Play With Your Brain - by Travis Norsen (Paperback)

About the Book

Aimed primarily at intermediate-to-advanced youth soccer players (but also coaches and parents who want to understand the game more deeply) "Play With Your Brain" presents eight key soccer concepts in illuminating detail, giving you the knowledge you need to become a smarter -- and therefore better -- player, coach, or fan.

Book Synopsis

In soccer, most goals are scored with your feet. But as Johan Cruyff noted, soccer is fundamentally "a game you play with your brain." Technical skills are essential tools, to be sure, but (like any tools) they are useless without a clear understanding of how, when, and why to apply them.

In Play with Your Brain, Travis Norsen helps you develop your soccer brain by providing a deep and detailed explanation of some of the game's basic principles. Aimed at intermediate-to-advanced youth soccer players and their coaches (as well as parents who want to understand the game more deeply), the book presents eight key soccer concepts in illuminating detail, showing what and how, but also clearly explaining why. Specific topics include the value of possession, the importance of horizontal and vertical spacing, why the direction you face is as important as where you are and where you're going, the nature and value of speed, pressuring with a purpose, and why defense - the science of generating turnovers - requires a coordinated team effort. The book contains more than fifty detailed diagrams illustrating these principles in various concrete applications, and is written in a style that is simultaneously accessible and lucid.

Whether you are a youth soccer player who wants to develop your game to the next level, a volunteer coach who needs a clear vision of where to lead your team, or a soccer parent who just wants to more clearly comprehend your kid's passion, this book will provide the systematic understanding you want and need.

Review Quotes

"It is very well organized and easy to understand, with helpful diagrams and descriptions of the pros and cons of different decisions players can make on the field. I highly recommend this book for players who want to make smarter decisions playing soccer!" - Andrew G (age 12)

"This book provides extremely practical advice for implementing a consistent, logical, easy-to-understand system of possession soccer. The beautiful part is that it relies on teaching players how to think on the field, enabling players with less individual skills to make critical contributions to the team. I have coached at both the high school and youth level, and I found lots of valuable advice that I will definitely implement. A well written, easy to follow guide." - Dave M

"It is amazing! I wish I had this soccer bible since the beginning of my soccer mom career." - Rei M

"Essential reading for every player/coach/team that wants to evolve from playground soccer to the beautiful game." - Pranay P