Fitness Training in Soccer: A Scientific Approach [Paperback]

Jens Bangsbo (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 2003

What happens in the body when playing soccer? How much does a player work during a match? How do players cope with the physical requirements? How should players train and prepare for a match? This book provides answers to questions like these based on scientific results combined with practical experience. In a simple way it gives the reader an understanding of the principles of fitness training in soccer and how to perform the training in practice.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

The author is Dr. Jens Bangsbo, who is currently the fitness adviser for the Danish National team and teacher for the Danish Football Association. He has collected international honors as a player and played more than 350 matches in the top Danish league. His ability to combine knowledge with years of experience on the soccer field is widely respected all over Europe.

Product Details

• Paperback: 336 pages
• Publisher: Reedswain (October 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1591640628
• ISBN-13: 978-1591640622
• Product Dimensions: 10 x 7.1 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.6 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,556,255 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Worth getting but has it's limitations, January 24, 2010

By 

H. S. Gray (Exeter, UK) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Fitness Training in Soccer: A Scientific Approach (Paperback)

I think I am quite harsh when I write my reviews, but this is because I have been on all sides of things - a player, a coach, and now a sport scientist working at a high level.
There are good areas of this book that will be very useful to coaches of all levels. However, the areas on anaerobic work, speed development, and weight training really are poor and even misleading. Bangsbo knows more about improving the endurance and match fitness of soccer players than anyone out there. I feel he does a dis-service to himself when writing about other areas in which he is not so strong.
Worth getting for half the book, however don't take the information in the above areas as Gospel.
More reviews on books like this are on my blog which is listed in my profile

1 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The importance of science in soccer, February 1, 2006

By 

Ilia Toumadjanov (Raleigh, NC USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Fitness Training in Soccer: A Scientific Approach (Paperback)

This book is obviously a must for a person who aspires to be a serious soccer coach. To understand and use the concepts of fitness training elaborated by Bangsbo one must have a least a rudimentary knowledge of anatomy, physiology, metabolism, biochemistry, etc. It makes a lot more sense to be aware of these when planning training programs. It is regrettable that the overwhelming majority of youth soccer coaches ignore those issues entirely. As a result, the efiiciency of training is very low. One other sad consequence of this ignorance is wrong ratios of load and work,inappropriate time units for various aerobic,anaerobic, and aerobic/anaerobic activities implemented during practice.In some extreme situations players may develop a variety of both short-term or long-term cardiovascular, respiratory, or metabolic problems. Bangsbo is one of the leading authorities on the subject of fitness training and has been involved with providing practical advice at the highest international level. Fitness Training in Soccer when studied in conjunction with a manual on periodization will make practice properly calibrated and efficient.

0 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars impressed, June 16, 2005

By 

brian (ireland / in canada) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Fitness Training in Soccer: A Scientific Approach (Paperback)

I am a youth soccer coach .I bought this book for what it says on the cover, to understand the body in the game itself. Although somewhat heavy going in places, it enlightened me to the importance of the basics in successful performance, if you're looking for drills, tips, tactics, look else where, if you want to get the best from the body? Plan your season? this is the book . Oh and drink plenty of water!