We Kick Balls: True Stories from the Youth Soccer Wars, Woog Dan

Crazy kids. Berserk parents. Amazing games. Funny, weird, fantastic, awful situations. And thats just one day.

Soccer has been very, very good to Dan. Hes taken teams to Europe, Brazil and Australia. Hes been to Peles house, coached in front of 77,000 people, helped raise $25,000 at a carwash, and acted in a soccer movie.

Hes met incredible young athletes, forged lifelong bonds, and had them tested by too many deaths. Hes learned what makes teenagers tick. Hes learned a lot about life. And hes learned even more about himself.

After describing - with great hilarity, deep compassion, keen insight and a deft, lively touch - everything from coaching players who were off in the corner juggling while God handed out common sense to dealing with those who face incredible personal struggles and tragedies - Dan talks about his own life. The final chapter covers his own coming out as a gay man - a defining moment in his career.

We Kick Balls: True Stories from the Youth Soccer Wars has been called funny, warm, courageous and edifying. It ricochets from the World Cup to Dachau, from race and religion to 9/11. Because teenagers are involved, theres sex, alcohol and rock n roll. Somehow, soccer connects them all.

Dan often says, Theres more to life than soccer. And theres more to soccer than soccer. We Kick Balls is a book about kids, life, and everything that happens to all of us, on and off the field.

Its a soccer book, sure, but its much more. Its a book for anyone who has teenagers, or works with them. Its about society as much as its about sports. And, given the current visibility of gay issues, its an important voice in our national conversation.