Billed as "The ultimate companion for coaches of all ages," the Dutch Coaching Notebook ($15) is a combination of templates and instruction.  The first half of the book contains empty templates ranging from player attendance to training planners to match results.  The second half of the book contains useful instruction.

This paperback book is slightly larger than pocket sized.  This would make it easy to carry and read, but it makes it much more difficult to photocopy or write in the included worksheets.  That doesn't really reduce their value (only the need for the multiple copies provided).  The worksheets include:

• Address lists
• Player roster
• Training/match overviews
• League schedule/standings
• Scouting reports
  • Players used
  • top scorers
  • Injuries
  • Suspensions
• Attendance
• Coaching program
  • Coaching tips
  • Lesson plans
  • Preparation
  • Fitness
• Training/Match evaluations

As regular readers know, I am a big fan of the Netherlands and of "Total Soccer" as it was implemented in the 1970s.  I had high hopes for this book, but was somewhat disappointed.  The content sections of the book are broken down into a number of categories.  None of which provide much detail.  Each chapter provides a few tidbits of interesting and useful information, but none of the depth desired by a veteran coach.  Mostly, this is an overview guide for a new coach, Director of Coaching or club administrator.  Topics include everything from fitness to sponsorships to organizing a tournament. 

I can not really recommend this book as there are much better books for each category.  As an overview or beginner's guide, it isn't much better.  The age specific tips are useful and the exercises are well documented, but there isn't enough depth.  Many of the templates are useful, but multiple copies are just a waste of paper.  I would rather have seen the templates as removable pages or, better yet, as a download in MS Word format so they could be completed and kept as a diary for the season.

The team of Henny Kormelink and Tjeu Seeverens have written several books on Dutch style soccer training.  The Notebook is published by Reedswain.

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