Wall drill guide · 8 pages
Train Like Marco
5 soccer drills you can do alone, against any wall
- Drill 01 · The Basic Wall Pass: the foundation, every session
- Drill 02 · The Weak Foot Challenge: be impossible to predict
- Drill 03 · The First Touch Trap: what separates good from great
- Drill 04 · The Rebound Read: read the ball before it arrives
- Drill 05 · The 6:45 Challenge: 20 minutes, the full routine
- My 7-Day Wall Log: print it, stick it by your wall
"The wall doesn't care what time it is. It gives back exactly what you put in."Marco Rivera · First Eleven
Mental skills guide · 6 pages
Read the Game
5 mental skills from Marco's playbook. No ball needed.
- Scan Before You Touch: see the field before the ball arrives
- Move Before the Ball Does: be in position before anyone looks
- Talk Without Shouting: one word, said early
- The 5-Second Reset: clear a mistake and move on
- The Two-Minute Review: what Coach Reeves asked after every session
- 5-Session Log: track it, practice it, use it in games
"Marco didn't just see the ball. He saw where it was going before it left anyone's foot."First Eleven
Nutrition guide · 6 pages
Eat Like Marco
Simple fuel for young soccer players. Real food, real timing, no supplements.
- Before Training: the main meal, 2–3 hours before, and a small snack
- After Training: refuel within about an hour
- Game Day: why nothing new goes on the plate
- Water: the invisible skill: easy habits and a simple color check
- My 7-Day Fuel Log: print it, stick it on the fridge
"There was always food on the table."The Empty Lot · Book 1
New · player quiz · 6 pages
Scouted: could you play for First Eleven?
10 honest questions. 3 kinds of player. 1 official scouting report.
- Section 1 · How you play: six game situations, what would you do?
- Section 2 · How you train: 6:45am, raining. Do you go?
- Your scouting results: the Captain, the Reader or the Game-Changer
- Official First Eleven Scouting Report: fill it in and sign it
"Every scout is looking for one thing: honesty."Coach Reeves · First Eleven
The Shared Boots
Before Marco, there was Coach Ray.
Ray Castillo was nine, the third of three brothers, and third in line for one pair of soccer boots. This is how the man in the gray cap became the coach who changes Marco’s life. A 12-chapter story you won’t find on Amazon, free when you join the First Eleven readers list.
Quick scout test
What kind of player are you?
Three questions from the Scouted quiz. Pick the answer that sounds most like you, not who you wish you were. The full quiz has ten questions and your own scouting report to print.
Keep reading
Which book did you just finish?
Pick the next one. Every book continues Marco's story, from the empty lot to FC Porto.
Book 2Deep Position
Book 3The Boy at the Fence
Book 4The Trial
Book 5The Academy
Book 6The DragonHow it works
Click. Download. Print.
Pick a bonus
Press "Get it free" on any guide. It opens a BookFunnel page made just for that bonus.
Download the PDF
Read it in your browser, in the BookFunnel app, or save it. Joining the email list is optional.
Print & start today
Find a wall. Pin up the tracker. Start the first session, the way Marco did, at 6:45 in the morning.
For grown-ups
Made for kids 9–14 and the people who drive them to practice
- Every bonus is free. The download works without signing up for anything.
- If you do want new drills and printables, use a parent's or guardian's email (18+). You can unsubscribe anytime.
- Everything is printable on regular paper, in color or black and white.
- The food guide keeps it simple. For allergies, medical conditions or special diets, ask your doctor.
- Questions? Write to mmhart@firstelevenbooks.com.
The full story
The guides are free. The story is six books.
Follow Marco from an empty lot in East LA to the biggest stages in the game. Start with Book 1, or pick up where you left off.
