Why Soccer Dad is a Must-Read for Sports Families

When I first read an excerpt of Soccer Dad, I couldn't help but think of my own dad who coached me for 10 years of my life and watched from the sidelines for many games beyond that. I saw myself and my family in the story I was reading thanks to David Murray's relatable and honest storytelling. In Soccer Dad, Murray recounts his experience navigating the complicated and ever-evolving world of youth soccer. From grueling tournaments to heartfelt victories, his perspective perfectly captures the emotional rollercoaster that many families face when a child becomes deeply involved in sports.

Purchase Soccer Dad here.

He shares the anxieties, absurdities, and joy that defined his daughter Scout's soccer journey. The book begins with an unexpected moment: the uneasy feeling Murray, his wife, and Scout felt after she accepted a Division I scholarship. The culmination of years of sacrifice and hard work came down to this moment and yet, they weren't relieved. It's a striking entry point into a story that starts innocently on a youth soccer team and grows into something much bigger.

Murray writes with the hope that his story might help other parents navigating youth sports: "I hope that reading this book gives you comfort in knowing you're neither unique nor unjustified in your confusion, ambivalence, mixed motivations, anxiety, and occasional outrage."

He admits that he entered this chapter of life with little knowledge of soccer or how the system operated. He goes on to share tales of a young Scout on the field, his own failings as a "Dumbfuck Dad" (his words, not mine), tournament mishaps, parent role-models, FOMO, and the impossible balance between elite clubs and high school sports.

Among the hard and confusing moments, one memory stuck out to me. In her senior year championship game for her high school, Scout scored one of the goals to win the game. She asked her dad: "Dad, do you think this could turn out to be one of the best ten nights of my whole life?" Murray told her yes, then added: "I didn't think to mention the night was probably my top ten, too." That moment perfectly captured the love a parent feels for their child and the joy that sports can create for entire families. It reminded me of my favorite high school soccer memories and the people who got to experience it alongside me, whether on the field or in the stands.

Part one, The Dream, eventually gives way to part two, The Reality, as Scout enters the world of college soccer. Even then, Murray's role as a soccer dad never really ends. The highs and lows continue through text messages, FaceTimes, and exchanges of advice like this:

"'Scout what's a professional?' I would ask. 'A professional is someone who does something even when they don't feel like it.' 'Yep. Good thing you're a professional.'"

In the end, Murray reflects on everything he learned along the way and leaves readers with a simple but powerful sentiment: "I'm proud to be her soccer dad; I'm even prouder to just be her dad."

As a former "soccer daughter" (current if you count adult REC leagues), I'd recommend Soccer Dad to any parent or player trying to make sense of their youth sports journey. Murray captures the excitement and challenges of the experience in a way that is both relatable and reassuring.

See a Q+A with David and Scout here:

Purchase Soccer Dad here.