Football for Kids : An Illustrated Guide

With well over a billion players stretching around the globe from North America to Oceania, soccer is the most widely played sport in the world. The reasons for its success are simple: all that's required to play it is an open space and a ball. Soccer is also open to all body type, with room for those who are short and those who are tall, those with robust physiques and those who are skinny! This book is an illustrated guide with a simple approach to the sport, aimed at children and young teens. A brief introduction includes facts about the history of football, from its origins to its present state of development. The core of the book covers the principal rules and basic techniques of the game: the dribble, stop, pass, shoot, head shot, defence, and possession of the ball. It defines not only individual moves but also those required by the team as a whole, with a focus on tactics, that is, on behaviour in the field. One entire chapter is also devoted to the goalkeeper and the skills demanded of the player assuming that particular role. The tutorial offers advice on how to get into soccer with the help of humorous illustrations that make it easier to grasp the concepts by combining instruction with fun. The final chapter is devoted to teams and individual players that have helped raise the popularity of soccer worldwide-from Real Madrid to Milan, from Maradona to Messi. The aim of the book is to serve as an enjoyable, easily understood guide for the huge audience of children and young teens facing competitive sports and to help them take their first steps in the game.