Vorwort

The FIFA WorId Cup was held for the first time in the United States during the summer of 1994. The United States Soccer Federation took this opportunity to assemble a number of the world's authorities on the sports medicine and science of soccer. An international conference was held June 11-15 at the Dolphin Resort in Orlando, Florida prior to the opening of the World Cup. The presentations at this multidisciplinary conference formed the nucleus for this book. Our purpose in writing this book was to make complex scientific material accessible to all readers; from the volunteer coach without scientific or medical training to the practicing physician. We attempted to cover the basic physiology and biomechanics of soccer performance, applied aspects of nutrition, comprehensive treatment of injuries focusing on mechanism of injury and treatment, and selected topics, such as the female soccer player, youth, and psychological aspects of the sport. The United States Soccer Federation, through ist Sports medicine Committee, is responsible for the conference and this book. Vorwort