SOCCER

This thorough examination of soccer's rules, techniques, positions, and strategies is so rigidly organized one loses all sense of the game as a whole. Much of the text is either stilted, over-precise rule-bookese (""Infringements punished by penalty kicks are subject to the advantage clause"") or preachy (""A good fullback must be resolute, cool-headed, and energetic""). The many photographs are tied closely to the text, but some rules are pointlessly illustrated--dog interfering with play, pre-kickoff coin toss--and much of this fast-moving game simply cannot be illustrated successfully by single still photographs. Definitely for the hardcore fan or as an accompaniment to on-the-field instruction.