Soccer for Moms Questions and Answers

What inspired you to write Soccer for Moms?

When I was offered the opportunity to write the book, I jumped at the chance because it combines three of my favorite things: parenting, writing and soccer. Having been involved with the sport for nearly 35 years, 15 of those as a parent, there’s a very good chance that if it has to do with soccer, I’ve experienced it. Along the way, I have gotten to know many other experienced Soccer Moms. We don’t have all the answers of course, but between us, we have figured out a fair amount about how to get the most out of the soccer parenting experience. I hope that by sharing what my friends and I have learned, I can save other moms some time and frustration, and help them to enjoy the experience as much as I have.

There are many books on soccer already out there. How is Soccer for Moms different?

There are many excellent books on soccer already written, but they tend to be related to being a better soccer player or coach. What was lacking was a comprehensive guide to being a great soccer parent. Soccer for Moms is about how to help your family enjoy the soccer part of your life with grace, humor and a healthy dose of perspective. Recognizing that Soccer Moms tend to be rather busy, the goal was to provide truly useful information that is both comprehensive and quick to reference. If a topic didn’t help to make the life of a Soccer Mom more sane, rewarding or fun, it didn’t make it into the book.

Who is Soccer for Moms for and what kinds of topics do you cover?

Soccer for Moms was written for any mom, or parent really, of a soccer player at any level. As you might expect, this leads to a wide variety of topics. The content falls naturally into three categories: (1) understanding the game itself, from a mom’s perspective, (2) understanding the parenting issues and (3) mastering the logistics. There’s certainly a lot there for new Soccer Moms – such as what equipment your child really needs to get started (just cleats, shinguards and a ball), what to expect from the season, and how to interpret what is happening on the field. But as any other experienced Soccer Mom can tell you, there’s a lot more to life as a Soccer Mom than that. As your child becomes involved in increasingly competitive levels of the sport there are new issues to contend with, such as choosing the right league, dealing with tryout disappointments, coping with out-of-town tournaments and managing the injuries that don’t tend to show up until the teenage years.

If you could offer only one piece of advice about being a great Soccer Mom, what would that be?

Relax, have fun and enjoy the relationships you and your children will build through soccer. Try to keep in mind that even at the most competitive levels, soccer is still just a game. This is much easier said than done, I realize, but a worthy goal nonetheless.