The sport of soccer has evolved immensely since its beginning around 2,000 years ago and is now considered the most popular sport in the world. The research related to the physical, psychological, and tactical aspects of the game has risen in conjunction with its fame. Elite Soccer Players: Maximizing Performance and Safety seeks to inform the reader with the most current research connected to optimizing physical performance and reducing the risk of injury of the elite soccer athlete for a variety of ages. After providing an initial brief overview of applying physical and psychological scientific concepts in soccer ("Part I: Laying the Foundation”), this book then takes the reader through a series of important yet novel parts including: “Athlete Monitoring and Data Analysis,” “Optimizing Physical Performance,” “Injury Epidemiology and Risk Reduction,” “Achieving Peak Performance and Safety in Various Environmental Conditions,” and “Unique Aspects of the Game.” The goal of Elite Soccer Players: Maximizing Performance and Safety is to conceptualize and expand upon the current research associated with these topics and provide an applicable point of view to the coaches, sport scientists, strength and conditioning coaches, and sports medicine professionals who work with these athletes every day.

Professional soccer is an exciting and challenging sport to play. It also gives players the chance to proudly represent their country and heritage as they travel around the world. However, the ability to become a professional soccer player takes hard work, discipline, and dedication to the sport. You need to learn to be fast, flexible and focused on a soccer field while thousands of people are watching every move you make. This will require you to obtain extensive knowledge and training from someone who is an experienced soccer player and knows everything there is to know about the game. This book was written by such a person. The information you are about to read will advise you on all aspects of how to become a professional soccer player. You will first learn about the elements needed to become a successful soccer player and then how to market yourself as an agent. The four main elements of soccer success are having physical readiness, tactical & technical competence, mental strength, and nutrition. These elements all play a role in making you an outstanding soccer player out on the field. Obviously, you will need to be physically ready if you're going to be able to handle the intense physical exertion that soccer entails. This will involve performing vigorous exercise training regimens to get you in top shape for the game. Tactical & technical competence is about understanding the various soccer positions and how they are useful for your team. These positions include forward, striker, left midfielder, right midfielder, stopper, defensive midfielder, goalie, and more. The book will teach you how to build mental strength to enhance your cognitive flexibility and responsiveness, which are skills needed in soccer. Most importantly, there will be great emphasis placed on the importance of good nutrition. After all, a professional athlete must maintain a strict nutritious diet if they are going to excel at soccer. Once you learn the best foods to eat and when to eat them, you will have more energy and strength on the field. Remember that professional soccer is a business like anything else. You may have fun playing the game but as a player, you will be the employee of the team owner or manager. If you want to get hired by a team and go play for them, you basically need to market yourself as if you're applying for a job. This means creating a resume that outlines your experience and skills in all types of athletics. By the time you finish reading this book, you will know what it takes to become a professional soccer player. You might decide that you've got what it takes to succeed as a player or you may not. Either way, let this book guide you along the way.

"Author Horst Wein provides more than 150 games, corrective exercises and competitions for players aged 7 to 14. Based on the internationally renowned Football Development Model, training and coaching methods are divided into four levels, resulting in the best age-appropriate coaching resource available. From fundamental skills and goal-keeping to tactics and game intelligence, Developing Youth Football Players covers it all with clear writing and colourful illustrations, making it easy to incorporate each lesson into your programme."--Jacket.

As the adult game has increased in popularity, youth soccer has also seen significant expansion in recent years. The popularity of the youth game is set to continue. Young boy and girl players wish to emulate professional soccer stars and the professional game, often with long-term financial rewards in mind, is increasingly keen to develop young talent. Applied sports science is now a well-established feature of the adult game but the sports science that supports modern football does not translate directly into the youth game. The coaches of young players need specific information about children. Themes explored in this text include: growth of physiological systems development of motor and perceptive skills paediatric environmental physiology prevention of injury diet and nutrition youth fitness and skills training effective teaching and coaching of juniors the role of football academies. Youth Soccer: From Science to Performance blends current child-focused sports science theory with youth-specific coaching practice to help create soccer development strategies for children. It promotes knowledge and understanding in all these areas and will further professional expertise amongst coaches who wish to develop the all year round potential of youth soccer players and train the stars of the future.

A soccer match is an ever-changing environment. Because most players rely almost exclusively on their dominant foot, their reportoire of movement is limited. This book presents a training method that focuses on developing physically balanced players who are comfortable playing the ball with either foot to any direction of play, thus giving them the full 360 degree range of playing options.--From backcover.

International Research in Science and Soccer showcases the very latest research into the world’s most widely played sport. With contributions from world-leading researchers and practitioners working at every level of the game, from grass roots to elite level, the book covers every key aspect of preparation and performance, including: contemporary issues in soccer coaching psychological preparation and development of players physical preparation and development of players nutrition and recovery talent identification and development strength and conditioning in soccer injury prevention and rehabilitation soccer academies. Sports scientists, trainers, coaches, physiotherapists, medical doctors, psychologists, educational officers and professionals working in soccer will find this in-depth, comprehensive volume an essential and up-to-date resource. The papers contained within this volume were first presented at The First World Congress on Science and Soccer, held in May 2008 in Liverpool, UK. The meeting was held under the auspices of the World Commission of Science and Sports.