Since publication of the first edition (1978) there have been rapid developments in
soccer. This is reflected in a growing number of publications which deal with the
changed conditions and problems in professional and amateur soccer.
In particular the aspect of training, i.e. planning, structure and frequency, has been
covered increasingly extensively. In the past 20 years the emphasis in training has
been placed on fitness and tactical elements. Amateur soccer also seemed to profit
from general developments in professional soccer and often training content and
goals were transferred unquestioningly to the amateur field without sufficient
consideration of structural differences here.