
