How to Score: Science and the Beautiful Game

How to Score reveals the secret science that lies behind "the beautiful game."  From international team formations to the psychology of the pitch and the changing room, Ken Bray describes the influences that impact upon play.  He answers many of British football’s hottest questions: What is the perfect way to take a free kick? Which players are under more stress: attackers, midfield, or defenders? How do we know when a ball has crossed the goal-line? And how can teams win a penalty shoot out? This book analyzes many of the most memorable games over the last 50 years and the tactics of our favourite international and local athletes, as well as touching on big scientific themes such as aerodynamics, computer simulation, and game analysis, via a brief journey into football’s history. Drawing on the latest research from the fields of physics, biology, physiology, computing, and psychology, British football’s hidden rules are illuminated like never before. From down at the pub to up on the terraces, we love to talk about football—How to Score is essential reading for anyone who wants to understand the game’s secrets.

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