Soccer Dad by David Murray is the memoir of a sports-ambivalent writer who saw his daughter from the kiddie leagues through the youth soccer gauntlet to a coveted Division I scholarship. And then realized his work had only begun. 

From the first time he watched her toddle across the field, David Murray knew his daughter, Scout, loved soccer. Scout’s drive and skill pulled the Murray family into the world of competitive youth sports, one as economically exclusive as it is culturally obsessive.

Youth sports is fun, but it isn’t simple―especially for parents determined to raise a rounded human being as each new achievement presents more challenges.

In this nontraditional sports parenting memoir, David tries (and sometimes fails) to keep his perspective on the frenzied sidelines; in post-tournament happy hours; on the road to college “showcases;” and during soul-searching calls and late-night text sessions with Scout as she navigates the pressure of elite college sports. 

On that journey, David contends with some of the essential questions facing parents of young athletes: How do you guide without steering, motivate without pushing, and protect without smothering? And how do you learn from other parents―their good instincts, and their bad?

With humor and wisdom, Soccer Dad helps soccer parents, sports parents, and all parents, as we aim to feel less alone, make more conscious choices, and savor our time on the sidelines of our children’s adventures.