The Art of Soccer

If you are involved with a team which has the basics of feinting, dribbling, and passing, then this book will take you to the next level of understanding of how and why positioning should work. As the author points out early, 10 minutes after a game starts you can't tell whether the team is using a 5-3-2 or a 3-4-3 because the game is really about space and how to set up spaces, manipulate it, and work into it. Really a great understanding of the game as it is played and not as a bunch of X's and O's. You MUST read this book if you coach or play U-12 or above.

This is an excellent book that helps develop a greater appreciation and understanding of the tactics and strategies that underly the "beautiful" game. The main thrust of the book is the idea of space and how to create use and deny it. There are excellent illustrations and diagrams showing exactly how this is accomplished. This is superb book packed with insight and great value. The best soccer coaching book I've read 5+ stars.

If you are coaching soccer and know the basics and you are ready to take your team to the next level this is the book to take you there. It is very informative and gives coach's a real understanding of the changes a team must make to get to the highest level of competitiveness.

Most soccer books describe soccer skills and tactics in either a "how-to" or "what it is" presentation. This book covers the reasoning behind specific tactics. This book explains why specific strategies and tactics work. This book is a must have for any coach or player.

This is my current favorite book on soccer. The quotes from Sun Tzu (The Art of War) are very appropriate. The book goes from the very general, a thorough discussion of space and its importance in war and on the pitch, to the very specific. Catlin concentrates much more on the concept of roles as opposed to positions. When teams recognize that functional roles are much more important than positions and when the team members learn that they should be interchangable, the dynamics of play can become much more interesting. Also helpful is the fact that the most important points are clearly highlighted, making it easy to focus on each of them as a teaching point. I have developed a fairly large soccer library, and this book, even with its flaws, is one of the best. Clif Brittain