Chapter 2: Getting the Ball Rolling: A Brief History of Soccer 19
Chapter 3: Getting Your Game On: The Gear You Need 33
Part II: Playing the Game 47
Chapter 4: Laying Down the Laws 49
Chapter 5: Players, Positions, and Tactics 69
Chapter 6: Honing Your Skills 95
Chapter 7: Keeping in Shape for Soccer 119
Chapter 8: Coaching For Success 133
Chapter 9: Getting the Game On 145
Part III: Exploring the World of Soccer 159
Chapter 10: The World Cup 161
Chapter 11: Surveying the International Scene 175
Chapter 12: Playing Together: Clubs and Leagues Around The World 193
Chapter 13: Focusing on Famous Clubs 217
Chapter 14: Women's Soccer 241
Part IV: The Fans' Enclosure: Following the Game 257
Chapter 15: Going to the Game 259
Chapter 16: Compelling Viewing: Soccer on Screen 269
Chapter 17: Reading All About It 281
Chapter 18: Finding Other Soccer-Based Pastimes 297
Part V: The Part of Tens 307
Chapter 19: Ten Great Players 309
Chapter 20: The Ten Greatest Teams of All Time 319
Chapter 21: Ten Great Games 329
Appendix A: Roll of Honor 337
Appendix B: Glossary 351
Index 359
Learn to:
Get a handle on soccer rules and regulations
Grasp the basic moves and plays
Improve dribbling, passing, and other skills
Appreciate this popular pastime
Learn the basics, improve your game knowledge, and reach your soccer playing goals
Do you get a kick out of soccer? Whether you're a youth league player, a soccer parent, or a World Cup fan, here at last is the book you've been waiting for. Now updated with the latest history, stats, and rules of this popular sport, Soccer For Dummies is the ultimate guide to the greatest and most popular sport on the planet.
Kick off -- get a beginner's history of soccer, from its early days in China to the modern game that's showcased in stadiums and played on soccer fields all across the globe
Get to the nitty-gritty -- discover the rules of the game, what each player on the field is expected to do, the tactics they employ, and the skills they need to play
The biggest sport in the world -- explore everything about the professional game of soccer, from the biggest show on earth -- the FIFA World Cup -- to other international tournaments such as the European Championships, Copa America, and the CONCACAF Gold Cup
For fans -- find out what you can expect at a professional soccer game, as well as the lowdown on where you can find soccer on television, online, in newspapers, magazines, books, movies, and on DVDs
Open the book and find:
How soccer is played (and scored)
Tips on coaching, how to keep fit, and how to play "the beautiful game"
An in-depth look at women's soccer
How club soccer is organized across the world
Important international and club teams
Fun soccer facts and interesting tidbits
A look at the game's most fascinating players
Tom Dunmore is the author of Historical Dictionary of Soccer, and the editor of several soccer websites and blogs including XI Quarterly. He is an avid Chicago Fire fan. Scott Murray is a soccer writer for The Guardian and FourFourTwo.
