Anson Dorrance has one of the most successful coaching records in the history of athletics. Under Dorrance’s leadership at the University of North Carolina (UNC), the Tar Heels women’s soccer teams have won 22 of the 37 NCAA Women’s Soccer Championships with a .881 winning percentage over 40 seasons. He has led his team to a 101-game unbeaten streak and his players have won 20 National Player of the Year awards. In The Vision of a Champion, Dorrance teams up with bestselling health and fitness writer Gloria Averbuch to deliver a transformational guide to developing soccer excellence at the high school and collegiate levels. This book combines practical strategies for training and competing with the wisdom and advice of a veteran coach.

Dorrance’s advice is proven: thanks to his coaching, women’s soccer at the University of North Carolina has dominated the collegiate field for more than four decades. The Vision of a Champion explains the secrets of that success in a narrative that is inspiring to athletes, coaches, and parents alike. The authors begin with a deep look into the world of women’s soccer at UNC, from details of training to the all-important team culture that makes a good team great. The second section is a road map for aspiring star players: it discusses how to be a true student of the game and how to develop to one’s full potential. The remainder of the book thoroughly examines what Dorrance learned as an elite coach who took the United States national team to its first world championship in 1991, analyzing all aspects of training, competition, fitness, and soccer mentality.

The Vision of a Champion is a major resource for all aspiring high school and college soccer players; between its covers are all the skills and character strengths needed to excel on and off the field.

Anson Dorrace