Teaching and coaching soccer.

Abstract

The purpose of this nontraditional dissertation was to develop a manual that would assist in teaching and coaching soccer. The manual, which can be readily adapted and used as a college level activity textbook, is geared toward developing the beginning soccer player. It is divided into 10 chapters according to topical information and makes use of photographs and diagrams in the explanation of the development of soccer skills, tactics, and fitness. In addition, each chapter includes a list of objectives pertinent to the information and material presented in the respective chapter.

In Chapter 1, a brief history of the development of soccer as a sport is given, along with several possible reasons for the appeal of soccer to the spectator a well as the player. A brief interpretation of the rules of soccer and an extensive list of soccer terms and their definitions appear in Chapter 2. Emphasis has been placed on the rules used for intercollegiate competition, although the international laws are briefly mentioned.

In Chapter 3 the basic skills common to all field players are analyzed and explained, while Chapter 4 is used to deal with the specific skills of the goalkeeper. In both chapters there is an emphasis placed on orderly progression for skill development. Several common errors that usually occur as beginning players lean to execute each skill are pointed out.

Basic defensive principles of soccer are discussed in Chapter 5 while offensive principles are discussed in Chapter 6. In both of these chapters individual tactics and tactics for the team as a whole are mentioned. Several examples of tactical drills that reinforce both the defensive and offensive principles are explained in Chapter 7. Chapter 8 is used as a basis for discussing individual positions as well as systems of play. Brief explanations of the three basic variations of indoor soccer that are played throughout the world today are given in Chapter 9 with emphasis placed on the value and use of indoor soccer in the development of soccer players. Physical conditioning for soccer is the major topic in Chapter 10. The various physical components of soccer fitness are discussed along with the methods that should be used for improving these components.