{"title":"Books About Soccer","description":"\u003cp\u003eGet your team, clients, and students excited for the World Cup by gifting them one of these books!\u003c\/p\u003e","products":[{"product_id":"what-is-the-world-cup-bonnie-bader-9780515158212","title":"What Is the World Cup?","description":"\u003cb\u003eGOOOAAAAAL! Get ready for a front-row seat at the world's most-watched sporting event--the World Cup.\u003c\/b\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eEvery four years, thirty-two of the best men's soccer teams from across the globe compete for the title of FIFA World Cup winner. Over one billion people tuned in worldwide to watch the final game of the 2014 competition, making the World Cup the most widely viewed sporting event in the world, exceeding even the Summer Olympics! This book takes a look back at what has changed since the first tournament in 1930 and what lies ahead for the most popular sport in the world.","brand":"Penguin Workshop","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":48675301785793,"sku":"9780515158212","price":7.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0781\/5512\/0833\/files\/9780515158212.jpg?v=1727186072"},{"product_id":"keeper-kelcey-ervick-9780593539187","title":"The Keeper: Soccer, Me, and the Law That Changed Women's Lives","description":"\u003cb\u003eFrom the \u003ci\u003eNew York Times \u003c\/i\u003eBook Review, \u003c\/b\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\"[R]eaders will certainly want to linger on the beautiful depictions of birds, people and scenes from her life. She weaves in historical context in graceful and necessary ways.\" \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eA beautifully illustrated coming-of-age graphic memoir chronicling how sports shaped one young girl's life and changed women's history forever. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eGrowing up playing on a top national soccer team in the 1980s, Kelcey Ervick and her teammates didn't understand the change they represented. Title IX was enacted in 1972 with little fanfare, but to seismic effect; between then and now, girls' participation in organized sports has exploded more than 1,000 percent. Braiding together personal narrative, pop culture, literature, and history, Ervick tells the story of how her adolescence was shaped by this boom. Ervick also explores her role as a goalkeeper--a position marked by outsider status and observation--and reveals it has drawn some of the most famed writers of our time. With wit and poignant storytelling, \u003ci\u003eThe Keeper\u003c\/i\u003e brings to life forgotten figures who understood the importance of athletics to help women step into their confidence and power--and push for equality. 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Page by page, you will revel in the depictions of players you adore, discover tales you have never heard, and experience vivid stories of dreams, loyalty, perseverance, creativity, and luck. Together, they form an alternative telling of the history of soccer, tracing the evolution of the men's and women's games around the globe, one unlikely, unbelievable, unforgettable career at a time. Thanks to the transcendent career arcs depicted within, \u003ci\u003eGods of Soccer\u003c\/i\u003e is rife with tales that will make readers' hearts soar. Encourage them to dream. 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He is also one of the most decorated footballers in the world--having won 44 collective trophies, including seven Ballon d'Or awards, 2009 FIFA World Player of the Year, 2019 and 2022 Best FIFA Men's Player, and more. From making his first team debut at just sixteen years old in 2003 to breaking numerous longstanding records in 2012, to helping Argentina win the 2022 World Cup, Messi continues to wow fans with his finesse of the soccer ball. However, Lionel Messi stays true to his roots, never forgetting a small tribute to his grandmother each time he scores a goal by looking up and pointing to the sky. 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From his cinematic debut goal to his first trophy with Miami and across two more transformative seasons, Messi's impact was immediate and enormous. His pink No. 10 shirt became the world's best-selling jersey, MLS stadiums sold out in city after city, and Inter Miami's valuation soared past $1 billion. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eThis is a book about one man's legacy in a rapidly growing and changing game. It's a story about the business of sport and how a player can be both athlete and economic engine. It's an inside look at how the business of MLS evolved historically and in real time after the legend's arrival. And it's the story of how a GOAT rides off into the sunset, the choices he makes, and the aftereffects of his greatness for future generations","brand":"St. Martin's Press","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":50060036014273,"sku":"9781250364173","price":30.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0781\/5512\/0833\/files\/9781250364173.jpg?v=1773777084"},{"product_id":"soccer-iq-presents-possession-dan-blank-9780989697729","title":"Soccer iQ Presents... POSSESSION: Teaching Your Team to Keep the Darn Ball","description":"\u003cb\u003e\"Excellent book! Dan Blank does an awesome job of simply and logically breaking down the fundamental approach to a possession-based style of play.\"\u003c\/b\u003e \u003ci\u003e Bikerby\u003c\/i\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cb\u003e\"A very well written easy to read book. 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A must read if you are introducing the concept of possession soccer to your team.\" \u003c\/b\u003e \u003cbr\u003e\u003ci\u003e Chris Almand\u003c\/i\u003e","brand":"Soccerpoet LLC","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":50062869889217,"sku":"9780989697729","price":9.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0781\/5512\/0833\/files\/9780989697729.jpg?v=1773844421"},{"product_id":"soccer-iq-presents-shutout-pizza-dan-blank-9780989697767","title":"Soccer iQ Presents Shutout Pizza: Smarter Soccer Defending for Players and Coaches","description":"\u003cb\u003e\"If you want to win, buy this book. Clearly written, direct and to the point with great stories that bring the topics to life.\"\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e . \u003ci\u003eBuffs\u003c\/i\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cb\u003e\"Another awesome book from Dan Blank! My defenders are now getting \"Shutout Pizza\" to devour...both the book and hopefully lots of pizza this year!\" \u003c\/b\u003e \u003ci\u003eBikerby\u003c\/i\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cb\u003e\"Very good read, with useful information that is simple to follow and understand. Very catchy, memorable descriptions that stick with you, and will stick with your players.\" \u003c\/b\u003e \u003ci\u003eDarren\u003c\/i\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eWARNING: This is not a goalkeeping book.\u003cbr\u003eFrom the best-selling author of the Soccer iQ series comes a book dedicated to teaching and organizing a back four. Coach Dan Blank led the Southeastern Conference's best defense at two different universities in consecutive years. It began with a handbook he created for his defenders that ensured everyone was on the same page. Shutout Pizza is a vastly expanded version of that handbook. It introduces the governing principles that guided the SEC's best defenses, and covers a broad spectrum of scenarios that commonly occur during matches. Shutout Pizza is packed with diagrams that will help the reader visualize the concepts discussed in the text, and includes several of most effective drills for training these concepts. This is an excellent book for coaches and players who want to defend more effectively. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cb\u003e\"Defending Made Simple. The concepts in this book are presented in such an easy to understand and teachable manner that I am embarrassed at the large number I have failed to teach my teams over the years. This book (and Dan's others) will change your team dramatically for the better.\"\u003c\/b\u003e .\u003ci\u003eMark L\u003c\/i\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cb\u003e\"If you are sincerely into coaching soccer this is a must have book to add to your collection. 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Looking forward to putting a lot of this into action with my team!\"\u003c\/b\u003e Matthew D Bryant","brand":"Soccerpoet LLC","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":50062869954753,"sku":"9780989697774","price":9.98,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0781\/5512\/0833\/files\/9780989697774.jpg?v=1773844436"},{"product_id":"soccer-skills-mastery-mirsad-hasic-9781502900609","title":"Soccer Skills Mastery: Improve Your Skills, Skyrocket Your Performance, Get Noticed","description":"LEARN:: How to Skyrocket Your Performance on the Soccer Field \u003ci\u003e Do you struggle with basic soccer moves others seem to pick up instantly?\u003c\/i\u003e Do you wish there was a way of learning all those great skills you see other players do? If you want to become amazing in the shortest amount of time possible, you are in good company. Yet there's always a catch, isn't there? A little time passes and a whole lot of doubts creep in. You start feeling overwhelmed and it's easy to get discouraged when you see other people zooming along just fine, learning with ease all of the skills that you're struggling to even remotely pull off halfway! As things get tougher, you start seeing your dreams slip through your fingers. This dramatically impacts your performance, and not for the better. Thankfully, there's a solution right in front of you: just follow a blueprint from someone that has already gone from where you are to where you want to go. A well-tested blueprint will allow you to watch your skills skyrocket now, not later. RIGHT NOW:: Develop Your Soccer Skills and Get Instant Results It's not hard to develop your soccer skills and start playing the best game of your life if you just develop the necessary skills. The problem is that if you don't know the small secrets, developing your skills is going to be really tough! In \"Soccer Skills Mastery\", you'll discover a treasure trove of tips that will help you instantly develop your soccer skills and play the best game of your life. Other similar books offer general solutions on improving your soccer skills, but in this book you'll get access to everything I've learned over the past two decades of playing soccer. Ever wonder if there are really hidden secrets to unlocking the best soccer moves? Here's the truth: the secrets are out there, and they're available to everyone. However, there's a catch: you usually learn the real secrets and insider knowledge through many years of trial and error. This book lets you skip the long, hard years of experimentation and go straight to improving your game. The small tips, tricks, and details that no one talks about openly are all found in this book; use them to start playing better than ever before! 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Or just looking for ways to improve your team?\u003cp\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eThis book can help solve your problems.\u003c\/b\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eSoccer is the world's most popular sport. In the Summer of 2018 the latest World Cup Finals take place in Russia, with some of the best (and, perhaps, luckiest) teams in the world participating. The competition will see teams divided into mini leagues, based on their world rankings and a draw. The top two teams from each group go forward to the knock out stages. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eThe best two will compete the final. There is a more than reasonable bet that existing champions\u003cbr\u003eGermany will once again lift the trophy, although Brazil, Argentina, Spain and France will all fancy their chances. The Belgians have the team of a life time, and could triumph, while the likes of Saudi Arabia and Panama should make the most of their time in Eastern Europe - it will probably be short lived. As for Russia itself, the lowest ranked side in the competition, well, who knows? Home advantage can count for a lot. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eThis short focus on the World Cup is of great relevance to the book that follows. Consider the team below: \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eGoalkeepers: Jan Oblak, stalwart of the Spanish giants Athletico Madrid - a team whose recent success in challenging the established giants of La Liga, Real Madrid and Barcelona, has been built on gritty, defiant defending; Gianluigi Buffon, legendary player between the posts.\u003cbr\u003eDefenders: David Alaba, kingpin of Bayern Munich; Antonio Valencia, rampaging wing back of Manchester United and Virgil van Dijk, the most highly rated defender in England's Premier League, just transferred for a record (for a defender) fee approaching $100 million, Giorgio Chiellini, tough, no nonsense centre back with more than a touch of skill.\u003cbr\u003eMidfielders: Christian Pulisic, Borussio Dortmand's well regarded midfielder; Arjen Robben, the Bayern Munich and former Chelsea wizard of the wing; Daniele De Rossi, a central defensive midfielder who would walk into any team in the world.\u003cbr\u003eAttackers: Alexi Sanchez, at the time of writing, European powerhouse Arsenal's outstanding player; Gareth Bale, the Real Madrid attacking maestro; Pierre Emerick Aubameyang, one of the most promising strikers on the planet. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eThose of you with good football knowledge will spot that these great players, along with many more, are some of the giants of the game who will not feature in the World Cup Finals, other than perhaps in the commentary box, pundit's chair or newspaper columns of June 2018.\u003cbr\u003eHow can this be? How can such individuals not represent their countries on the biggest stage of all?\u003cbr\u003eThe answer, as we know, is that soccer is team game, where the collective talents of the players outweigh the individual skills of the maestro. The great sides do, naturally, incorporate such talents within their squad, but it is so often the case that a team that works together and combines well outperforms a side made up of more talented individuals who are less effective team players. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eAnd the secret to success is possession of the football. Passing and the possession this helps to retain really are two of the most important parts of team play for a soccer team. This book will look at a number of ways both coaches and players can improve such aspects of their own side's performance. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cbr\u003eHere's What's Included In This Book: \u003cul\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\u003cli\u003eTeamwork - The Importance of Possession\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\u003cli\u003eThe Mentality of the Team\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\u003cli\u003eThe Importance of Possession\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\u003cli\u003eTeam Possession Drills\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\u003cli\u003eIndividual Possession Drills\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\u003cli\u003eTeam Passing Drills\u003c\/li\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e \u003c\/ul\u003e \u003cp\u003eScroll up and download now\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Createspace Independent Publishing Platform","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":50062870085825,"sku":"9781983643293","price":16.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0781\/5512\/0833\/files\/9781983643293.jpg?v=1773844461"},{"product_id":"soccer-national-geographic-kids-readers-level-2-melissa-santoyo-9781426224959","title":"Soccer (National Geographic Kids Readers, Level 2)","description":"\u003cb\u003eLearn all about one of the most popular sports in the world--soccer!--in this fun Level 2 Reader from National Geographic Kids!\u003c\/b\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eFrom passing balls and scoring goals to how soccer got its name and where it started, kids will love learning all about the world's most popular team sport. This Level 2 reader is perfect for any soccer superfan or beginner athlete. Kids will meet some of the sport's most famous players and learn about global tournaments like the FIFA World Cup. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eComplete with a helpful glossary of need-to-know terms and dynamic action shots in National Geographic's eye-catching style, this reader is tailored for kids ready for longer sentences and more complex vocabulary. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cb\u003eNGK Level 2 Readers \u003c\/b\u003eare perfect for kids who are ready for longer sentences and more complex vocabulary. New words are defined on the page, but occasional adult help might be welcome.","brand":"National Geographic Kids","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":50063197929665,"sku":"9781426224959","price":15.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0781\/5512\/0833\/files\/9781426224959.jpg?v=1773869646"},{"product_id":"absolute-expert-eric-zweig-9781426330087","title":"Absolute Expert: Soccer: All the Latest Facts from the Field","description":"\u003cb\u003eLearn everything you've ever wanted to know about soccer in an eye-catching, page-turning book for aspiring experts, featuring exclusive content from a real Major League Soccer referee, Mark Geiger!\u003c\/b\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eScore! Can't get enough of your favorite super sport? This action-packed book is chock-full of awesome facts and fun for soccer fans! Join real-life Major League Soccer and Olympic referee Mark Geiger to get the latest, most up-to-date soccer intel around, plus fun facts and awesome trivia. Out just in time for the World Cup!","brand":"National Geographic Kids","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":50063197962433,"sku":"9781426330087","price":14.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0781\/5512\/0833\/files\/9781426330087.jpg?v=1773869651"}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0781\/5512\/0833\/collections\/soccer_thumbnail.png?v=1773766672","url":"https:\/\/www.porchlightbooks.com\/collections\/soccer.oembed?page=3","provider":"Porchlight Book Company","version":"1.0","type":"link"}