Soccer Fundamentals for Players and Coaches

Rating:
Summary: Basically the older version of Wiel Coerver's book "Score!"
Review:

This is Wiel Coerver's original book on teaching young soccer players how to do soccerdribbling "moves". I ordered this book through Amazon.com not knowing what it was all about,having already gotten Coerver's other book "Score!" This book covers pretty much the same material, and would be of interest only if you don't already own the other book, or if you are a serious Coerver Coaching fan. If you are a Coerver Coaching fan, this book is somewhat interesting in a historical sort of way in that the pictures are all black and white, and many show a middle-aged Wiel Coerver demonstrating the moves (in the book "Score!", he appears only in one photo at the introduction, looking like a wizened old grandfather).

It is interesting to note how organized youth soccer coaching has evolved between the two books to encompass ever younger kids. In this book, Coerver states: "The very young should not be troubled with planned training and assignments" (p.3) and later: "..begin this plan at the age of ten .." (p.5). By the time of the book "Score!" he writes: "Most of the exercises are suitable for young players..." (p.4) and "The group of exercises in the first category have been deliberately kept simple so that even beginners as young as age six can practice them" (p.6). In this book, the young soccer players all look like they are at least ten years old or over. In the book "Score!" the pictures have turned into color and the players are all much younger, with some of them actually looking like they are less than six years old.

With both books, there is still the problem of following the footwork for executing the moves using only static pictures, and so I would still recommend getting the Coerver Coaching videos to help you with the footwork (see my review for the book "Score!" on how to get these). Coerver's books are interesting mainly from the philosophical standpoint, with Coerver grieving over the loss of "goal scorers and players with innovative plays or creative abilities" because of "coaches who...prefer not to allow their players to engage in individual play for fear that they might lose possession of the ball" (p.3). He also writes in this book: "As a result, it is rare to find a training program that encourages individual attacking techniques" (this is something that Paul Gardner also bemoans, in his book, "The Simplest Game").

Do not make the mistake of limiting the potential of your players by teaching them only "kick and run" soccer. These books and videos from Coerver Coaching will show you how to teach your players the great moves of Cruyff, Rivelino, Rumennige, Matthews, etc.

Rating:
Summary: Excellent book for players who want to excell thru training
Review: I got hold of this book 4 years back. It has taught me to dribble very well. I have developed myself from just a 20% player to almost 50% player.

Rating:
Summary: Best soccer book I 've seen. Nice photos and easy to follow
Review: I went through many books and this one is the best I've found so far... Great pictures and explanations. My soccer skills are much improved from this book, I was the worst player on the team and in one year I became one of the better ones! I usually took 3 exercises and practice them for one week and then move on to the next set... The only downside to this books that it does not cover kicking techniques, bicycle kicks and heading... Great investment in your soccer skill!