Arena Ball : The Building of Virginia's Soccer Dynasty [Hardcover]

Rob Daniels (Author)

Product Details

• Hardcover
• Publisher: Quality Sports Pubns; First Edition edition (October 1994)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1885758014
• ISBN-13: 978-1885758019
• Product Dimensions: 11.2 x 8.7 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,302,852 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A Fun,Informative,and Great Photographs, December 20, 1999

By 

A D. Lear (Vermont) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Arena Ball : The Building of Virginia's Soccer Dynasty (Hardcover)

This is a fun book with outstanding photos that follows now-famous young men and coach. In a sport where lady luck can kiss you or kick you in the same contest, this book chronicles the UVa program becoming a perenial power house. UVa won four national titles, three of which were unprecedented consecutive crowns.The book is written in the voice of a sports columnist, Rob Daniels. This author does not get into the technical and tactical aspects of the game;it is not the purpose of the book, (much to the disapointment of this youth soccer coach and enthusiast). Although not a coaching manual, it does give a few insights into the disposition and demeanor of coach Bruce Arena. Included is background of some of the gifted players who have played at Virginia such as Harkes,Meola, and Reyna. Of couse, several more gifted players are mentioned as the author details important moments in roster changes, player developement, and key moments in the games. The collection of top quality photographs is inspiring and helps make the book a discussion piece. However, I am still looking forward to a coaching book authored by Arena Himself.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A Fun,Informative,and Great Photographs, December 20, 1999

By 

A D. Lear (Vermont) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Arena Ball : The Building of Virginia's Soccer Dynasty (Hardcover)

This is a fun book with outstanding photos that follows now-famous young men and coach. In a sport where lady luck can kiss you and kick you in the same contest, this book chronicles the UVa program becoming a perenial power house. UVa won four national titles, three of which were unprecedented consecutive crowns. The book is written in the voice of a sports columnist, Rob Daniels. This author does not get into the technical and tactical aspects of the game; it is not the purpose of the book, (much to the disapointment of this youth soccer coach and enthusiast). Although not a coaching manual, it does give a few insights into the disposition and demeanor of coach Bruce Arena. Included is background of some of the gifted players who have played at Virginia such as Harkes,Meola, and Reyna. Of couse, several more gifted players are mentioned as the author details important moments in roster changes, player developement, and key moments in the games. The collection of top quality photographs is inspiring and helps make the book a discussion piece. However, I am still looking forward to a coaching book authored by Arena Himself.

0 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars When the legend was born, November 20, 2003

By 

Anthony Calabrese (Chicago, IL United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Arena Ball : The Building of Virginia's Soccer Dynasty (Hardcover)

In a country that generally ignores professional soccer, Bruce Arena is the closest thing to a coaching legend. For a US Soccer fan, Arena is Bear Bryant, John Wooden and Vince Lombardi all rolled into one.

Arena Ball takes a coffee table look at Arena's tenure at the University of Virginia. Arena's teams won four straight NCAA titles, and made it to the Final Four for a fifth time, before moving on the DC United and the US National team.

Do not expect much insight into Arena's coaching philosophy. The book was written by a Charlottesville journalist and is something of a puff piece. But you will see how Arena molded his team - think of it as the time before the legend.

I agree with the other reviewer that my hope is to see a book on soccer coaching by Arena himself, hopefully after 2006.