Some of My Soccer Interests
Jonas T. Holdeman, Jr.
About 25 years ago a youth soccer program was started in Knox County, Tennessee, associated with the American Youth Soccer Organization (AYSO). It was, for the most part, a do-it-yourself operation. My three sons wanted to participate. I had never participated in organized athletics, and had never even seen a soccer game. I volunteered to help, and ended up as a coach, official, player, instructor and administrator. I tried to learn as much as I could, and have been fortunate to have been taught by and learned from some of the best coaches and instructors in the country and even the world. Age, an injury and knee surgery changed that part of my life.
I still coach young children (under six years old) using a program I developed over a decade ago, where the children play games with three players on each team. In 1995 I wrote a description of the program, which I offer here in slightly updated form, “Organizing for 3wee Soccer”.
When the United States was selected to host the 1994 world cup games, a group from the Knoxville area prepared a bid package proposing Knoxville and Neyland Stadium on the University of Tennessee campus as one of the venues for some of the early round games. I prepared “A Short History of Soccer in the Knoxville Area” as part of that bid package.
In 1991 I was working on material which was to be part of a youth soccer coaching manual. The work was not adopted and never completed. I offer my thoughts on understanding youth soccer to those parents and volunteers who, like I once was, may be struggling to learn one day ahead of what they are teaching.
Team Management for the Youth Soccer Coach
Understanding Low Pressure Defense and Counter Attack
5 v 3 Play, A Contrast in Styles
Sports Medicine for the Youth Soccer Coach