In this issue
Featuring more than 150 activities, this year’ s United Soccer Coaches Pre-Season Journal serves as a go-to resource for age-appropriate training activities and session plans. The issue also includes timely articles covering a wide range of topics across the game.
04 A Coaching Resource | Paul Payne 05 United Soccer Coaches: Convention 2027 | See you in Kansas City! 06 Membership Services: Awards + Recognition | Allison Pronske 08 How to Create an Effective Training Session | Jeff Vennell 10 The Importance of Practice | Dr. Jay Martin 12 YOUTH SESSIONS 36 The“ Secrets” To Scoring Goals | John DeBenedictis 42 HIGH SCHOOL SESSIONS 60 Principles of Practice | Richard A. Schmidt 66 COLLEGE SESSIONS 84 PROFESSIONAL SESSIONS 98 Coaching Checklist | Jon Aiken, Gabriel Chapman 100 GOALKEEPING SESSIONS 112 Diversity in Attack: Attacking from the Flanks | Don Norton, Jr.
Behind the scenes
PUBLISHED BY: United Soccer Coaches
MANAGING & DESIGN EDITOR: Lisa Morel United Soccer Coaches | Creative Content Manager lmorel @ unitedsoccercoaches. org
EDITOR: Dr. Jay Martin Edwards Gym Ohio Wesleyan University, Delaware, Ohio 43015 Office: 740-368-3727 | Fax: 740-368-3751 jamartin @ owu. edu
ASSOCIATE EDITORS: Lori Kleiböhmer United Soccer Coaches | Paul Marco, David Simeone, Sarah Wilbur, Pat Madden
ADVERTISING CONTACT: Jason Neumann United Soccer Coaches | Partnerships Manager jneumann @ UnitedSoccerCoaches. org
ONLINE: UnitedSoccerCoaches. org / Soccer-Journal
PRINTER: Royle Printing, Sun Prairie, Wis.
POSTMASTER: Please send address changes to United Soccer Coaches Soccer Journal 30 W. Pershing Rd, Suite 203 Kansas City, MO 64108
The views and opinions expressed by Soccer Journal contributors are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of United Soccer Coaches.
Soccer Journal( USPS, 568-630, ISSN 0560-3617) is published quarterly with one special issue in the summer by United Soccer Coaches, 30 W. Pershing Rd, Suite 203, Kansas City, MO 64108. Periodical postage paid at Kansas City, Mo., and additional mailing offices.
Subscription information: A portion of the annual United Soccer Coaches membership fee brings Soccer Journal to members for one year. It is one of the many benefits of membership.
Reproduction or reuse of this material in whole or part is forbidden without the express written permission of United Soccer Coaches.
2026 PRE-SEASON SOCCER JOURNAL | 3