The Soccer Dad Chronicles: Strategies for Successful Coaching and Parenting

Youth soccer presents a wealth of opportunities for children to build mental and physical strength, but parents are often expected to take on new roles as coaches and spectators to enhance their child’s success. At first blush, these roles seem simple, but like most things in life, the rewards of youth soccer depend on how much effort both parent and child invest, and appropriate parental involvement is crucial.Andy Beers embraced his role as a soccer dad and embarked on a sixteen-year adventure that spanned the childhoods of his three children, a big city,a small rural community, and two states. When he began, he was ignorant about everything related to soccer. By the time he was finished, he was a confident and knowledgeable coach. Still, like most parents, Andy frequently made potentially life-changing decisions involving his children but never knew how his actions would influence their futures. Now, he looks back and shares successful strategies, including coaching tips, parental advice, and dealing with the challenges of sportsmanship.The Beers family’s real-life soccer adventure provides surprising plot twists. The lessons learned serve as a useful guide for soccer parents, no matter if their child is a beginning or advanced player. Don’t miss this incredible story or the opportunity to improve your soccer experience by learning from Andy’s missteps and triumphs.Andy shares a story that is relatable to many whose lives have been positively affected by the wonderful game of soccer. The experiences and insights he gained over the course of his career are useful to coaches and parents alike. The anecdotes are always insightful and equally entertaining, evoking many fond memories of my own soccer journey.David Thomas, Executive Director, Arsenal ColoradoThis enjoyable memoir is an informative beginner's guide for parents, it takes readers on a journey offering invaluable advice and inspiring ways to navigate the exciting adventure of youth soccer with confidence; A must-read primer for those considering coaching!Kailley H, parent and U6 soccer coachAndy Beers is a father, husband, outdoorsman, and soccer coach who was twice-awarded Coach of the Year by his hometown club. Andy’s method of problem-solving and conquering barriers has been successful over a broad range of applications including coaching, parenting, research, and manufacturing. Applying critical thinking to youth soccer helped Andy identify positive outcomes regardless of whether matches were won or lost and allowed him to teach strategies for success in life beyond the game. Andy lives in Wisconsin with his wife. Read more