When it comes to learning (or teaching someone) how to play soccer, coaching is where it all starts. Specifically, in-person coaching and training help build the physical condition, muscle strength, dexterity, and endurance for 90-minute games where players may run about six miles.
But there's another kind of coaching that's become more widespread with social media and blog posts: online coaching. While the best soccer coaching websites can't run with you through the physical side of soccer, they can be invaluable in providing theoretical knowledge of soccer drills, advanced tactics, practice plans, assisting in mental development, and even detailing what soccer gear men wear.
Once you complement the knowledge from online training plans with excellent gear like soccer goalie equipment from Storelli.com, you can get a leg up on the opposition.
Our Favorites
- Best for Mental Performance Coaching – MindCoach by Dr. Singer (Storelli)
- Best for Animated Drills & Practice Plans – SoccerDrive.com
- Best for Professional-Level Coaching Resources – The Coaching Manual
- Best Free Resource for Grassroots Coaches – SoccerXpert
- Best for Coaching Certifications & Education – United Soccer Coaches
- Best for Advanced Tactical Learning – Modern Soccer Coach
Website Profiles
Best for Animated Drills & Practice Plans – SoccerDrive.com
SoccerDrive is perhaps one of the most comprehensive libraries of player development plans for youth soccer, dividing the training sessions by age and the development of the players. The platform uses 3D visuals and animations to show precisely how exercises and drills should look, and they can be adapted to different skill levels and team sizes. Coaches can also use the drill drawing tool to customize their soccer training sessions, allowing them to adapt the website's tools to their team's needs.
Pros: Clear 3D visuals for describing drills and ball mastery, customizable training programs, and different plans for various skill levels from U7 to U16.
Cons: Some content is too basic for experienced coaches, especially on the free plan.
Ideal For: Youth coaches who want easy-to-use practice plans with visuals.
Best for Professional-Level Coaching Resources – The Coaching Manual
The Coaching Manual is practically a one-stop shop for a coach who already has the bare bones of a plan and just needs to put it on paper or customize their soccer drills for the group. It's got a library of actual video coaching sessions that explain in-depth what and how to teach soccer skills to young players. This is made even easier by using the provided session planner with a drag-and-drop interface that allows you to put different equipment and players on the pitch and get a full overview of the session. The platform is vetted by an actual coaching staff, so its quality is on a professional level.
Pros: Integrated session planner and training calendar that can work on an entire season, pro-level video explanations and training tips, promoted by governing bodies.
Cons: The amount of content and options might be a bit overwhelming, and the best features are paywalled
Ideal For: Clubs and coaches that want to add structure and improve the quality of their training resources.
Best Free Resource for Grassroots Coaches – SoccerXpert
Extensive soccer coaching resource platforms are rare, but SoccerXpert takes it to the next level by being entirely free. This makes it a trove of valuable information for volunteer coaches who need to teach soccer fundamentals, such as how to properly wear shin guard sleeves. The website is specifically catered toward youth soccer training, with different options based on age and skill level. One of the sacrifices you make with free content is that the explanations are a bit rudimentary – there are no advanced visuals, animations, or any kind of video content for most drills.
Pros: Completely free to use, easy to navigate, and simple to grasp, with a solid library of skills training drills.
Cons: Lacks advanced visuals and animations for most drills.
Ideal For: Volunteer or grassroots coaches with limited budgets.
Best for Coaching Certifications & Education – United Soccer Coaches
United Soccer Coaches is the largest coaching organization and community in the U.S., with a distinct focus on "forging" better coaches rather than providing direct session assistance. But apart from an educational platform, it works as a networking and certification tool to ensure you, as a coach, get the best resources and are set up for success. The certification and seminars can open doors to higher-level coaching positions down the line, making the yearly membership fee an excellent investment if you're all in on being a coach.
Pros: Extensive library and network of resources for improving a coach's training methodology through continuous education.
Cons: Requires a membership fee for access.
Ideal For: Career coaches pursuing certification, structured education paths, and career improvement.
Best for Advanced Tactical Learning – Modern Soccer Coach
While most soccer coaching platforms focus on drills, ball mastery, or other physical aspects, Modern Soccer Coach delves into teaching tactics and leadership. This is done through podcasts made by professional coaches and leaders in U.S. and European soccer organizations, with the focus on focusing on giving coaches the philosophy to teach players about the game conceptually rather than physically. This extends to learning advanced tactics present in professional soccer, which can then be applied to youth soccer and even small-sided games.
Pros: A variety of e-learning modules, including podcasts, e-books, webinars, and direct networking with thought leadership.
Cons: Most of the content is locked behind a paywall.
Ideal For: Ambitious coaches looking to go to the next level with advanced tactical knowledge to make them and their players better.
Best for Mental Performance Coaching – MindCoach by Dr. Singer (Storelli)
MindCoach is the first self-help mental coaching resource for players and coaches alike, allowing them to build lasting habits that boost the player's confidence from their start in youth soccer to pro-level play. The platform is created and vetted by Dr. Singer—a sports psychologist—and his team, with an AI chatbot to provide round-the-clock mental support for players.
Pros: Personalizes mental health support as it pertains to soccer, available 24/7 through an AI chatbot.
Cons: No actual skills coaching, only has a subscription model.
Ideal For: Athletes and coaches who want to improve the mental component of soccer.
How to Choose the Best Soccer Coaching Website
Budget Considerations: Start by determining your budget for coaching resources. Free options like SoccerXpert provide excellent basic content, while paid platforms like The Coaching Manual offer advanced features and professional-quality content that may justify the investment for serious coaches.
Focus Area Alignment: Identify what exactly you want to improve with e-learning platforms. Technical skill development coaches should consider platforms like SoccerDrive for visual drill instruction, while those seeking official recognition should explore United Soccer Coaches for certifications. Coaches interested in player psychology should prioritize MindCoach for mental performance training.
Coaching Level Requirements: Grassroots coaches may find comprehensive free resources sufficient, while elite-level coaches typically need advanced tactical platforms and professional development content that justify premium subscriptions. The latter might also be much better served with networking options.
Complementary Resource Integration: Consider how online coaching resources fit into your complete training program. Pair digital coaching tools with quality protective equipment, such as youth goalie gear or goalkeeper protective gear, to ensure player safety matches coaching quality.
Final Thoughts
The best soccer coaching websites provide comprehensive tools in one aspect of coaching: technical skill development, tactical understanding, educational advancement, or mental performance enhancement. It's up to you as a coach to pick and choose which to focus on and implement in your regime, or how they can be joined into a comprehensive plan.
Just as effective coaching requires addressing players' complete development—technical, tactical, physical, and mental—players will benefit most by using quality protective and performance gear. And in that area, Storelli.com offers unparalleled performance for both mens and womens soccer gear and makes every training session as safe as it can be.
FAQs
What is the best soccer coaching website for youth coaches?
For youth coaches, SoccerDrive.com offers the best combination of visual learning tools and age-appropriate content. The 3D animations make complex drills easy to understand and implement, while the customizable practice plans adapt to different skill levels and team sizes.
Are there free soccer coaching websites with quality drills?
SoccerXpert is likely the best free soccer coaching website, offering hundreds of quality drills and practice plans without any payment or subscription requirements. The platform provides youth-focused content that is easy to navigate and presented in a straightforward manner.
How does mental performance coaching help soccer players?
Mental performance coaching addresses the psychological aspects of soccer that can alter a player's performance in both the short- and long-term, including confidence, focus, anxiety, and resilience. Programs like the MindCoach help coaches understand the mental components of coaching soccer and how to apply them to their training.
