The Kingfisher Soccer Encyclopedia [Hardcover]

Clive Gifford (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 10, 2006 | Age Level: 10 and up | Grade Level: 5 and up

From the first soccer games to today's money-spinning global industry, the book takes readers to the heart of a sport that is played and watched by millions of people around the world. It explains the key rules, skills, and tactics and examines issues in and around the game—supporters, the media, and the demands of being a professional player. With profiles of the world's greatest teams and soccer's legendary players, from Alfredo di Stefano to Mia Hamm, every aspect of this world-class sport is covered comprehensively. Stunning 3-D digital artwork recreates some of the most famous moves and greatest goals in soccer history, while dramatic full-spread photographs capture the game's most memorable moments.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 6-10 Beginning with the history of the sport, Gifford covers the basic rules as well as skills such as defending the ball, goalkeeping, and attacking. He includes brief bios of the legends of the sport, both men and women, organized by their positions. Fascinating tales of great teams and memorable competitions in events such as the World Cup and the 2004 Olympics will entertain fans of the sport. The font tends to be small, creating a dense look to the pages, but the large as well as thumbnail color photos appear often and break up the text. This book could be used as a reference guide for reports or to answer specific questions. A solid purchase where an all-encompassing encyclopedia is needed. Blair Christolon, Prince William Public Library System, Manassas, VA
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

From Booklist

Gr. 6 and up. This deceptively slim volume packs a considerable amount of information. The introduction traces the genesis of kicking games through rudimentary forms of soccer into current professional and Olympic competitions. Subsequent chapters address basic rules, physical tactics and skills, brief biographies of legendary players, profiles of well-known coaches and coaching strategies, summaries and win-loss records of national and club teams, and descriptions of major international competitions. The chapter "Soccer Fortunes" looks at public and commercial aspects of the game, such as the typical career path and subsequent demands of becoming a professional athlete, technical aspects of playing fields and stadiums, club politics and salaries, and fans as well as cheating scandals, stadium riots, and other "soccer nightmares." A final reference section provides facts and figures on soccer in the U.S. as well as recommended Web sites, books, and magazines; a glossary; and an index. Information is current through 2004.

Articles are divided into subsections that span two-page spreads. Subtitles, brief paragraphs, and fact boxes offering trivia, tables of statistics, diagrams, and more accompany numerous photos, primarily in color. Images spill across pages in a graphic-intense, dynamic presentation. An additional appealing feature is that coverage of women's teams and players is integrated throughout and not relegated to separate chapters or footnote status.

Keir Radnedge has authored two recent resources intended for adults: The Ultimate Encyclopedia of Soccer (Carleton Books, 2002) and The Complete Encyclopedia of Soccer (Carleton Books, 2004). This current offering is aimed at a younger audience but will appeal to fans of all ages. The glossy cover will attract browsers, and the international coverage will appeal to a wide audience. Public libraries, middle schools, and high schools may want to consider offering both circulating and reference copies of this reasonably priced, accessible overview. Kathleen McBroom
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 10 and up
  
• Hardcover: 144 pages
• Publisher: Kingfisher (May 10, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0753459280
• ISBN-13: 978-0753459287
• Product Dimensions: 11.2 x 8.7 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,508,338 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Clive Gifford is an award-winning author of over 120 books for children and adults. These range from the serious (Refugees, Robots, Planet Under Pressure: Pollution, Spies and Spying) and sporty (with books on the Olympics, football and tennis) to the downright silly (Pants Attack, Kelly's Smelly Wellies, The Huge Rude Duke).

Clive has travelled through 70 countries, run a computer games company and taken part in all manner of sports from parachuting and gliding to Ultimate Frisbee (he was top scorer at the European Indoor Championships in Gothenburg back in the nineties).

His books have been shortlisted for the TES Information Book of the Year and the British Book Awards as well as winning Smithsonian, Children's Choice, NAPPA and PBS awards. Sir Ranulph Fiennes called his latest book on Explorers, "An inspiration to all adventurers." whilst The Guardian declared that his Kingfisher Book Of Football "was worth a season's training" and the Manchester Evening News labelled it "The classiest football book around."

Clive's official website can be found at www.clivegifford.co.uk

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars AWSOME!!!, January 20, 2007

A Kid's Review

This review is from: The Kingfisher Soccer Encyclopedia (Hardcover)

this is an awsome soccer book and it has absolutly everything you would ever want to know!

amazing picturs and superb info, you just got to read it!!! because i am a tremendous soccer fan, i must say that this is a must and has alot of fun interesting info!!

from the book: did you know that India withdrew from the 1950 world cup when FIFA refused to allow players to be barefoot!!!!

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars i'm 34 and i enjoyed the book, May 21, 2009

By 

Jerry So.Cal. (San Pedro, CA United States) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Kingfisher Soccer Encyclopedia (Hardcover)

So this book is designed to entertain the minds of young kids. I didn't know that until after i read the book. This book lacks a lot of the details about the game of soccer, but it gives a decent overview of the rules and strategies. The pictures are really great and in full color. Throughout the book, websites are mentioned which will lead you to all kinds of detailed info on soccer. The book also describes records for numerous categories, like goals in a game, most red cards in a game, most own goals in a game(139!), etc.
The second half of the book highlights individual players as well as great teams over the history of the sport.
In conclusion, this book is not designed to teach you how to play soccer, it's not going to help you improve your game, it's not going to show you how to kick a ball properly, or how to properly play defense. It's some cozy reading material to give you an overview of the history of soccer. 4 stars instead of 5 because i like details!

3 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Kingfisher Soccer Encyclopedia, October 17, 2007

By 

Sandra Penney "bibliophile" (Anchorage, AK United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Kingfisher Soccer Encyclopedia (Hardcover)

This book was a perfect birthday gift for my tweener daughter. She picks it up again and again.