SoccerTutor Coaching EBooks Review – Worth It?

SoccerTutor has developed a reputation as a go-to platform for soccer coaching eBooks, drills, and curriculum for coaches worldwide. Operating since 2001, SoccerTutor offers hundreds of digital and print coaching resources, including eBooks, session planners, video analysis tools, and more. The brand pops up in football coaching circles and online forums, and I’ve noticed their materials recommended for both grassroots and advanced coaches.

If you’re here, you’re probably wondering if SoccerTutor eBooks are worth your money or just another coaching product in a crowded market. I’ve used their resources over several seasons, and I get why so many coaches swear by them. Here’s a breakdown of how I rate SoccerTutor’s eBooks and my honest take, so you can decide for yourself.

SoccerTutor eBooks platform screenshot

Company Name: SoccerTutor
Website URL: SoccerTutor.com
Formats: eBooks (PDF, ePub), Print Books, Interactive Web Versions, Video Courses
Founded: 2001
Coaches Supported: All levels (youth to pro)
Overall Rating: 4.7/5
Trustpilot (as of 2024): 4.8/5
Content Quality: 5/5
Customer Service: 4.6/5
CoachFriendliness: 5/5
Value for Money: 4.8/5

Free Sample: YES. Grab a Free Sample eBook here (no sign-up required, direct PDF download)

SoccerTutor stands out because of its massive collection of eBooks and session plans, covering hundreds of topics for all coaching levels. You get resources for tactics, drills, smallsided games, fitness, set pieces, and more, all organized by skill level, team phase, or formation. Instead of spending way too much time on YouTube or scattered coaching blogs, I found everything I needed in one place.

This is perfect if you’re looking for new drills, team shapes, session design ideas, or you want the methods straight from the biggest academies in the world. Even if you’re just starting out, their easy to follow structure and diagrams made my first few seasons on the touchline a whole lot easier.

Who Created SoccerTutor & What’s Their Background?

SoccerTutor was launched by George Berneanou, a UEFA ALicensed coach, with a team of experienced international coaches and trainers. The content pulls knowledge from top level coaches in Europe, North America, the UK, and South America. Most eBooks are written by actual academy coaches or national association educators.

Before he founded SoccerTutor, George worked as a coach and analyst, focusing on making UEFA level session design accessible to everyone. The website quickly grew thanks to partnerships with professional coaches like Massimo Lucchesi, Wayne Harrison, and others. New titles are added every few months, and they often partner with names from Premier League and La Liga youth systems.

The company is based in the UK but has a global customer base. Coaches from grassroots to pro levels use their materials; I’ve even run into a few colleagues abroad who use the same session diagrams and callout sheets that I first grabbed on SoccerTutor!

Most of their staff have coaching badges or are active in coaching in some way. Their customer service team is also helpful if you need to resolve payment or download issues. If you create an account, updates on new resources and free webinars land in your inbox a few times per year, which is pretty handy for keeping up with new trends.

See SoccerTutor’s coaching eBook lineup

What’s in SoccerTutor eBooks? Content, Style, and Usability

SoccerTutor drill diagram example

SoccerTutor eBooks cover a huge variety of coaching content:

  • Detailed drill diagrams for practices and games
  • Plans for single sessions, weeklong plans, or whole curriculums
  • Tactical analysis of top level teams and styles
  • Specialized topics like transition play, positional play, set pieces, and more
  • Coaching psychology, leadership advice, and team management tips

Each eBook has color diagrams, session progressions, and clear objectives. Most break down session content into a warmup, technical focus, tactical phase, and gamerelated practice. There’s a practical, real world feel to everything, and you get explanations along with step by step buildups of activities.

I like how their session diagrams use arrows, colors, and coaching points, which makes it way easier to understand at a glance than some of the old school soccer drill books that just use text explanations. If you’re coaching multiple age groups, you’ll find that each eBook lists a recommended level (ex: U10U14, Academy U16+, or Adult/Pro). This makes it pretty simple to filter for what you need each week.

A cool feature is that many titles focus on how top teams (like Manchester City, Barcelona, Ajax, Bayern Munich, Juventus, etc.) structure play. You also find books on team shapes (343, 433, 4231, diamond, and so on). I found this especially useful when my club moved to a more modern possession based style and I needed new activities to match the tactical direction.

Digital Formats & Access Options

You can grab SoccerTutor eBooks in a bunch of formats:

  • PDF download (works on any device)
  • Print (physical shipping worldwide)
  • Interactive eBook reader (with inbrowser bookmarks and notes)
  • iOS/Android app access (for some titles)

This is a big plus. I’ve used the PDFs from my phone directly on the training pitch, printed out single pages for assistant coaches, and flipped through the interactive reader when planning sessions at home. No extra subscriptions are needed beyond the purchase price for each resource, and downloads arrive within moments of purchase.

Session Diagrams: A Closer Look

The diagrams are one of SoccerTutor’s strong suits. They use clean vector graphics, clear labels, color codes, and directional arrows. Coaching points are often listed right next to the session steps, so you don’t have to guess about timing or technical focus. Drills are explained in simple English—no pointless jargon, which is a bonus if you’re just starting your UEFA or USSF badges.

The eBooks often include variations for scaling up or down for different groups. I’ve been able to adjust a U12 passing exercise for my adult side, making it more challenging with just a few tweaks as suggested in the book.

Sample Table of Contents (from a Typical Title)

  • Foreword and Coach Background
  • Session Outlines and Key Principles
  • Technical WarmUps
  • SkillBuilding Drills (passing, shooting, defending, etc.)
  • Tactical Games (smallsided, overloads, positional play)
  • Set Pieces and Restart Training
  • Fitness & Conditioning Games
  • Team Management and Communication
  • Annex: Diagrams and Player Handouts

If you want to see a real sample, you can grab a free title or preview page at their store. Pretty much every eBook has a direct link to a 1020 page example.

Preview SoccerTutor’s free sample eBooks

Who Are SoccerTutor eBooks For?

SoccerTutor session diagram on a coaching board

I recommend SoccerTutor eBooks to:

  • Youth coaches (U8 to U18) who want fresh drills and ideas fast
  • Academy and semipro coaches planning for seasonlong tactical development
  • New and aspiring licensed coaches building a library of training knowledge
  • Volunteer parents or school coaches looking for clear guidance and diagrams
  • Serious students of the game, anyone who wants to understand how top academies plan sessions

I first picked up their free resources when I was running a grassroots U12 team, and the ‘plug and play’ nature of their drills made weekly planning so much faster. As I moved into running older teams, more advanced material, like pressing, transition games, and positional play books, really made sense of the tactical side.

The eBooks are clearly written for real life use, not just textbook learning. Some resources are better suited for experienced “badge” coaches, while others (especially in the “Youth” and “Small Sided Games” collections) are dead simple for beginners. The huge filtering system in their store helps you pick age group, formation, skill topic, and more, so you won’t waste money on a book that isn’t useful for your environment.

Key Features of SoccerTutor Coaching eBooks

So, here are the features that keep me coming back to SoccerTutor whenever I’m looking to refresh my coaching plans.

  • Crystal clear diagrams: The drill and session graphics look professional and are easy to follow on the go.
  • Wide range of topics: From youth development to advanced positional play and pro set pieces, there’s coverage for nearly everything.
  • Expert coaching authors: Most resources are written by coaches who work at pro academies or have decades of practical coaching experience, so the advice isn’t just theoretical.
  • Practical progressions: Sessions build logically, from warmups to team shapes, making them easy to run and tweak if needed.
  • Portable and easy access: My whole collection is always available as PDFs on my laptop or phone, and the interactive eBook reader is convenient for bookmarking favorites.
  • Printable pages: It’s easy to print just the drills you want or share session handouts with your assistant coach.
  • Teambased eBooks: There are whole series on Barcelona, Man City, Liverpool, and more. Great for learning how the tactical trends at the elite level actually translate to session work.
  • Lifetime access: Once you buy a resource, it’s always in your account. No annual renewal or subscription traps.

How Does SoccerTutor Compare to Other Coaching Resources?

When it comes to soccer coaching materials, there’s no shortage of options out there. You’ll run into everything from oneoff PDFs, YouTube channels, books on Amazon, and fullon membership sites. Here’s how SoccerTutor stacks up based on my own comparisons:

  • Content depth: SoccerTutor’s resources are much deeper than most cheap eBook sites or free coaching blogs. The sessions feel like what I’d get from a proper coaching course or inperson clinic.
  • Quality of diagrams: Their graphics are much better than most printable books; simple but not cartoonish, and always labeled with purpose and movement.
  • Up to date tactics: Resources are refreshed with new ideas every year, and the lineup includes trends like build out play, modern defending, and possession styles.
  • Price: Some single eBooks can feel a bit pricy, but you’re getting a complete resource, usually 80300 pages, rather than a handful of drills. Plus, their 3 for 2 or package bundle deals cut costs quite a bit if you plan on stocking up.
  • Onetime purchase: You don’t have to worry about recurring subscription fees (unless you choose their CoachViewer app, which is optional).

It’s worth checking out their titles before splurging on bargain options that are little more than a handful of recycled training ideas. I’ve wasted money on lots of those over the years, and SoccerTutor is the one I’ve gone back to for more than a decade.

Popular SoccerTutor Titles & Collections

Popular SoccerTutor eBook covers on a table

A few of their most recommended eBooks, based on reviews and downloads:

  • Coaching the Tiki Taka Style of Play (based on Barcelona’s youth academy)
  • Coaching the 433 and 4231 in the Modern Game
  • Mastering Positional Play: 35+ Practices & Tactics
  • The Complete Guide to Pressing
  • Soccer Fitness & Conditioning for All Ages
  • Attacking & Finishing Drills from Italian Serie A
  • Training Sessions from the World’s Best Academies

The “Mastering” or “Tactical Analysis” series often focuses on breaking down famous clubs or national teams, then showing you exactly how to replicate their methods at your level. These eBooks are handy for getting fresh tactical and technical ideas that you can actually apply with your own squad.

Bundles and Packages

If you’re managing several teams or want to save, SoccerTutor’s bundles (like “Advanced Tactics 6eBook Set” or “Youth Coaching Package”) offer some really good value. Some packages come with video content or printable coaching cards, too. Whenever I’ve needed to prep for running a new age group, I usually check if there’s a bundle before buying single titles.

See SoccerTutor’s bundles and special offers

How to Use SoccerTutor eBooks in Your Coaching

Translating a book full of drills into a real life training session can be tough if you’re new to coaching. Here’s how I make the most of SoccerTutor resources in day to day planning:

  1. Session prep: I pick 23 drills from the eBook that fit my session theme, print the diagram pages, and write out key coaching points for assistants or helpers.
  2. Player handouts: For more detail (especially U15+), I sometimes print diagrams or QR codes from the PDF, so players can visualize the practice before we get started.
  3. Progressive planning: Their week to week and season curriculum eBooks are lifesavers for building up themes (defending, build out, transitions, etc.).
  4. Assistant coach support: I share digital copies so assistants can prep alongside me, which makes for smoother session delivery.

In my experience, having professional diagrams and clear objectives saves time at every level, from grassroots to top level club coaching. I rarely end up winging it anymore; if a drill needs a tweak, most eBooks give at least two or three suggested variations that work for larger or smaller groups, or to add a twist for player motivation.

They even include reflection and selfevaluation sheets for coaches, helpful for those working toward badges or leading club wide planning.

Customer Support, Updates, and Community

SoccerTutor’s support team typically responds to questions and issues within 2448 hours. I once had a payment glitch (my local bank got flagged), and they sorted out a new download link within a couple of hours. Downloading is simple, with email receipts and account access for any purchases made.

If you sign up for their mailing list, they send out the occasional newsletter with coaching ideas, discounts, or even free eBook pages. It’s not spammy either; maybe once or twice a month at most.

They also run free webinars and online Q&A sessions with featured coaches. These are actually pretty interesting and let you ask questions straight to the book authors. While there isn’t a giant forum or online community like coaching associations, they do have a Facebook page where coaches share ideas and discuss drills.

Pricing – What Do SoccerTutor eBooks Cost?

SoccerTutor eBook pricing chart

Prices vary depending on the title:

  • Single eBooks (PDF): $19 – $36 each for most titles
  • Print books: $20 – $45 (includes digital access)
  • Multibook bundles: as low as $49 for 3+ titles
  • Video + eBook bundle: generally $45 – $65

After purchasing, all PDFs are downloadable instantly and stored in your account for future redownloads. There are no surprise charges or forced subscriptions. Shipping for print books is available to most countries at a reasonable rate. Frequently, they have “Buy 2, Get 1 Free” or “Bundle” deals, making it worth buying a set if you’re planning a season ahead.

Check current deals on SoccerTutor eBooks

Pros & Cons – My Honest Opinion

Here’s how SoccerTutor’s coaching eBooks line up after years of using them:

Pros

  • Extensive library for all levels and playing styles
  • Professional, uptodate session diagrams and analysis
  • Onetime purchase (no subscription or hidden fees)
  • Quick delivery, always accessible online
  • Expert coaching input—most authors have real coaching backgrounds
  • Practical, clear, and easy to modify for any squad

Cons

  • Some advanced eBooks may be overwhelming for brand new coaches (stick to basic or “Youth” titles if you’re just starting)
  • Print books take a bit longer to arrive, especially if you’re outside the UKEU
  • Video resources aren’t available for every title yet

Are SoccerTutor eBooks Worth the Price?

The short answer: Yes, if you’re serious about improving your sessions, saving planning time, and want the kind of resources professional academies and top clubs use. The combination of instant access, expert input, and real world usability is tough to match elsewhere.

There are cheaper eBooks out there, but they’re rarely as detailed, updated, or practical. The biggest value for me has always come from actually using the material and seeing faster player progress, and way less time spent fretting over session plans each week.

Even if you’re just starting out, SoccerTutor’s free eBook samples show you the quality before you buy. If you plan on coaching for more than just a season, the investment pays off quickly.

Browse SoccerTutor’s full range of coaching eBooks

Should You Buy SoccerTutor Coaching eBooks?

Bottom line. SoccerTutor’s eBooks take out a lot of the guesswork of running team practices, academy sessions, or holiday camps. The presentations are clear, practical, and professional. As someone who’s bounced from U10s to U18s to adult teams, I’ve found value at every level. The materials work for both new and experienced coaches, and the range of titles means there’s always something new to try when the routine gets stale.

If you want to:

  • Save time on practice planning
  • Get real coaching methods from real pros
  • Access drills and session ideas you can trust
  • Bring fresh, modern tactics to your squad
  • Build a personal library you won’t have to replace every year

…it’s definitely worth giving SoccerTutor a shot. The free samples are a bonus if you want to check before buying, and the occasional bundle deal saves you money in the long run.

Get your free SoccerTutor sample eBook here

If you have questions about specific titles or want advice on which eBook fits your situation, feel free to leave a comment below. I’m happy to share what’s worked for my squads. You can also browse the full SoccerTutor catalog here and grab a free download to try it out for yourself.

Good luck with your next session. Enjoy the extra free time when you don’t have to scramble for drills anymore!

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