Soccer is one of the most popular sports in the world, although it is known as football outside the USA. The game was originally developed in Britain around the middle of the 19th century. Later on, soccer has become very popular in Europe, Africa and South America. The USA is a relative latecomer to the game, but interest is picking up very fast. The state of Tennessee has been particularly welcoming to the game. For example, the Tennessee State Soccer Association has been instrumental in bringing the game to the doorsteps of many young people, families and communities.

Soccer is the game of the future in the USA. The game is a great way of fighting the obesity epidemic among school children. It is also a fun activity that can have profoundly positive effects on the wellbeing of the players. Research has shown that playing soccer improves decision-making, personal discipline and a range of social skills such as communication. Children who play soccer are less likely to be disruptive in school, drop out from college or engage in antisocial behavior.

The use of sports to aid in learning has been well-documented in existing literature. Through soccer games, it is possible for children to learn more about their home state and other important civic aspects of community life. Soccer allows this learning to take place in a relatively informal setting which is particularly attractive to young people since they tend to have relatively low attention spans. The purpose of this book is to combine soccer as a great physical activity and learning about Tennessee. The emphasis is always about having fun and including everybody.

The book is structured as follows: There are 10 games which have been carefully selected because they are known to help develop essential soccer skills. These games have been designed after reviewing existing literature and trying to find ways of incorporating them into the learning activity. We are particularly concerned about learning in a safe and nurturing environment that is age-appropriate. These are group games so that learners can develop their social skills even as they participate. The setup of the games is flexible enough to all for additional learning points to be introduced during play. The coach has the discretion to do this or even change the games slightly if they feel that that is what is likely to achieve the purpose.