The wise man learns from experiences while the wiser man learns from the experiences of others. -Ancient Chinese proverb This book is about coaching and the game’s demands by a true soccer hero named Mike Balson. Mike was born to be a hero from the day he first wore England’s colors as a schoolboy internationalist. He has played in over 500 professional games with and against the finest of soccer players. After more than eight years as a professional player in England with Exeter City and a stint in South Africa, Mike immigrated to Atlanta, Georgia. He was signed by the Atlanta Chiefs of the NASL and later as a player-coach with other professional clubs. Such was Mike’s versatility in soccer that he turned to refereeing following his playing career, and finally his leadership qualities led to his prestigious appointment as assistant commissioner of the USISL. Mike does not consider himself a hero. He is too modest for that. However, if we put all his contributions together, surrounded by what he has done for soccer development in the USA it is easy to understand the reason he was inducted into the Georgia Soccer Hall of Fame. So like the wiser man said about learning from the experiences of others-who better than Mike Balson. -Angus McAlpine GA Soccer Hall of Fame Former United States U-20 and U-16 Men’s Cup Head Coach 1984 U.S. Olympic and National Team Assistant Coach Photo [Manchester United v Exeter City] Mike Balson was inducted into the Georgia State Soccer Association Hall of Fame in 2002 and into the United Soccer League Hall Of Fame in Oneonta, New York in 2004 and the National Soccer Hall of Fame for the College Referees Association in Oneonta, New York, in 2006. Mike captained the Exeter City team in UK, played and coached professionally for South African team Highlands Park and for the Atlanta Chiefs and Georgia Generals in Atlanta, Georgia, USA and played for The Tampa Bay Rowdies in Florida. Coach Balson has coached players and coaches in Georgia and Florida. He and his family now reside in Central Florida.