Review
Andy has figured out the core of what makes players valuable. He has boiled the game down to its critical essence. He captivated and motivated me with his intelligent use of inspiring and meaningful quotations. It's a book not just about the technical foundation of the game but also about the elements that define the margins of soccer greatness i.e. aggressive creativity, self-discipline, competitive fire and self-belief. Wonderfully original!! It should be an essential component of any soccer coach or parent's library. It's outstanding! --Anson Dorrance: Head Women's Coach at the University of Carolina
A must for youth soccer coaches. Read it. Think about it. Then, reconsider everything you do. If you can't take away something- quite possibly a lot- from this book, you are doing a disservice to your players. --Jim Sheldon: Executive Director of the National Soccer Coaches Association of America
I attended one of Andy's practice sessions in the Fall of 2004. I watched his two U11 girl's teams practicing. I have never seen such a large group of 10 year old girls where every player had such advanced dribbling and shooting technique under pressure. --Jeff Tipping: National Soccer Coaches Association of America Director of Coaching
About the Author
In this exceptional coaching book Andy Barney, one of soccer's original thinkers, gives the soccer coaching establishment food for thought and self-examination in a way that only someone with his background, study and experience can. Andy was born in Oxford, England and was brought up in a soccer family with two generations of professional play. Andy was a registered semi-professional player with Oxford City at age 16. He became a branch sales manager for a large office equipment company at 21. While studying Physical Education from ages 23 to 26, he was ever present with the British Collegiate team. He graduated with honors in Human Movement Studies at 26. Before moving to America, he coached British youth soccer teams for ten years and lectured in Physical Education. After arriving in Kansas City, he founded British Soccer Camps (now Challenger Sports, the USA s largest camp organization). He was Director of Coaching for the Kansas State Soccer Association from age 27 to 32 and formerly Mid-West Girls Regional Director of Coaching and USSF U19 National Staff Coach/Selector. For five years he served as Director of Marketing and Coaching for a multi-million dollar indoor soccer and sports mall company. He coached at Avila University in Kansas City, is currently in his 18th year as Director of Coaching for the Kansas City Legends Soccer Club and is an NSCAA Convention clinician. Andy holds a United States Soccer Federation A License , an NSCAA Advanced National Diploma and coaching qualifications in 8 other sports. Andy s teams have won 13 National Indoor Championships & 3 USYSA Regional Championships. A team with ten of Andy s former players coached by Chris Klein of U.S. National team fame, won the U20 National Outdoor Championship in 2002. Andy is the owner of Soccer Excellence Inc., the K.C. Legends Soccer Club, National Indoor Soccer Championship, SuperClubs North America, the SuperClubs National Team Tours and the HappyFeet Preschool & Legends Soccer Club Franchises. Andy is the author of a 320 page book on soccer coaching Training Soccer Legends . In this vivid, unorthodox soccer book he describes the philosophies and methods that have led to the successes of the teams and individual players who play for the Kansas City Legends Soccer Club. Moving from topic to topic, in each segment he provides new thought-provoking insight on questionable youth coaching methods. He draws from the many strands of his experience, his passion for the game of soccer, his lifelong infatuation with the great players of each era, his study of physical development and leadership, his loyal credo, his adventures in competition with players of many different ages, abilities, classes and national backgrounds, plus the hard work, headaches and rewards of the soccer playing, promoting and coaching life. Plainspoken, wise and enormously original, here at last is a book that addresses past and current coaching abuses, forges new developmental pathways and expands future coaching horizons. This is a book written for every soccer player, aficionado, coach or parent with a vision of maximizing each individual s potential.
