Table of Contents
Introduction 1
What You Can Do In A Day 1
Foolish Assumptions 2
Icons Used in This Book 2
Chapter 1: Getting Started with Soccer 3
Soccer: The Basics 4
Checking out fouls and kicks 4
Keeping an eye on the game clock 5
Surveying the Field 6
That’s the Way the Ball Bounces 8
Size does matter 9
The cost and quality factor 9
Dressing the Part: Uniforms 10
The must-have clothing 10
Why shoes can make or break your game 11
How soccer uniforms are numbered 12
Why goalkeepers don’t match the team 13
The World Cup: The Greatest Show on Earth 13
Chapter 2: Taking Up Positions 15
Saving Grace: The Goalie 16
Providing Support: The Sweeper 18
Defending the Turf: Fullbacks 18
Linking the Team: Halfbacks 19
Filling the Net: Forwards 20
Chapter 3: Rules of the Game 21
Following the Rules 21
Keeping time 22
Starting the game 22
Keeping the ball in play 23
Throw-ins 23
Corner kicks 24
Goal kicks 25
Staying onside 25
Penalty Calls and Their Results 28
Outlining the major fouls 28
Detailing minor fouls and violations 29
Paying the price for fouls 30
Seeing what’s in the cards 31
Interpreting the Ref’s Hand Signals 32
Chapter 4: Performing Amazing Foot Feats: Dribbling and Shooting 35
Dribbling: Easy to Learn, Difficult to Master 35
Knowing when to dribble 36
Dribbling do’s and don’ts 36
Changing directions 38
Deciphering dribbling problems 39
Shooting Your Way to a Goal 39
Knowing when to shoot 39
Ready, aim, shoot 40
Shooting the ball with the instep 40
Chapter 5: Sharing the Ball: Passing, Receiving, and Heading 45
You Take the Ball: Passing 45
Delivering two types of passes 46
Diagnosing what went wrong 48
Gimme the Ball: Receiving 49
Cushioning at impact 49
Foot 49
Thigh 50
Chest 51
Troubleshooting receiving 52
Thinking on Your Feet: Heading 53
Using your noggin 53
Correcting heading errors 55
Chapter 6: Protecting the Goal 57
Stopping the Opposition 58
Catching the ball 58
Punching the ball 61
Parrying the ball 62
Saving penalty kicks 62
Correcting goaltending errors 64
Positioning: Being in the Right Place at the Right Time 64
Distributing the Ball 65
Chapter 7: Where to Go from Here 67
Taking Your First Steps 67
Visiting dummies.com 68
