Alive and Kicking: When Soccer Moms Take the Field and Change Their Lives Forever

by Harvey Araton

Book Overview

The revolution began with the simple act of a mother kicking a ball to her daughter. An English soccer trainer noticed, and praised her form. "Too bad," she replied, "there's no soccer league for mothers." Who could know that so many lives would change as a result of that simple exchange?

In the suburban enclave of Montclair, New Jersey, as in so many communities around America, there was nothing new in the sight of mothers driving their minivans...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1416575170
• ISBN13: 9781416575177
• Release Date: August 2007
• Publisher: Simon & Schuster
• Length: 256 Pages
• Weight: 0.63 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.7" x 5.5" x 8.5"

Customer Reviews

Great for any soccer mom learning to play the game

Learning to play soccer at 30, 40, or 50 is nothing like learning to play tennis, ski, or snowboard at that age. This book captures the essence of the challenge, exhilaration, and camaraderie that adult women experience in taking on one of the most demanding sports. Soccer moms who have tried what these women have done will really empathize with this book. It also accurately depicts the group politics that arise when organizing a playing league of women who are new to team sports and expect fairness to be applied. "Alive and Kicking" is extremely well-written and is a highly enjoyable fast read. Circulate it amongst your teammates and significant others; they will all be delighted.

Harvey scores a big goal

This book is for all adult women who play soccer and then pass this book to your husbands , boyfriends or significant other its a must read !!! Harvey caught the essence of exactly how deprived I felt not being in competitve sports when I was younger . Now later in life I like Harvery's wife became an organizer of women in sports. I felt like Harvey was writing about me . It was truly enjoyable to see a man appreciate and understand his wife's new found interest and ENCOURAGING it . What a wonderful book. Im sure I will see Harvey's wife in our OTH (over the hill) divison one day. Keep kickin it up !!! I recieved this book from my wonderful husband :)

Araton Scores A Golden Goal

As a novice soccer-playing mom, I can authoritatively recommend this book. Araton captures the essence of the soccer-mom playing movement: the pure joy - both physically and emotionally - that comes with playing a team sport for the first time. This book is more than soccer. It's the story of a great group of women who made a difference in their community.

Recognition for women, for athletes, for mothers

Finally, somebody has taken seriously the phenomenon of women at play, and given this trend a cultural voice. Araton went to a great deal of reportorial trouble getting the story right, interviewing and chronicling the suburban mothers who have decided that sports can both empower and entertain. The characters come to life through both crisis resolution and athletic achievement. On and off the field, this book scores a hat-trick.