Overview

In soccer, most goals are scored with your feet. But as Johan Cruyff noted, soccer is fundamentally ""a game you play with your brain."" Technical skills are essential tools, to be sure, but (like any tools) they are useless without a clear understanding of how, when, and why to apply them. In Play with Your Brain, Travis Norsen helps you develop your soccer brain by providing a deep and detailed explanation of some of the game's basic principles. Aimed at intermediate-to-advanced youth soccer players and their coaches (as well as parents who want to understand the game more deeply), the book presents eight key soccer concepts in illuminating detail, showing what and how, but also clearly explaining why. Specific topics include the value of possession, the importance of horizontal and vertical spacing, why the direction you face is as important as where you are and where you're going, the nature and value of speed, pressuring with a purpose, and why defense - the science of generating turnovers - requires a coordinated team effort. The book contains more than fifty detailed diagrams illustrating these principles in various concrete applications, and is written in a style that is simultaneously accessible and lucid. Whether you are a youth soccer player who wants to develop your game to the next level, a volunteer coach who needs a clear vision of where to lead your team, or a soccer parent who just wants to more clearly comprehend your kid's passion, this book will provide the systematic understanding you want and need.

Full Product Details

9781734528022

Table of Contents

Reviews

""It is very well organized and easy to understand, with helpful diagrams and descriptions of the pros and cons of different decisions players can make on the field. I highly recommend this book for players who want to make smarter decisions playing soccer!"" - Andrew G, age 12 ""This book provides extremely practical advice for implementing a consistent, logical, easy-to-understand system of possession soccer. The beautiful part is that it relies on teaching players how to think on the field, enabling players with less individual skills to make critical contributions to the team. I have coached at both the high school and youth level, and I found lots of valuable advice that I will definitely implement. A well written, easy to follow guide."" - Dave M ""It is amazing! I wish I had this soccer bible since the beginning of my soccer mom career."" - Rei M ""Essential reading for every player/coach/team that wants to evolve from playground soccer to the beautiful game."" - Pranay P

It is very well organized and easy to understand, with helpful diagrams and descriptions of the pros and cons of different decisions players can make on the field. I highly recommend this book for players who want to make smarter decisions playing soccer! - Andrew G, age 12 This book provides extremely practical advice for implementing a consistent, logical, easy-to-understand system of possession soccer. The beautiful part is that it relies on teaching players how to think on the field, enabling players with less individual skills to make critical contributions to the team. I have coached at both the high school and youth level, and I found lots of valuable advice that I will definitely implement. A well written, easy to follow guide. - Dave M It is amazing! I wish I had this soccer bible since the beginning of my soccer mom career. - Rei M Essential reading for every player/coach/team that wants to evolve from playground soccer to the beautiful game. - Pranay P

"""It is very well organized and easy to understand, with helpful diagrams and descriptions of the pros and cons of different decisions players can make on the field. I highly recommend this book for players who want to make smarter decisions playing soccer!"" - Andrew G, age 12 ""This book provides extremely practical advice for implementing a consistent, logical, easy-to-understand system of possession soccer. The beautiful part is that it relies on teaching players how to think on the field, enabling players with less individual skills to make critical contributions to the team. I have coached at both the high school and youth level, and I found lots of valuable advice that I will definitely implement. A well written, easy to follow guide."" - Dave M ""It is amazing! I wish I had this soccer bible since the beginning of my soccer mom career."" - Rei M ""Essential reading for every player/coach/team that wants to evolve from playground soccer to the beautiful game."" - Pranay P"

Author Information

Travis Norsen played a lot of soccer between age 5 and college, then took a break to get a PhD in theoretical nuclear astrophysics, get married, become a physics professor, and raise a family. But the gravitational pull of the beautiful game was too strong and Travis again found himself involved with the sport, not only as a player and fan, but also, when his kids started playing, as a coach. ""Play With Your Brain"" is his attempt to explain -- with the characteristic clarity of a full-time science educator -- all of the things he wishes someone had explained to him when he was a youth soccer player and a beginning coach.

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