Life Lessons from Soccer: What Your Child Can Learn On and Off the Field-A Guide for Parents and Coaches [Paperback]

Dr. Vincent Fortanasce (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 18, 2001

Parent-tested and approved by the American Youth Soccer Organization (AYSO), this indispensable book by a parent, coach, and doctor shows soccer moms, dads, and coaches how to encourage children to look beyond winning and to turn every game and practice into an opportunity to teach life lessons.

Dr. Vincent Fortanasce applies his expertise in child development to guide parents and coaches on:

• Emphasizing fun over performance and morality over victory

• Understanding the way kids think and their capabilities at each developmental stage

• Controlling their own touchline behavior

• Instilling character, conscience, and courage in every player, regardless of talent

In Life Lessons from Soccer, Vincent Fortanasce celebrates the enchantments of soccer as a learning ground for family values and life lessons -- and for becoming closer to your children on and off the field.

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

Psychiatrist and former Olympic athlete Fortanasce is a parent and an experienced youth-league soccer coach. He presents a guide for parents and coaches designed to maximize the youth-league soccer experience for children. Parents and coaches first must understand that very young players process information differently from adults; thus, applying professional coaching techniques won't work. Fortanasce's overall lesson is simple and presented with humor and empathy: think about what you say and how you say it, and remember that children are not little adults. Their emotional needs and intellectual processes must be accommodated for them to reap the maximum benefit from sports participation. The author admonishes parents to remember, above all, that the game is for their kids' benefit and shouldn't be treated as a source of competition between parents. This should be required reading for any parent whose child is venturing into youth-league sports for the first time. It might also open the eyes of those coaches who try to get in touch with their inner Lombardi at the expense of five-year-olds. Wes Lukowsky
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

Review

Dick Wilson former executive director of AYSO In Life Lessons from Soccer, nothing is left to chance....You will learn Dr. Fortanasce's keys to making your child a success. You will learn not only about your child, but also about yourself and how to be the parent who makes a difference....Read on and learn the life lessons that will make your experience in soccer all you hoped it would be.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 304 pages
• Publisher: Touchstone; Original edition (September 18, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0743205758
• ISBN-13: 978-0743205757
• Product Dimensions: 8.6 x 5.6 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #968,810 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Vincent Fortanasce, DPT, is ranked as one of the best medical specialists in North America and has treated such high-profile individuals as Pope John Paul II and Major League Baseball Hall of Famer Tommy Lasorda. Over nearly four decades, Dr. Fortanasce has helped thousands of people as a world-renowned neurologist and rehabilitation specialist. He has appeared as a medical expert on 60 Minutes, The Today Show, Dr. Phil, Dateline, CNN's Paula Zahn Now, Hard Ball with Chris Mathews, XM satellite radio, and scores of national and local television and radio shows. Fortanasce is a regular spokesperson for the California Medical Association at the senate and legislature assemblies and has been quoted in the New York Times, Sports Illustrated, USA Today, U.S. News & World Report, Time magazine, and many other prestigious publications. He also hosts his own syndicated radio program, St. Joseph's Radio Presents.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Mandatory reading for Soccer parents, April 10, 2007

By 

Soccer Mom "soccer mom" (Florida) - See all my reviews

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This review is from: Life Lessons from Soccer: What Your Child Can Learn On and Off the Field-A Guide for Parents and Coaches (Paperback)

This book was a requirement when our son joined the soccer team. I was irritated but read it anyway just to prove to my son that parents are team players too. Interestingly, it is one of those books that I was glad I read. Few books change your thinking, but this is one of them. Reading it reminds you of what is important in Children's sports and I can assure you it isn't the score. Nearly 6 years later we are still using the book as our guideline of how to behave on the sidelines and in the car on the way home. If you coach, or have kids playing organized sports, you should buy a copy, read it and in a year or two read it again...then make all your team members parents read it too. Your kids will thank you.