Looking for the right strategy

Hoffman: "It's great to look good, but if you don't win games, that doesn't do you much good." Robert E. Klein/Allsport

Welcome to the Soccer Ed. section of WUSA.com. Throughout the season, look to Soccer Ed. for information on improving your skills and all around knowledge of the game. Some features like Rules of the Game and Soccer A-Z will stick around for easy reference throughout the season. Others, like tips from league officials and coaches, will be updated regularly.

This week, Boston Breakers coach Jay Hoffman talks about a basic task of a coach: to find out what works best for the players. The focus is not on the coach's preferred style of play, but rather on what best suits the players. "It's a players' game," Hoffman said. "It's not about me. It's not about us. It's about the players."

Coach's Corner: Pat Farmer likes to get the ball forward

Rules of the Game

In general, WUSA rules are the same as the FIFA Laws of the Game. However, there are a few differences. Click here to check them out. And don't hesitate to become familiar with WUSA's complete rules of play.

Soccer A-Z

Do you know what a boot is? How about an inswinger ? If not, check out Soccer A-Z. If you do, check it out anyway. There's sure to be some soccer term included that's new to you.

Tony DiCicco

WUSA chief operations officer and former women's national team coach Tony DiCicco will regularly provide soccer tips. Coaching: Changing strategies during games Goalkeeping: Stopping the breakaway More Goalkeeping: The backpass

Dayna Smith on keeping it simple		Kristy Whelchel on offensive headers
I heard a tip from Robin Fraser, my former coach from the Colorado Rapids. It rings in my mind every day before I play. The tip is to PLAY SIMPLE. That basically means that you don't need to do flicks in the middle of the field, or you don't need to try to pass the ball through five people -- you can play a simple 10-yard pass and get it back, and then go from there. But if you play simple, it helps you to build your confidence. There's no need to be flashy or make the game harder than it is. Dayna Smith plays for the Atlanta Beat.		When you're offensive heading, head it back to where it came from. That's one thing that I would hear over and over from my coaches when I was growing up. It's just a matter of geometry. On offensive corner kicks, head it back to where it came from so you're driving it back into the near post. Drive the ball against its momentum. Otherwise you just head it and it'll just skip and go past you. Kristy Whelchel plays for the New York Power.