Society and Culture-: Sport

Master ball control, swerve passing, wedge and chest traps, heading, slide tackles and more, including how goalkeepers narrow the angle and punch the ball clear to protect the goal.

The brilliant and stirring victory of the U.S. women's soccer team at the World Cup inspired legions of females to get into the sport. How can coaches best develop the talents of budding female athletes? From team psychology to skill-strengthening exercises to guidance for the goalkeeper, here is a photograph-filled, play-by-play manual by two of America's top women's soccer coaches. Develop group cohesion and understanding through the thirds of the field; work out with shadow play during the preseason; and drill players superbly on zonal defending, defending and attacking set pieces, man-to-man marking, pressing soccer, offsides, counter-attacking, switching point of attack, and crossing. With this system, your team won't let you down!