Soccer science

666 Pages·2016·9.211 MB·English

by  Strudwick, Tony

Soccer
Science
Tony Strudwick
Editor
Human Kinetics
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Names: Strudwick, Tony, editor.
Title: Soccer science / Tony Strudwick, editor.
Description: Champaign, IL : Human Kinetics, [2016] | Includes
bibliographical references and index.
Identifiers: LCCN 2015042253
Subjects: LCSH: Soccer. | Sports sciences.
Classification: LCC GV943 .S66 2016 | DDC 796.334--dc23 LC record available at http://lccn.loc.gov/2015042253
ISBN: 978-1-4504-9679-7 (print)
Copyright © 2016 by Anthony Strudwick
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This publication is written and published to provide accurate and authoritative information relevant to the subject
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This book is dedicated to my family:
Susanne, Olivia and Thomas. Always by my side.
Special thanks also to Mum and Dad
and all the many staff, players and coaches
who have been part of this incredible journey.
Contents
Foreword vii
Introduction: Application of Soccer Science . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ix
Tony Strudwick
Key to Diagrams . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . xiv
Part I Foundations of Soccer Science 1
Chapter 1 Evolution of Soccer Science . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
Neil Carter
Chapter 2 National and Cultural Influences . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
Craig Duncan and Tony Strudwick
Part II Talent Identification
and Player Development 37
Chapter 3 Practical Aspects of Player Selection
and Development . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39
Iñigo Mujika and Carlo Castagna
Chapter 4 Development of the Young Soccer Player . . . . . . . 55
Viswanath B. Unnithan and John Iga
Chapter 5 Skill Acquisition and Learning Through Practice
and Other Activities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 75
Paul R. Ford
Part III Biomechanical
and Technological Applications 99
Chapter 6 Biomechanical Principles of Soccer . . . . . . . . . . . .101
Anthony Blazevich and Sophia Nimphius
iv
|
Contents v
Chapter 7 Refining Techniques and Skills
Through Scientific Analysis . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .129
Neal Smith
Chapter 8 Biomechanics for Optimal Performance
and Injury Prevention . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .149
Martin Haines and Daniel Cohen
Chapter 9 Soccer Boots and Playing Surfaces . . . . . . . . . . . .179
Thorsten Sterzing
Chapter 10 Soccer Ball Dynamics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 203
Andy Harland and Henry Hanson
Part IV Physiological Demands
in Training and Competition 219
Chapter 11 Targeted Systems of the Body for Training . . . . . 221
Greg Dupont and Alan McCall
Chapter 12 Conditioning Programmes
for Competitive Levels . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .247
Tony Strudwick and Gary Walker
Chapter 13 Environmental Stressors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 279
Donald T. Kirkendall
Chapter 14 Nutritional Needs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 305
Mayur Ranchordas
Chapter 15 Injury Frequency and Prevention . . . . . . . . . . . . .337
Mario Bizzini and Astrid Junge
Part V Psychological and Mental Demands 365
Chapter 16 Psychology and Elite Soccer Performance . . . . . . 367
Geir Jordet
}
vi Contents
Chapter 17 Mental Interventions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 389
Matt Pain
Chapter 18 Performance Mind-Set . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .415
Mark Nesti
Part VI Tactics and Strategies 431
Chapter 19 Popular Systems and Styles of Play . . . . . . . . . . . .433
Jens Bangsbo and Birger Peitersen
Chapter 20 Optimal Preparation for Defensive Play . . . . . . . 459
Sam Erith and Gary Curneen
Chapter 21 Key Transitions and Midfield Manoeuvres . . . . . . 483
Dave Tenney and Sigi Schmid
Chapter 22 Essential Elements of Attacking Soccer . . . . . . . . 503
Richard Hawkins and Darren Robinson
Part VII Match Performance and Analysis 529
Chapter 23 Player and Team Assessments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .531
Rob Mackenzie and Chris Cushion
Chapter 24 Match Evaluation: Systems and Tools . . . . . . . . . 545
Chris Carling
Chapter 25 Statistical Evaluations in Soccer . . . . . . . . . . . . . 559
Ron Smith
Epilogue: The Future of Soccer Science . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 589
Tony Strudwick
References 593
Index 625
About the Editor 641
About the Contributors 643
Foreword
Ip layed for Manchester United my entire career. I was fortunate to be part
of a great youth team and won the European Cup in 1999 with my best
friends. I played through the most successful period in the club’s history and
shared a dressing room with legends of the game such as Robson, Cantona,
Giggs, Keane and Ronaldo. Focus and intensity were always at the core
of our success. At Manchester United, it was always about working hard
enough so they would let us stay. As a player in a big team, I had to know I
could rely on teammates to produce big moments. That breeds confidence
and ensures that, as a player, I embrace all the ideas of modern preparation
to maximize performance.
Looking back to my early career, I would go to extreme lengths to improve
my performance. Much of this was self-managed and self-driven, but even
then, I was totally committed to maximizing what talent I had. If I thought
my left foot needed work, I would go out on my own and kick a ball against
a wall for an hour. I remember one day after weights, I stayed on the pitch
at the Cliff and started passing the ball against a brick wall. Left foot, right
foot hundreds of times. This is what Geir Jordet in chapter 16 refers to as
passionately playing the game and relentlessly pursuing performance.
Over the course of my playing career, preparation for individual play-
ers and teams changed significantly. Sport science, fitness, video analysis,
recognition of how players learn, and the science behind the boots, kit and
ball have all moved to another level. Generally, technology, society and
soccer have all changed. What has not changed, however, is the desire to
gain a competitive advantage. There are many ways to win a soccer match
by outrunning your opponents, outpassing your opponents and outfighting
your opponents.
At Manchester United there was always a plan across the entire season.
This plan was rigorously developed over years of intuition and coach educa-
tion. There was always a consideration for physical development and intense
training methods. This is why the team could grind out last-minute wins and
late-season charges towards Premiership titles. Winning does not happen
by chance, and meticulous planning and a desire to drive performance year
after year were critical for sustained success under Sir Alex Ferguson.
The English Premier League is one of the most physically demanding
leagues in the world. We were often expected to play three games in a week,
travelling in Europe and then playing against physically resilient teams like
Stoke, Blackburn and Everton. There were never any easy games in the EPL,
so it was important to train hard off the field in the gym so that we had
the physical resources to cope. The science of soccer training was not well
developed in my early days as a player, but towards the later stages of my
vii
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viii Foreword
playing career I enjoyed the benefit of sport scientists, medical interventions,
performance laboratories and recovery monitoring.
The game itself has also changed in the last 20 years. Each generation
has seen a modification in terms of tactical variation and physical evolu-
tion: the Arsenal ‘Invincibles’ of 2004, Jose Mourinho’s Chelsea team of the
mid-2000s, Pep Guardiola’s Barcelona, Jurgen Klopp’s Borussia Dortmund.
In general, players, coaches and teams that have embraced a contemporary
approach have gained a competitive advantage. Tactical trends in soccer
have also evolved. At the highest level of participation, successful teams
are constantly striving for competitive advantage through increased tactical
variations, dynamic interchanges and systems of play that are flexible and
adaptable. To understand these changes, you have to have an appreciation
of all the significant changes that have occurred in the game. That is why
I particularly enjoyed reading Soccer Science. It helps formulate ideas and
strategies that are beneficial to both players and coaches.
With the use of the modern video-based match analysis systems, much
detailed information on players’ fitness and performance is now available.
Indeed, modern players now have a wealth of data from analytics and desig-
nated staff to ensure performance is maintained at the highest level. Soccer
Science provides an in-depth look into the critical areas of contemporary
preparation. These will certainly give you a clearer understanding of the
requirements for high-performance soccer.
Modern coaches may operate without the benefit of soccer scientists,
performance analysts and physiologists. In these conditions, it is impera-
tive to embrace scientific principles to assist in team preparation. Coaches
need to be familiar with new ideas for preparing teams and players. These
processes will ultimately determine competitive advantage. Soccer Science
is an excellent guide for coaches and players at all levels.
Good luck.
Gary Neville