Overview
Soccer is a sport that's played by more and more U.S. kids - boys and girls - and it's getting lots of press with the arrival on these shores of a genuine international superstar, David Beckham. This is the definitive book on soccer - its history, its greatest games, its lore, and its stars.
Synopsis
David Beckham's much-anticipated U.S. soccer debut with the LA Galaxy ignited North America's fever for soccer a game played by 265 million people worldwide, and watched regularly by more people than the Summer Olympics!
In SOCCER, Christopher Morris gives us a close look at this facinating game, including awesome goals and amazing maneuvers, soccer-playing kids from around the globe, and effective insider tips and playing techniques. SOCCER also provides behind-the-scenes info about the beautiful game's most famous players, with a spotlight on David Beckham, and explores the women's soccer boom that has made so many headlines and magazine covers. For those new to the soccer field, there is a wealth of information about soccer's history, rules, and game structure. For fanatics, SOCCER offers loads of statistics about Major League Soccer teams, the most exciting games, the highest paid athletes, and much more.
Children's Literature
There is a lot of interesting information about soccer in this book, if you can get past the heavy emphasis on David Beckham's influence on the game. He is a very talented and charismatic player, but certainly not the best ever. Although there is mention of such greats as Brazilian player Pele, who dominated the game in the 1960s and '70s, we don't get the in-depth history of them that we do of Beckham. But having said that, the book does explain a great deal about the history and different styles of playing soccer, which elsewhere in the world is called football or futbol or futebol. It is an exciting game to watch or play and will definitely keep you in good physical shape. It is the only game I know of where you cannot use your hands. Instead you must use your feet to dribble the ball and your feet or body or head to pass the ball. The author describes how to stop a ball with your body so it lands at your feet. More information about great women players and how the game has evolved for women would have been nice, but at least the author included some information. Wonderful action photos are included capturing and further explaining amazing kicks, such as the overhead kick where the player launches himself into the air and kicks the ball back over his head. Gotta hurt when he lands. At the back of the book you can find information about people who have been influential to and in the game. The book is an informative addition to any sports book collection. Reviewer: Sarah Maury Swan