Tim Bascom is the author of two prize-winning memoirs, Chameleon Days and Running to the Fire; two essay collections, The Comfort Trap and Climbing Lessons; a collection of short stories, Continental Drift; and the novel Squatters’ Rites. He is the Executive Director of the Kansas Book Festival.

Preface: Hmmm. Should You Read This Book?

1. First Tackle

Did You Know? Historical Origins of the Game

2. On Using One’s Head

3. One for the Ages

Did You Know? How the Ball Evolved

4. Stress, Soccer, and Relief!

5. Up in the Air

Did you Know? How Soccer Got Its Goals

6. Soccer at All Costs?

7. A Toast to the Toughest!

Did You Know? Why Al the Goal-Scoring Hullabaloo?

8. Hablas EspaÑol? Hablas FÚtbol?

9. One Game but Many Points of View

Did you Know? Just How University Is This Game?

10. Offsides! Yankee Fans in a Premier Palace

11. Pride vs. Spirit

Did You Know? Pioneers of Women’s Soccer

12. Why I Can’s Stop Playing

13. Religion vs. Soccer

Did You Know? Even Bob Marley Played!

14. Coaching Chaos

15. Wonder Girl

Did You Know? How Referees Took Charge

16. No Ball? No Problem!

17. Out in the Open

Did You Know? How Indoor Soccer Began

18. A United Nations of Soccer—in Kansas?

19. The Darker Side

Did You Know? A Homeless World Cup

20. Mr. Soccer—Oumar Seck

21. Football to FÚtbol

Did You Know? Why International Games are Called Caps

22. Building Soccer Bridges

23. A Family Affair

Did You Know? War, Soccer, and a Surprising Truce

24. Bishops with Balls

25. Reasons We Watch

Did You Know? Random (but Fun) Facts

26. Camaraderie

27. No Matter What!

Did You Know? Who Outlasted All the Others?

28. The Old Man and the Knee

Acknowledgments