Soccer

W. Bruce Wrigley coaches children’s soccer in Toronto.

The back-cover blurb of this latest volume in the Basics for Beginners
series contends that children will, after learning something about
soccer from this book, “... be eager to head for the soccer field to
join the fun....” Eager? Perhaps not. While the text and illustrations
may kindle interest, this book tends to leave out more than it includes.

In its scant 24 pages, the book explains—as briefly as
possible—positioning, kicking, equipment, and team play. What it fails
to include is the “how-tos” of some of the simple pleasures
associated with ball contact, such as getting control of a ball by
stepping on it, or allowing a ball in the air to bounce off your chest.
Another problem is the author’s unsuccessful attempt at humor with a
series of corny jokes. The half-page devoted to one—“Why are babies
so good at playing soccer? Because they are expert dribblers”—could
have been better used by including some interesting soccer trivia or
information about famous games. And finally, the writing and layout feel
distinctly labored.

When compared to other soccer books aimed at younger audiences, this
book proves less than inspiring. Not a first-choice purchase.