Our mission with Soccer Handbook is to be the ultimate soccer resource and help people keep playing and enjoying soccer, the beautiful game, throughout their lives.
Editor and Founder
Bryan Coe
Hey there. My name is Bryan Coe, and I’m the editor and founder of SoccerHandbook.com. I’ve been playing soccer since I was 8 years old. I won’t tell you how many years ago that was though, but you can guess my age by the classic Copas I still wear. HA!
Throughout my soccer career, I played with a number of club teams, select teams (there were no academy teams in the US back then), as well as through high school. I didn’t play on a college team, mostly because I graduated from the University of Tennessee and they didn’t have a collegiate team at the time. I ended up playing with a group of internationals. This taught me a lot about the different styles of soccer around the world. There were some excellent players on the team, and we usually beat the UT club team when we played them.
Sometimes I think I wouldn’t still be playing if I had played competitively in college. I probably would have been injured or might have burned out.
I’ve also coached at the youth level. This was a real eyeoner for how few resources there are out there for volunteer and parent coaches. It was also my motivation for starting Soccerhandbook.com
Today, I don’t know how I would live without soccer! It is my stress relief. I get out there on the pitch and all I have to worry about is chasing that ball around. I’m still very active in the soccer community and play year-round. Through my company, I also sponsor a team, FC Blackbird, that plays indoors, and an outdoor team over 40s team: Lititz Futbol Club.
Coaches
Todd Hoffard
Todd has a vast amount of experience coaching soccer in both the men’s and women’s games at the youth, collegiate, and professional levels. He uses his breadth of knowledge to help develop drills and sessions plans for Soccer Handbook.
His most recent coaching position was as the Goalkeeper Coach for Real Salt Lake in Major League Soccer. Prior to that, he was the Goalkeeper Coach for the NY Red Bulls (MLS). During his tenure in New York, not only was he part of two MLS playoff seasons, but the team also won the Emirates Cup in London which included: Paris St. Germain, Boca Juniors, and Arsenal. He was also the GK Coach for the 2011 MLS All-Stars when they played Manchester United at Red Bull Arena. His pro coaching experience also includes coaching for the PA Roar in the Major Indoor Soccer League.
For over 3 years, he was a GK Coach for the United States Girls Youth National Teams and has been called into various training camps with the U14-U20 levels. At that time, he also coordinated the US Soccer Training Centers for Eastern PA. He has been part of the US Soccer Region I ODP Staff and also PA ODP Staff.
Todd has extensive collegiate coaching experience. He started as an assistant coach with Elizabethtown College before moving to the Division I level St. Bonaventure University Women’s program. While with the Bonnies he helped them achieve the school’s first Atlantic 10 Tournament berth as well as breaking numerous other school records. He then became the goalkeeper coach for Oneonta State University followed by a move to be an assistant coach with the College of Charleston Women’s program. He also served as the goalkeeper coach for the UPENN’s Men’s/Women’s teams and was the Asst. Coach for Temple University and Head Women’s Coach at Lebanon Valley College.
Todd also enjoyed an 8-year professional soccer career. After being drafted by the Harrisburg Heat in the NPSL draft, he played for them for two seasons before moving on to the Cleveland Crunch and Philadelphia Kixx. Todd also played a season with the Albany (NY) Alleycats and three seasons with Reading Rage of the USL D3 League. He finished his pro soccer career with the Charleston Battery of the A-League.
Todd is also an entrepreneur with more than 20 years of experience with his company ONE on ONE Soccer.
Content
How We Develop Content
All the content you will find on this site has been planned and edited by me to ensure we meet the highest quality standards. I sometimes use freelance writers to help with articles but nothing is put online without approval from me, the chief editor. This is to ensure all information we publish is accurate and you can trust it.
As much as we can, we try to get real hands-on time with items mentioned on the site in order to get first-hand real-life experience with them. However, it not always possible so we rely on extensive online feedback and from real customers of the products.
The goal for this to be a place you can trust to help learn about soccer across the country. Ultimately so they can keep enjoying the beautiful game.
Deirdre Bradley
Hi everyone! My name is Deirdre Bradley and I am a content creator for Soccer Handbook. You will probably read some of my articles or even see me in a video.
Since I can remember, I have always had a soccer ball at my feet. Whether it was watching Premier League games with my dad on Saturday and Sunday mornings, or playing with my friends, soccer has always been a huge part of my life. I started playing in little rec leagues at the age of 4 and I remember just loving it every time I stepped on the field (regardless of how shy I actually was off the field!). I played on a few travel teams growing up, but by 7th grade, I was on a very competitive team that traveled all across the country to play in different tournaments. I played on this club team all throughout high school and committed to Old Dominion University by my junior year.
I graduated from ODU in 2019 with a double major in Sports Management and Business Management. At ODU I was also a two-year captain on the women’s soccer team there, played and started all 78 games, and won defensive player of the year in 2016. My primary position is holding midfield, but I also have experience in center back and striker. (Holding mid is by far the best position on the field! )
I am currently playing for Durham Women FC in England in the FA WSL 2.
Soccer has always been of the main things that brings me so much joy. After tearing my ACL, I was worried that my love for the game would slowly dwindle, but it actually made me appreciate the game more in ways I don’t think I ever would have been able to see if I wasn’t injured for such a long time! Don’t know where or who I would be without this incredible sport!!
Why Should You Care?
So why should you read Soccer Handbook? The biggest reason is that you want to continue to enjoy soccer, the game you love.
If you can relate to the following statements you will enjoy the content on the site.
- You have had a lifelong love affair with soccer The Beautiful Game.
- You want soccer gear advice that is from real passionate fans of the game and not commercial sites.
- You continually strive to learn soccer better on and off the pitch.
- You want to improve your skills.
- You are a parent coaching your kids
If any of these sound good to you we look forward to having you read our guides, and reviews, and watch our training videos.
Bryan Coe
Founder and Editor at Soccer Handbook
