The Soccer Handbook for Players, Coaches and Parents

by Albert M. Luongo

Overview

Soccer, long the world's most played sport, is now undergoing a phenomenal popularity spurt among youth in North America. This book, the complete amateur soccer handbook for all ages, is indispensable for players, coaches, managers, league officials, referees and parents.

Rules of the game, conditioning methods, basic and advanced skills, positional play, team formations, defensive techniques--and much more--are covered. The Laws of the Game, a publication of the Federation Internationale de Football Associations publication is reprinted in full.

The modern "short-ball" soccer concept is explained. Ball control skills are stressed for both developing and advanced players, along with self-discipline and a strong defense. With this handbook, championship teams and successful players can be built on these principles.

In addition to technical skills, the important principles of leadership, self-control, sportsmanship, team play, fairness, and self-confidence are also promoted.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781476602585
Publisher:	McFarland & Company, Inc., Publishers
Publication date:	10/16/2012
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	212
Sales rank:	741,181
File size:	2 MB
Age Range:	18 Years

About the Author

Albert M. Luongo has coached, managed or refereed in various youth soccer leagues for over 15 years. Also the author of Soccer Drills (2000), he lives in Cranston, Rhode Island.
Albert M. Luongo has coached, managed or refereed in various youth soccer leagues for over 15 years. He lives in Cranston, Rhode Island.

Table of Contents

Table of Contents List of Drawings, Photographs and Form xi Introduction 1 1. Getting Started 5 What Is Soccer About? 6 Leadership 9 Coach Development 11 Poor Quality Play 12 Important Areas of Control 13 Substitute Players 16 Can Parents Increase Their Child’s Playing Time? 17 Aggression and Roughness 20 Conditioning and Injuries 21 Equipment 22 Clothing 23 2. Skill Level 25 Advice for the Beginning Coach 26 Suggested Guidelines for Practices 27 Better Play and Team Work 30 League Control 32 Parents’ Participation 34 Expected or Average Skill Levels by Age 35 Under 10 36 Under 12 37 Under 14 39 Under 16 40 Under 19 41 Habits of Players with Style Not Skill 42 3. Basic Skills for Field Players 45 Dribbling 45 Basic Trapping 48 Heading 49 Shielding 50 Receiving the Ball 51 Dribbling 51 Turning 54 On the Touch Line 56 A Final Note on Shielding 56 Defending 58 Body Traps 61 Instep Kicks 62 Push Passes 64 The Chest Traps 65 Throw-Ins 66 4. Elements of the Game 71 Players 71 Goalkeeper 72 Center Defense Person 72 Sweeper Back 72 Defensive Wingers 73 Center Half backs 73 Wing Half backs 74 Right and Left Forward Wingers 75 Center Forwards 76 Soccer Formations 76 W-M Formation 78 4-3-3 Formation 79 3-3-4 Formation 80 4-4-2 Formation 81 3-2-5 Formation 81 General Attacking and Defending 82 Defensive Strategy 86 The Goalkeeper’s Role 87 Attack Soccer vs. Defensive Soccer 89 Ball Control 90 Plays 91 Kickoff 91 Wall Pass 92 Defensive Play on Throw-Ins 93 Cross for Shots on Goal 93 Corner Kicks 94 Goal Kicks 95 Shot on Goal Follow-up 96 Fakes 96 Trapping in Front of the Goal 97 Breakaways 98 Setting Up Walls 99 Drawing Off Players 100 Scoring 100 Penalty Kicks 101 Offensive Play 101 Defensive Play 102 Referees 103 The Three- and Two-Person Systems 105 Preparation for Games 107 The Offside Law 108 Coaches’ Evaluation of Referees 108 5. Goalkeeping 111 Goalie’s Stance 114 Catching in the Air 114 Positioning 115 Punching 118 Tipping 119 Catching Low and Direct Balls 120 Lunging 121 Punting 122 Goal Kicking 123 Propelling the Ball by Hand 125 The Underhanded Throw 125 The Overhand Throw 125 The Overhanded Two-Handed Throw 125 Defending Against Two Players on a Breakaway 126 6. Drills 127 Homework 127 Trapping and Kicking 127 Volleying 128 Dribbling 128 Dribble and Run 129 Sensitivity of Touch 129 Jump and Ball Bounce 129 Rolling Ball 130 Practicing with the Ball Rebound Board 131 At Practice 132 Keeping the Players’ Attention 132 Trapping Drills 133 Basic Trapping 133 Trapping and Shielding 134 Chest Trapping 135 Body Trapping 135 Dribbling 136 Shoulder Charging 136 Dribbling Feint 137 Once-On 139 Rolling Ball 139 Rolling Ball with Teammate, Variation1 140 Rolling Ball with Teammate, Variation 2 140 Heading 141 Trap and Shooting 142 Variation 1 142 Variation 2 142 Variation 3 142 Other Scoring Drills 142 Variation 1 142 Variation 2 143 Variation 3 143 Crossing Drills 143 The Blind Cross 143 The Nonblind Cross 144 Wall Passing 145 Shielding 146 Defensive Drill 148 Two Against the Goalkeeper Drill 149 Throw-in Drills 149 Variation1 149 Variation 2 150 Substitution of Advanced Techniques into Drills 150 Waste-of-Time Drills 150 7. Advanced Techniques for Field Players 153 Kicks 154 Outside-of-the-Foot Kick 154 More About the Angled Instep Kick 155 Duck-Bill Instep Kick 156 Under-the-Body Instep Kick 156 Front-Volley and Half-Volley Kicks 158 Side-Volley Kick 159 Scissors Kick 160 Blind-Cross Kick 160 Back-Heel Kick 163 Instep-Stride Shot 163 Toe Poke 164 Chip Kick 165 Traps 165 More About the Inside-of-the-Foot Trap 165 Under-the-Foot Trap 167 Head Traps 167 Side-of-the-Thigh Trap 168 Top-of-the-Thigh Trap 169 Calf Trap 169 Outside-of-the-Foot Trap 170 Dropping-Ball Trap 170 Pseudo Trap 171 Tackles 172 Standing-Block Tackle 172 Sliding Tackle 173 Sliding-Block Tackle 174 Shoulder-Charge Tackle 176 Two-Person Tackle 176 Appendix: Laws of the Game 179 I. The Field of Play 179 II. The Ball 181 III. Number of Players 181 IV. Players’ Equipment 182 V. Referees 183 VI. Linesmen 184 VII. Duration of the Game 184 VIII. The Start of Play 185 IX. Ball In and Out of Play 186 X. Method of Scoring 186 XI. Off-Side 186 XII. Fouls and Misconduct 187 XIII. Free-Kick 189 XIV. Penalty Kick 190 XV. Throw-In 191 XVI. Goal-Kick 192 XVII. Corner Kick 192 Index 195

Editorial Reviews

A good handbook helps a reader learn about specific aspects of a particular subject by providing a concise presentation that is accessible and easy to use. Luongo's study does just that. Accordingly, this guide is designed to instruct entry-level as well as experienced people about all aspects of soccer. Included are chapters on equipment and clothing, individual positions, skills and drills, plus an appendix featuring rules of the game. Luongo focuses on the fundamental principles of ball control and basic techniques, also emphasizing attributes we all try to foster in our children: sportsmanship, self-confidence, positive encouragement, teamwork, patience, hard work, and leadership. This book is an informative source for enthusiasts of all ages. Recommended.-Larry Robert Little, Penticton P. L., British Columbia

Library Journal

an informative source for enthusiasts of all ages. Recommended”—Library Journal; “an introduction to soccer as a noncontact sport for boys and girls”—The Book Report.

From the Publisher

"an introduction to soccer as a noncontact sport for boys and girls"

The Book Report