by Sherrie DeMartino
Although this summer certainly hasn’t been a bad one, the cooler fall weather is very welcome. Fall also brings another soccer season. Right now, boys’ and girls’ high school soccer and AYSO (American Youth Soccer Organization) games are in full swing.
AYSO is a non-profit organization that was founded by a small group of people in Torrance, California, in 1964. The national office of the organization is still located there. Kids as young as three can participate in AYSO programs, and they can continue playing until they are nineteen. As the interest in soccer has exploded over the years, they have come a long way since their original nine teams. Currently, AYSO has 50,000 teams, over 630,000 players, and 250,000 volunteers!
Much to the delight of soccer fans in our area, North America had the honor of hosting the FIFA World Cup this past summer. The best players from 48 teams from all over the world played in 16 host cities in Canada, Mexico, and the United States. Spain defeated Argentina this year to win their second World Cup title. It’s really impressive to watch the professionals play!
If you are interested in learning how to improve your soccer game, the Adams County Library System owns such books as: Soccer: Steps to Success by Joe Luxbacher, which is a comprehensive guide that features step-by-step instruction on becoming skilled in individual techniques and team tactics, and Play Soccer Like a Pro: Key Skills and Tips by Christopher Forest.
If you are more into the history of the game, check out The Soccer 100 by Oliver Kay, a celebration of the game and its 100 greatest players, The Power and the Glory: The History of the World Cup by Jonathan Wilson, and Soccer GOATs: the greatest athletes of all time by Bruce Berglund.
We also own many soccer-themed DVDs such as Soccer Dog, COPA 71, Next Goal Wins, Pele: Birth of a Legend, and Air Bud: World Pup. Visit your local library branch to browse our collection or check out our catalog on our website at www.adamslibrary.org.
Sherrie DeMartino is Branch Manager at the Carroll Valley Library, part of the Adams County Library System.