Year in review: Our best stories include Mack Beggs, wealth vs. wins in baseball, U.S. soccer, softball, volleyball and more!

A+ Academy

With teams in playing Boys Basketball, Boys Soccer, Baseball, Football, Girls Basketball, Girls Volleyball, Softball,

Adamson

With teams in playing Boys Basketball, Boys Soccer, Baseball, Football, Girls Basketball, Girls Soccer, Girls Volleyball, Softball,

Allen

With teams in playing Boys Basketball, Boys Soccer, Baseball, Football, Girls Basketball, Girls Soccer, Girls Volleyball, Softball,

Anna

With teams in playing Boys Basketball, Baseball, Football, Girls Basketball, Girls Volleyball, Softball, Boys Soccer, Girls Soccer,

Argyle

With teams in playing Boys Basketball, Boys Soccer, Baseball, Football, Girls Basketball, Girls Soccer, Girls Volleyball, Softball,

Argyle Liberty Christian

With teams in playing Boys Basketball, Boys Soccer, Baseball, Football, Girls Basketball, Girls Soccer, Girls Volleyball, Softball,

Arlington

With teams in playing Boys Basketball, Boys Soccer, Baseball, Football, Girls Basketball, Girls Soccer, Girls Volleyball, Softball,

Arlington Bowie

With teams in playing Boys Basketball, Boys Soccer, Baseball, Football, Girls Basketball, Girls Soccer, Girls Volleyball, Softball,

Arlington Grace Prep

With teams in playing Boys Basketball, Baseball, Football, Girls Basketball, Girls Volleyball, Softball,

Arlington Lamar

With teams in playing Boys Basketball, Boys Soccer, Baseball, Football, Girls Basketball, Girls Soccer, Girls Volleyball, Softball,

Arlington Martin

With teams in playing Boys Basketball, Boys Soccer, Baseball, Football, Girls Basketball, Girls Soccer, Girls Volleyball, Softball,

Arlington Oakridge

With teams in playing Boys Basketball, Boys Soccer, Baseball, Football, Girls Basketball, Girls Soccer, Girls Volleyball, Softball,

Arlington Pantego Christian

With teams in playing Boys Basketball, Boys Soccer, Baseball, Football, Girls Basketball, Girls Volleyball, Softball,

Arlington Sam Houston

With teams in playing Boys Basketball, Boys Soccer, Baseball, Football, Girls Basketball, Girls Soccer, Girls Volleyball, Softball,

Arlington Seguin

With teams in playing Boys Basketball, Boys Soccer, Baseball, Football, Girls Basketball, Girls Soccer, Girls Volleyball, Softball,

Arlington Summit International

With teams in playing Boys Basketball, Girls Basketball,

Aubrey

With teams in playing Boys Basketball, Baseball, Football, Girls Basketball, Girls Volleyball, Softball,

Birdville

With teams in playing Boys Basketball, Boys Soccer, Baseball, Football, Girls Basketball, Girls Soccer, Girls Volleyball, Softball,

Bishop Dunne

With teams in playing Boys Basketball, Boys Soccer, Baseball, Football, Girls Basketball, Girls Soccer, Girls Volleyball, Softball,

Bishop Lynch

With teams in playing Boys Basketball, Boys Soccer, Baseball, Football, Girls Basketball, Girls Soccer, Girls Volleyball, Softball,

Bryan Adams

With teams in playing Boys Basketball, Boys Soccer, Baseball, Football, Girls Basketball, Girls Soccer, Girls Volleyball, Softball,

Cambridge

With teams in playing Boys Basketball, Girls Basketball, Girls Volleyball,

Carrollton Christian Academy

With teams in playing Boys Basketball, Boys Soccer, Baseball, Football, Girls Basketball, Girls Soccer, Girls Volleyball, Softball,

Carrollton Creekview

With teams in playing Boys Basketball, Boys Soccer, Baseball, Football, Girls Basketball, Girls Soccer, Girls Volleyball, Softball,

Carrollton Newman Smith

With teams in playing Boys Basketball, Boys Soccer, Baseball, Football, Girls Basketball, Girls Soccer, Girls Volleyball, Softball,

Carrollton Prince of Peace Christian

With teams in playing Boys Basketball, Boys Soccer, Baseball, Football, Girls Basketball, Girls Soccer, Girls Volleyball, Softball,

Carrollton R.L. Turner

With teams in playing Boys Basketball, Boys Soccer, Baseball, Football, Girls Basketball, Girls Soccer, Girls Volleyball, Softball,

Carrollton Ranchview

With teams in playing Boys Basketball, Baseball, Football, Girls Basketball, Girls Volleyball, Softball, Boys Soccer, Girls Soccer,

Carter

With teams in playing Boys Basketball, Boys Soccer, Baseball, Football, Girls Basketball, Girls Soccer, Girls Volleyball, Softball,

Cedar Hill

With teams in playing Boys Basketball, Boys Soccer, Baseball, Football, Girls Basketball, Girls Soccer, Girls Volleyball, Softball,

Celina

With teams in playing Boys Basketball, Baseball, Football, Girls Basketball, Girls Volleyball, Softball, Girls Soccer,

Cistercian

With teams in playing Boys Basketball, Boys Soccer, Baseball, Football, Girls Volleyball,

Colleyville Covenant Christian

With teams in playing Boys Basketball, Boys Soccer, Baseball, Football, Girls Basketball, Girls Soccer, Girls Volleyball, Softball,

Colleyville Heritage

With teams in playing Boys Basketball, Boys Soccer, Baseball, Football, Girls Basketball, Girls Soccer, Girls Volleyball, Softball,

Conrad

With teams in playing Boys Basketball, Boys Soccer, Baseball, Football, Girls Basketball, Girls Soccer, Girls Volleyball, Softball,

Coppell

With teams in playing Boys Basketball, Boys Soccer, Baseball, Football, Girls Basketball, Girls Soccer, Girls Volleyball, Softball,

Corsicana

With teams in playing Boys Basketball, Boys Soccer, Baseball, Football, Girls Basketball, Girls Soccer, Girls Volleyball, Softball,

Corsicana Mildred

With teams in playing Boys Basketball, Baseball, Football, Girls Basketball, Girls Volleyball, Softball,

Covenant School

With teams in playing Boys Basketball, Baseball, Football, Girls Basketball, Girls Volleyball,

Crandall

With teams in playing Boys Basketball, Boys Soccer, Girls Soccer, Baseball, Football, Girls Basketball, Girls Volleyball, Softball,

Dallas Academy

With teams in playing Boys Basketball, Boys Soccer, Baseball, Football, Girls Basketball, Girls Soccer,

Dallas Christian

With teams in playing Boys Basketball, Boys Soccer, Baseball, Football, Girls Basketball, Girls Soccer, Girls Volleyball, Softball,

DeSoto

With teams in playing Boys Basketball, Boys Soccer, Baseball, Football, Girls Basketball, Girls Soccer, Girls Volleyball, Softball,

DeSoto Canterbury

With teams in playing Boys Basketball, Boys Soccer, Baseball, Girls Basketball, Girls Volleyball, Softball,

Denton

With teams in playing Boys Basketball, Boys Soccer, Baseball, Football, Girls Basketball, Girls Soccer, Girls Volleyball, Softball,

Denton Braswell

With teams in playing Football, Girls Volleyball, Baseball, Boys Basketball, Boys Soccer, Girls Basketball, Girls Soccer,

Denton Calvary

With teams in playing Boys Basketball, Baseball, Football, Girls Basketball, Girls Volleyball, Softball,

Denton Guyer

With teams in playing Boys Basketball, Boys Soccer, Baseball, Football, Girls Basketball, Girls Soccer, Girls Volleyball, Softball,

Denton Ryan

With teams in playing Boys Basketball, Boys Soccer, Baseball, Football, Girls Basketball, Girls Soccer, Girls Volleyball, Softball,

Duncanville

With teams in playing Boys Basketball, Boys Soccer, Baseball, Football, Girls Basketball, Girls Soccer, Girls Volleyball, Softball,

Ennis

With teams in playing Boys Basketball, Boys Soccer, Baseball, Football, Girls Basketball, Girls Soccer, Girls Volleyball, Softball,

Episcopal School of Dallas

With teams in playing Boys Basketball, Boys Soccer, Baseball, Football, Girls Basketball, Girls Soccer, Girls Volleyball, Softball,

Euless Trinity

With teams in playing Boys Basketball, Boys Soccer, Baseball, Football, Girls Basketball, Girls Soccer, Girls Volleyball, Softball,

Fairhill

With teams in playing Boys Basketball, Boys Soccer, Baseball, Girls Basketball, Girls Volleyball,

Faith Family

With teams in playing Boys Basketball, Girls Basketball,

Farmersville

With teams in playing Boys Basketball, Baseball, Football, Girls Basketball, Girls Volleyball, Softball,

Ferris

With teams in playing Boys Basketball, Boys Soccer, Baseball, Football, Girls Basketball, Girls Soccer, Girls Volleyball, Softball,

First Baptist

With teams in playing Boys Basketball, Boys Soccer, Baseball, Football, Girls Basketball, Girls Soccer, Girls Volleyball, Softball,

Flower Mound

With teams in playing Boys Basketball, Boys Soccer, Baseball, Football, Girls Basketball, Girls Soccer, Girls Volleyball, Softball,

Flower Mound Coram Deo

With teams in playing Football, Baseball, Boys Basketball, Boys Soccer, Girls Basketball, Girls Soccer, Girls Volleyball, Softball,

Flower Mound Marcus

With teams in playing Boys Basketball, Boys Soccer, Baseball, Football, Girls Basketball, Girls Soccer, Girls Volleyball, Softball,

Forney

With teams in playing Boys Basketball, Boys Soccer, Baseball, Football, Girls Basketball, Girls Soccer, Girls Volleyball, Softball,

Fort Worth All Saints

With teams in playing Boys Basketball, Boys Soccer, Baseball, Football, Girls Basketball, Girls Soccer, Girls Volleyball, Softball,

Fort Worth Calvary Christian

With teams in playing Boys Basketball, Baseball, Football, Girls Basketball, Girls Volleyball, Softball,

Fort Worth Christian

With teams in playing Boys Basketball, Boys Soccer, Baseball, Football, Girls Basketball, Girls Soccer, Girls Volleyball, Softball,

Fort Worth Country Day

With teams in playing Boys Basketball, Boys Soccer, Baseball, Football, Girls Basketball, Girls Soccer, Girls Volleyball, Softball,

Fort Worth Lake Country

With teams in playing Boys Basketball, Boys Soccer, Baseball, Football, Girls Basketball, Girls Volleyball,

Fort Worth Nolan

With teams in playing Boys Basketball, Boys Soccer, Baseball, Football, Girls Basketball, Girls Soccer, Girls Volleyball, Softball,

Fort Worth Southwest Christian

With teams in playing Boys Basketball, Boys Soccer, Baseball, Football, Girls Basketball, Girls Soccer, Girls Volleyball, Softball,

Fort Worth Temple Christian

With teams in playing Boys Basketball, Boys Soccer, Baseball, Football, Girls Basketball, Girls Soccer, Girls Volleyball, Softball,

Fort Worth Trinity Valley

With teams in playing Boys Basketball, Boys Soccer, Baseball, Football, Girls Basketball, Girls Soccer, Girls Volleyball, Softball,

Frisco

With teams in playing Boys Basketball, Boys Soccer, Baseball, Football, Girls Basketball, Girls Soccer, Girls Volleyball, Softball,

Frisco Centennial

With teams in playing Boys Basketball, Boys Soccer, Baseball, Football, Girls Basketball, Girls Soccer, Girls Volleyball, Softball,

Frisco Heritage

With teams in playing Football, Girls Volleyball, Boys Basketball, Girls Basketball, Boys Soccer, Girls Soccer, Baseball, Softball,

Frisco Independence

With teams in playing Football, Boys Basketball, Girls Volleyball, Boys Soccer, Girls Soccer, Girls Basketball, Baseball, Softball,

Frisco Lebanon Trail

With teams in playing Football, Boys Basketball, Girls Basketball, Baseball, Softball, Boys Soccer, Girls Soccer, Girls Volleyball,

Frisco Legacy Christian

With teams in playing Boys Basketball, Baseball, Football, Girls Basketball, Girls Volleyball, Softball,

Frisco Liberty

With teams in playing Boys Basketball, Boys Soccer, Baseball, Football, Girls Basketball, Girls Soccer, Girls Volleyball, Softball,

Frisco Lone Star

With teams in playing Football, Girls Volleyball, Boys Basketball, Girls Basketball, Boys Soccer, Girls Soccer, Baseball, Softball,

Frisco Memorial

With teams in playing Football, Girls Volleyball, Boys Basketball, Girls Basketball, Baseball, Softball, Boys Soccer, Girls Soccer,

Frisco Reedy

With teams in playing Football, Girls Volleyball, Baseball, Boys Basketball, Boys Soccer, Girls Basketball, Girls Soccer, Softball,

Frisco Wakeland

With teams in playing Boys Basketball, Boys Soccer, Baseball, Football, Girls Basketball, Girls Soccer, Girls Volleyball, Softball,

Gainesville State

With teams in playing Boys Basketball, Baseball, Football, Girls Volleyball,

Garland

With teams in playing Boys Basketball, Boys Soccer, Baseball, Football, Girls Basketball, Girls Soccer, Girls Volleyball, Softball,

Garland Christian

With teams in playing Boys Basketball, Boys Soccer, Baseball, Football, Girls Basketball, Girls Soccer, Girls Volleyball, Softball,

Garland Lakeview Centennial

With teams in playing Boys Basketball, Boys Soccer, Baseball, Football, Girls Basketball, Girls Soccer, Girls Volleyball, Softball,

Garland Naaman Forest

With teams in playing Boys Basketball, Boys Soccer, Baseball, Football, Girls Basketball, Girls Soccer, Girls Volleyball, Softball,

Gateway Charter

With teams in playing Boys Basketball, Girls Basketball,

Grand Prairie

With teams in playing Boys Basketball, Boys Soccer, Baseball, Football, Girls Basketball, Girls Soccer, Girls Volleyball, Softball,

Grand Prairie Advantage

With teams in playing Boys Basketball, Girls Basketball,

Grand Prairie Young Women Leadership

With teams in playing Girls Volleyball, Girls Basketball, Girls Soccer,

Grapevine

With teams in playing Boys Basketball, Boys Soccer, Baseball, Football, Girls Basketball, Girls Soccer, Girls Volleyball, Softball,

Grapevine Faith Christian

With teams in playing Boys Basketball, Boys Soccer, Baseball, Football, Girls Basketball, Girls Soccer, Girls Volleyball, Softball,

Greenhill

With teams in playing Boys Basketball, Boys Soccer, Baseball, Football, Girls Basketball, Girls Soccer, Girls Volleyball, Softball,

Greenville

With teams in playing Boys Basketball, Boys Soccer, Baseball, Football, Girls Basketball, Girls Soccer, Girls Volleyball, Softball,

Greenville Christian

With teams in playing Boys Basketball, Baseball, Football, Girls Basketball, Girls Volleyball, Softball,

Haltom

With teams in playing Boys Basketball, Boys Soccer, Baseball, Football, Girls Basketball, Girls Soccer, Girls Volleyball, Softball,

Hebron

With teams in playing Boys Basketball, Boys Soccer, Baseball, Football, Girls Basketball, Girls Soccer, Girls Volleyball, Softball,

Highland Park

With teams in playing Boys Basketball, Boys Soccer, Baseball, Football, Girls Basketball, Girls Soccer, Girls Volleyball, Softball,

Hillcrest

With teams in playing Boys Basketball, Boys Soccer, Baseball, Football, Girls Basketball, Girls Soccer, Girls Volleyball, Softball,

Hockaday

With teams in playing Softball, Girls Soccer, Girls Basketball, Girls Volleyball,

Hurst L.D. Bell

With teams in playing Boys Basketball, Boys Soccer, Baseball, Football, Girls Basketball, Girls Soccer, Girls Volleyball, Softball,

Irving

With teams in playing Boys Basketball, Boys Soccer, Baseball, Football, Girls Basketball, Girls Soccer, Girls Volleyball, Softball,

Irving MacArthur

With teams in playing Boys Basketball, Boys Soccer, Baseball, Football, Girls Basketball, Girls Soccer, Girls Volleyball, Softball,

Irving Nimitz

With teams in playing Boys Basketball, Boys Soccer, Baseball, Football, Girls Basketball, Girls Soccer, Girls Volleyball, Softball,

Irving North Hills

With teams in playing Boys Basketball, Girls Basketball,

Irving StoneGate Christian Academy

With teams in playing Boys Basketball, Baseball, Girls Basketball, Girls Soccer, Girls Volleyball, Softball,

Irving The Highlands

With teams in playing Boys Basketball, Boys Soccer, Baseball, Football, Girls Basketball, Girls Soccer, Girls Volleyball, Softball,

Jesuit

With teams in playing Boys Basketball, Boys Soccer, Baseball, Football,

John Paul II

With teams in playing Boys Basketball, Boys Soccer, Baseball, Football, Girls Basketball, Girls Soccer, Girls Volleyball, Softball,

Justin Northwest

With teams in playing Boys Basketball, Boys Soccer, Baseball, Football, Girls Basketball, Girls Soccer, Girls Volleyball, Softball,

Kaufman

With teams in playing Boys Basketball, Boys Soccer, Baseball, Football, Girls Basketball, Girls Soccer, Girls Volleyball, Softball,

Keller

With teams in playing Boys Basketball, Boys Soccer, Baseball, Football, Girls Basketball, Girls Soccer, Girls Volleyball, Softball,

Keller Central

With teams in playing Boys Basketball, Boys Soccer, Baseball, Football, Girls Basketball, Girls Soccer, Girls Volleyball, Softball,

Keller Fossil Ridge

With teams in playing Boys Basketball, Boys Soccer, Baseball, Football, Girls Basketball, Girls Soccer, Girls Volleyball, Softball,

Keller Timber Creek

With teams in playing Football, Girls Volleyball, Boys Basketball, Girls Basketball, Boys Soccer, Girls Soccer, Baseball, Softball,

Kennedale

With teams in playing Boys Basketball, Boys Soccer, Baseball, Football, Girls Basketball, Girls Soccer, Girls Volleyball, Softball,

Kimball

With teams in playing Boys Basketball, Boys Soccer, Baseball, Football, Girls Basketball, Girls Soccer, Girls Volleyball, Softball,

Lake Dallas

With teams in playing Boys Basketball, Boys Soccer, Baseball, Football, Girls Basketball, Girls Soccer, Girls Volleyball, Softball,

Lake Highlands

With teams in playing Boys Basketball, Boys Soccer, Baseball, Football, Girls Basketball, Girls Soccer, Girls Volleyball, Softball,

Lakehill

With teams in playing Boys Basketball, Baseball, Football, Girls Basketball, Girls Volleyball, Softball,

Lancaster

With teams in playing Boys Basketball, Boys Soccer, Baseball, Football, Girls Basketball, Girls Soccer, Girls Volleyball, Softball,

Lewisville

With teams in playing Boys Basketball, Boys Soccer, Baseball, Football, Girls Basketball, Girls Soccer, Girls Volleyball, Softball,

Lewisville Temple Christian

With teams in playing Boys Basketball, Baseball, Football, Girls Basketball, Girls Volleyball, Softball,

Life Oak Cliff

With teams in playing Boys Basketball, Football, Girls Basketball, Girls Volleyball, Softball,

Life Waxahachie

With teams in playing Football, Girls Volleyball, Boys Basketball, Girls Basketball, Baseball, Softball,

Lincoln

With teams in playing Boys Basketball, Boys Soccer, Baseball, Football, Girls Basketball, Girls Soccer, Girls Volleyball, Softball,

Little Elm

With teams in playing Boys Basketball, Boys Soccer, Baseball, Football, Girls Basketball, Girls Soccer, Girls Volleyball, Softball,

Lovejoy

With teams in playing Boys Basketball, Boys Soccer, Baseball, Football, Girls Basketball, Girls Soccer, Girls Volleyball, Softball,

Lutheran

With teams in playing Boys Basketball, Boys Soccer, Baseball, Football, Girls Basketball, Girls Volleyball, Softball,

Madison

With teams in playing Boys Basketball, Boys Soccer, Baseball, Football, Girls Basketball, Girls Soccer, Girls Volleyball, Softball,

Mansfield

With teams in playing Boys Basketball, Boys Soccer, Baseball, Football, Girls Basketball, Girls Soccer, Girls Volleyball, Softball,

Mansfield Lake Ridge

With teams in playing Football, Girls Volleyball, Boys Basketball, Girls Basketball, Boys Soccer, Girls Soccer, Baseball, Softball,

Mansfield Legacy

With teams in playing Boys Basketball, Boys Soccer, Baseball, Football, Girls Basketball, Girls Soccer, Girls Volleyball, Softball,

Mansfield Summit

With teams in playing Boys Basketball, Boys Soccer, Baseball, Football, Girls Basketball, Girls Soccer, Girls Volleyball, Softball,

Mansfield Timberview

With teams in playing Boys Basketball, Boys Soccer, Baseball, Football, Girls Basketball, Girls Soccer, Girls Volleyball, Softball,

McKinney

With teams in playing Boys Basketball, Boys Soccer, Baseball, Football, Girls Basketball, Girls Soccer, Girls Volleyball, Softball,

McKinney Boyd

With teams in playing Boys Basketball, Boys Soccer, Baseball, Football, Girls Basketball, Girls Soccer, Girls Volleyball, Softball,

McKinney Christian

With teams in playing Boys Basketball, Baseball, Football, Girls Basketball, Girls Volleyball, Softball,

McKinney North

With teams in playing Boys Basketball, Boys Soccer, Baseball, Football, Girls Basketball, Girls Soccer, Girls Volleyball, Softball,

Melissa

With teams in playing Boys Basketball, Baseball, Football, Girls Basketball, Girls Volleyball, Softball, Boys Soccer, Girls Soccer,

Mesquite

With teams in playing Boys Basketball, Boys Soccer, Baseball, Football, Girls Basketball, Girls Soccer, Girls Volleyball, Softball,

Mesquite Horn

With teams in playing Boys Basketball, Boys Soccer, Baseball, Football, Girls Basketball, Girls Soccer, Girls Volleyball, Softball,

Mesquite Poteet

With teams in playing Boys Basketball, Boys Soccer, Baseball, Football, Girls Basketball, Girls Soccer, Girls Volleyball, Softball,

Midlothian

With teams in playing Boys Basketball, Boys Soccer, Baseball, Football, Girls Basketball, Girls Soccer, Girls Volleyball, Softball,

Midlothian Heritage

With teams in playing Football, Boys Basketball, Girls Volleyball, Boys Soccer, Girls Soccer, Girls Basketball, Baseball, Softball,

Molina

With teams in playing Boys Basketball, Boys Soccer, Baseball, Football, Girls Basketball, Girls Soccer, Girls Volleyball, Softball,

Nevada Community

With teams in playing Boys Basketball, Baseball, Football, Girls Basketball, Girls Volleyball, Softball,

North Crowley

With teams in playing Boys Basketball, Boys Soccer, Baseball, Football, Girls Basketball, Girls Soccer, Girls Volleyball, Softball,

North Dallas

With teams in playing Boys Basketball, Boys Soccer, Baseball, Football, Girls Basketball, Girls Soccer, Girls Volleyball, Softball,

North Forney

With teams in playing Football, Baseball, Boys Basketball, Boys Soccer, Girls Soccer, Girls Basketball, Girls Volleyball, Softball,

North Garland

With teams in playing Boys Basketball, Boys Soccer, Baseball, Football, Girls Basketball, Girls Soccer, Girls Volleyball, Softball,

North Mesquite

With teams in playing Boys Basketball, Boys Soccer, Baseball, Football, Girls Basketball, Girls Soccer, Girls Volleyball, Softball,

Northwest Eaton

With teams in playing Football, Girls Volleyball, Baseball, Boys Basketball, Boys Soccer, Girls Basketball, Girls Soccer, Softball,

Ovilla Christian

With teams in playing Boys Basketball, Baseball, Girls Basketball, Girls Soccer, Girls Volleyball, Softball,

Parish Episcopal

With teams in playing Boys Basketball, Boys Soccer, Baseball, Football, Girls Basketball, Girls Soccer, Girls Volleyball, Softball,

Pilot Point

With teams in playing Boys Basketball, Boys Soccer, Baseball, Football, Girls Basketball, Girls Soccer, Girls Volleyball, Softball,

Pinkston

With teams in playing Boys Basketball, Boys Soccer, Baseball, Football, Girls Basketball, Girls Soccer, Girls Volleyball, Softball,

Plano

With teams in playing Boys Basketball, Boys Soccer, Baseball, Football, Girls Basketball, Girls Soccer, Girls Volleyball, Softball,

Plano East

With teams in playing Boys Basketball, Boys Soccer, Baseball, Football, Girls Basketball, Girls Soccer, Girls Volleyball, Softball,

Plano West

With teams in playing Boys Basketball, Boys Soccer, Baseball, Football, Girls Basketball, Girls Soccer, Girls Volleyball, Softball,

Ponder

With teams in playing Football, Girls Volleyball, Boys Basketball, Girls Basketball, Baseball, Softball,

Prestonwood Christian

With teams in playing Boys Basketball, Boys Soccer, Baseball, Football, Girls Basketball, Girls Soccer, Girls Volleyball, Softball,

Prime Prep

With teams in playing Football, Girls Volleyball, Boys Basketball, Girls Basketball, Baseball, Softball,

Princeton

With teams in playing Boys Basketball, Boys Soccer, Baseball, Football, Girls Basketball, Girls Soccer, Girls Volleyball, Softball,

Prosper

With teams in playing Boys Basketball, Boys Soccer, Baseball, Football, Girls Basketball, Girls Soccer, Girls Volleyball, Softball,

Red Oak

With teams in playing Boys Basketball, Boys Soccer, Baseball, Football, Girls Basketball, Girls Soccer, Girls Volleyball, Softball,

Richardson

With teams in playing Boys Basketball, Boys Soccer, Baseball, Football, Girls Basketball, Girls Soccer, Girls Volleyball, Softball,

Richardson Berkner

With teams in playing Boys Basketball, Boys Soccer, Baseball, Football, Girls Basketball, Girls Soccer, Girls Volleyball, Softball,

Richardson Canyon Creek Christian

With teams in playing Boys Basketball, Boys Soccer, Baseball, Football, Girls Basketball, Girls Volleyball, Softball,

Richardson Pearce

With teams in playing Boys Basketball, Boys Soccer, Baseball, Football, Girls Basketball, Girls Soccer, Girls Volleyball, Softball,

Richland

With teams in playing Boys Basketball, Boys Soccer, Baseball, Football, Girls Basketball, Girls Soccer, Girls Volleyball, Softball,

Rockwall

With teams in playing Boys Basketball, Boys Soccer, Baseball, Football, Girls Basketball, Girls Soccer, Girls Volleyball, Softball,

Rockwall Christian

With teams in playing Boys Basketball, Baseball, Football, Girls Basketball, Girls Volleyball, Softball,

Rockwall Heritage Christian

With teams in playing Boys Basketball, Baseball, Football, Girls Basketball, Girls Volleyball, Softball,

Rockwall-Heath

With teams in playing Boys Basketball, Boys Soccer, Baseball, Football, Girls Basketball, Girls Soccer, Girls Volleyball, Softball,

Roosevelt

With teams in playing Boys Basketball, Boys Soccer, Baseball, Football, Girls Basketball, Girls Soccer, Girls Volleyball, Softball,

Rowlett

With teams in playing Boys Basketball, Boys Soccer, Baseball, Football, Girls Basketball, Girls Soccer, Girls Volleyball, Softball,

Royse City

With teams in playing Boys Basketball, Boys Soccer, Baseball, Football, Girls Basketball, Girls Soccer, Girls Volleyball, Softball,

Sachse

With teams in playing Boys Basketball, Boys Soccer, Baseball, Football, Girls Basketball, Girls Soccer, Girls Volleyball, Softball,

Samuell

With teams in playing Boys Basketball, Boys Soccer, Baseball, Football, Girls Basketball, Girls Soccer, Girls Volleyball, Softball,

Sanger

With teams in playing Boys Basketball, Baseball, Football, Girls Basketball, Girls Volleyball, Softball,

Seagoville

With teams in playing Boys Basketball, Boys Soccer, Baseball, Football, Girls Basketball, Girls Soccer, Girls Volleyball, Softball,

Shelton

With teams in playing Boys Basketball, Baseball, Football, Girls Basketball, Girls Volleyball, Softball,

Skyline

With teams in playing Boys Basketball, Boys Soccer, Baseball, Football, Girls Basketball, Girls Soccer, Girls Volleyball, Softball,

South Garland

With teams in playing Boys Basketball, Boys Soccer, Baseball, Football, Girls Basketball, Girls Soccer, Girls Volleyball, Softball,

South Grand Prairie

With teams in playing Boys Basketball, Boys Soccer, Baseball, Football, Girls Basketball, Girls Soccer, Girls Volleyball, Softball,

South Oak Cliff

With teams in playing Boys Basketball, Boys Soccer, Baseball, Football, Girls Basketball, Girls Soccer, Girls Volleyball, Softball,

Southlake Carroll

With teams in playing Boys Basketball, Boys Soccer, Baseball, Football, Girls Basketball, Girls Soccer, Girls Volleyball, Softball,

Spruce

With teams in playing Football, Girls Volleyball, Boys Basketball, Girls Basketball, Boys Soccer, Girls Soccer, Baseball, Softball,

St. Mark's

With teams in playing Boys Basketball, Boys Soccer, Baseball, Football,

Sunnyvale

With teams in playing Football, Girls Volleyball, Boys Basketball, Girls Basketball, Boys Soccer, Girls Soccer, Baseball, Softball,

Sunset

With teams in playing Boys Basketball, Boys Soccer, Baseball, Football, Girls Basketball, Girls Soccer, Girls Volleyball, Softball,

Terrell

With teams in playing Boys Basketball, Boys Soccer, Baseball, Football, Girls Basketball, Girls Soccer, Girls Volleyball, Softball,

The Colony

With teams in playing Boys Basketball, Boys Soccer, Baseball, Football, Girls Basketball, Girls Soccer, Girls Volleyball, Softball,

Thomas Jefferson

With teams in playing Boys Basketball, Boys Soccer, Baseball, Football, Girls Basketball, Girls Soccer, Girls Volleyball, Softball,

Trinity Christian - Addison

With teams in playing Boys Basketball, Boys Soccer, Baseball, Football, Girls Basketball, Girls Soccer, Girls Volleyball, Softball,

Trinity Christian - Cedar Hill

With teams in playing Boys Basketball, Boys Soccer, Baseball, Football, Girls Basketball, Girls Volleyball, Softball,

Triple A Academy

With teams in playing Boys Basketball, Girls Basketball,

Trophy Club Byron Nelson

With teams in playing Football, Girls Volleyball, Boys Basketball, Girls Basketball, Boys Soccer, Girls Soccer, Baseball, Softball,

Ursuline

With teams in playing Girls Basketball, Girls Soccer, Girls Volleyball, Softball,

W.T. White

With teams in playing Boys Basketball, Boys Soccer, Baseball, Football, Girls Basketball, Girls Soccer, Girls Volleyball, Softball,

Waxahachie

With teams in playing Boys Basketball, Boys Soccer, Baseball, Football, Girls Basketball, Girls Soccer, Girls Volleyball, Softball,

West Mesquite

With teams in playing Boys Basketball, Boys Soccer, Baseball, Football, Girls Basketball, Girls Soccer, Girls Volleyball, Softball,

Wilmer-Hutchins

With teams in playing Football, Boys Basketball, Girls Volleyball, Boys Soccer, Girls Soccer, Girls Basketball, Baseball, Softball,

Woodrow Wilson

With teams in playing Boys Basketball, Boys Soccer, Baseball, Football, Girls Basketball, Girls Soccer, Girls Volleyball, Softball,

Wylie

With teams in playing Boys Basketball, Boys Soccer, Baseball, Football, Girls Basketball, Girls Soccer, Girls Volleyball, Softball,

Wylie East

With teams in playing Football, Girls Volleyball, Boys Basketball, Girls Basketball, Boys Soccer, Girls Soccer, Baseball, Softball,

Yavneh Academy

With teams in playing Girls Volleyball, Boys Basketball, Girls Basketball, Softball,

Read More

Season in Review: 2018 Women’s Soccer

When Boston College women's soccer head coach Alison Foley talked about her team in the preseason, she spoke quite optimistically. Despite losing two of her starting defenders, Foley was confident that a strong recruiting class and the return of two key players from seasons lost to injury would be enough to see her team return to the NCAA Tournament. Paired with a star midfielder in Sam Coffey and plenty of experience scattered throughout the roster, a strong finish in the conference was expected.

What wasn't expected, though, was 10 consecutive wins to start the season and the eventual No. 4 overall seed in the ACC Tournament. While the Eagles—originally slotted at 10th in the conference—would lose their last two games, falling to Clemson in the conference tournament quarterfinals and Hofstra in the NCAA Tournament, BC (14-5-1, 6-3-1 Atlantic Coast) still enjoyed a breakout season in what was ultimately both Foley and Coffey's last years with the program.

Best Moment: Jenna Bike's 74th minute game-winner against Florida State

What a #GWG from #BCWSoccer junior Jenna Bike in today's win over No. 7 #FSU – #WeAreBC 🦅 pic.twitter.com/GhgKjYsIZ2

— BC Women's Soccer (@BC_WSOC) September 24, 2018

While this season was full with exciting moments for the BC, few could top Bike's goal that vaulted the Eagles to a 2-1 win over then-No. 7 Florida State. BC had entered the game with a perfect record through nine games but many likely expected that to change when the Seminoles arrived in Newton, Mass. After all, FSU was a powerhouse and eventually went on to win the 2018 NCAA Championship.

On Sept. 23, however, it was Bike's Eagles that got the better of the Seminoles. BC jumped out to a 1-0 lead on a Gaby Carreiro penalty kick, but it was answered in the 73rd minute when FSU's Deyna Castellanos converted one of her own. The deadlock didn't last long, though.

Just a minute later, Eagles midfielder Emily Langenderfer threaded a beautiful over-the-top pass to Bike, who used her speed to slip past the Seminoles' back line. She deftly placed her shot over the keeper and into the top right corner to give BC a lead it would not relinquish. It was a monumental win for the Eagles, who quickly climbed into the national polls and won three of their next four games.

Worst Moment: Loss to Hofstra in the first round of the NCAA Tournament

Although bowing out to Clemson in the first round of the conference tournament was a hard defeat to swallow for BC fans, the setback against Hofstra just over a week later was even more brutal. The Eagles had started to regain momentum after falling to the Tigers in a game that featured plenty of questionable calls and missed chances. BC hosted a selection show party where the Eagles were announced as one of the top-16 national seeds, an exciting selection that brought with it a first-round home game and the potential for a deep tournament run.

#BCWSoccer reacts to getting into the #NCAAWSoccer Tournament. The Eagles will host Hofstra on Friday at 7.#WeAreBC 🦅 ⚽️ pic.twitter.com/6a7CFedMNL

— BC Women's Soccer (@BC_WSOC) November 5, 2018

Instead, BC played one of its worst matches of the year, losing to Hofstra in a painful 4-1 blowout. The Eagles' stout defense, which had been nothing but reliable over the last three or so months, broke down multiple times against a Pride attack that capitalized on open space with quick and decisive forwards. Hofstra needed just four shots—all of which went in—and used a "bend but don't break" philosophy on defense to contain BC. Sabrina Bryan scored twice and Lucy Porter had a goal and an assist for the Pride, who built a 2-0 lead then withstood a Olivia Vaughn goal before scoring twice more in the final 20 minutes.

"Our back line has done great all year," Foley said after the loss. "If somebody said, 'Do you think anybody in the country is going to score four goals on you?' I would've said no. It's a tough one."

Most Valuable Player: Midfielder Sam Coffey

The choice couldn't be more obvious, even though the sophomore midfielder from Sleepy Hollow, N.Y., would announce that she was going to transfer to Penn State just a few months after the season ended. While various players on the back line and scattered throughout the lineup enjoyed excellent seasons, Coffey was in a class of her own—she was the only BC player to register 30 points, let alone 20. She was the ACC Midfielder of the Year and an All-ACC First Team selection, piling up 12 goals and 14 assists for a conference-best 38 points.

In last night's #BCWSoccer 3-0 victory over Virginia Tech, sophomore Sam Coffey notched her first career hat trick. She leads the #ACCWSoccer in assists (11) and points (27).#WeAreBC #NCAAWSoccer pic.twitter.com/m3zGpYnrZc

— BC Women's Soccer (@BC_WSOC) October 5, 2018

Coffey was able to do everything for Foley's side. She was the facilitator in the middle of the field, setting up teammates for runs along the wings, and was also always willing to get a shot off with her powerful right foot from distance. The midfielder assumed corner kick and free kick duties for the Eagles and she boasted an impressive connection with teammate Gianna Mitchell on the former, resulting in quite a few goals. She was a member of the All-ACC Freshman Team last season, and took another huge leap in her second year, recording her first career hat trick against Virginia Tech before adding an impressive six-point performance in the regular season finale versus Pittsburgh. Her 38-point campaign is the fourth-highest single season mark in program history, and her departure will surely hurt the Eagles over the next two years.

Rookie of the Year: Defender Kayla Duran

It's a fact of life that in most college sports, freshmen rarely get the opportunity to play meaningful roles right off the bat—unless they're incredibly talented. The inexperience and high-pressure situations can often result in breakdowns during pivotal moments. Try telling that to Duran, who entered as the reigning Massachusetts Gatorade Player of the Year and went on to enjoy a impressive debut season for the Eagles.

Duran started all 20 games for BC and finished second only to fellow defender Gianna Mitchell in minutes played with 1,782. Alongside Mitchell, she anchored a back line that was one of the best in the country through the first two months or so before finishing 41st in goals against average. She even had a game-winning goal, striking first in the Eagles' first ACC matchup against Syracuse that ended with a lopsided 3-0 score.

This honor was seen coming by Foley, though. She played Duran all 90 minutes in a preseason scrimmage against Penn State and remarked after the matchup that she had plenty of confidence in the freshman.

"For her to be able to play 90 minutes and make that type of an impact against the sixth team in the country was impressive," Foley said after the scrimmage. "I think she's going to have a great freshman campaign and certainly be a great addition."

Achilles' Heel: Scoring down the stretch

Yes, the Eagles would finish the 2018 season with the No. 20 scoring offense in the country. Yet, outside of a seven-goal output against a terrible Pittsburgh team, BC struggled down the stretch against good teams. The Eagles seemingly used up all their goals in the early going, as outside of the rout of the Panthers, they scored just three goals in their last five games. This included a shutout loss to Clemson and the one-goal performance against Hofstra in the tournament—two postseason games that carried tremendous weight but featured the inability to convert chances.

In those two games, BC outshot its opponents by a combined margin of 47-12, yet found itself on the wrong side of a composite 6-1 scoreline. The Eagles were getting plenty of chances, but they were misfiring or just peppering shots in lieu of a more sustained attack. Foley was clearly frustrated after both losses.

"I thought we had plenty of other opportunities to score," she said after the Clemson defeat. "[We] were pushing and had them on their heels."

The same sentiment emerged after the tournament loss, where she kept it simple and said, "We didn't take care of our opportunities. You can't outshoot someone, 28-6, and score one goal. We certainly had enough chances to make the score line look differently but we didn't."

Both of these quotes speak to the disappointment BC faced in the final two games, but also to the ultimate Achilles' heel—no matter the talent up top, the Eagles weren't able to find their scoring touch in the homestretch (they also lost to Duke, 2-1, and to North Carolina, 1-0) and it cost them a chance at any serious postseason run.

What's Next:

This is an exceptionally difficult question to answer for a program that just saw its two most well-known members depart. With Foley resigning to pursue other opportunities and Coffey headed to Penn State, the Eagles will have quite a different look next season. The graduating seniors include the duo of goaltender Alexis Bryant and defender Elysa Virella, who combined for 34 starts. Other players leaving include the first forward off the bench in Carly Leipzig and graduate transfer defender Rachel Newborough.

The returners greatly outnumber the departures, though. The bulk of the defense is coming back, and, outside of Coffey, the midfield is intact. The dangerous attacking trio of Vaughn, Bike, and Carreiro will all return for their senior seasons. The incoming recruits include the very talented pair of Samantha and Michela Agresti, twin sisters involved with the U.S. National Team Developmental Program. Overcoming the loss of a key cog like Coffey will be difficult, but the fact that there's a talented goalie waiting in the wings in Maddie Murphy to replace Bryant makes things less difficult.

Sammy Boateng is the interim head coach, for now. Director of Athletics Martin Jarmond has made one thing clear in his tenure thus far—he knows what he's doing in hiring coaches. The program could use a boost to make up for the loss of the all-time winningest coach in school history, and Jarmond has already shown great hiring skills with the addition of women's basketball's Joanna Bernabei-McNamee and volleyball's Jason Kennedy. Either way, next season will feature some necessary adjustments without Coffey as the main target on offense, but the depth is still going to be there to make a similar run in conference play.

Featured Image by Kaitlin Meeks / Heights Senior Staff

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It's the Toe Poke review of 2018! Salah statue, Ronaldo's reflection, England ride unicorns and more!

The end of 2018 is almost upon us, and that means it's nearly time to bid farewell to another 12 months of ridiculousness in the world of football.

But fear not! For the Toe Poke has been here to chronicle every questionable haircut, every social media gaffe and every ill-judged tattoo because, quite frankly, it's better than sweating on stuff out there in the real world.

All your favourite star players have found themselves -- voluntarily or not -- the subjects of mirth just as much as they have been revered for their on-pitch exploits, not least at FIFA's big summer jamboree in Russia.

The infinite ability of football clubs to make a hash of the simplest things despite all the riches at their disposal was gloriously showcased again this year in everything from badges to mascots.

And as for you, the fans, we'd say we were disappointed with your behavior, but we never really expected any better.

So sit back and enjoy the Toe Poke's 2018 year in review!

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Fantasy Soccer Podcast: Sat, Dec 29 DFS Premier League Preview

This article is part of our Fantasy Soccer Podcast series.

Andrew Laird and Jordan Cooper preview Saturday's six-game daily fantasy Premier League slate, including whether or not it's even necessary to have Harry Kane and/or Mohamed Salah in plus matchups.

You can subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts or Stitcher, and if you like what you hear, please rate and review it!

Intro and outro music:Above and Beyond by Silent Partner

The author(s) of this article may play in daily fantasy contests including â€" but not limited to â€" games that they have provided recommendations or advice on in this article. In the course of playing in these games using their personal accounts, it's possible that they will use players in their lineups or other strategies that differ from the recommendations they have provided above. The recommendations in this article do not necessarily reflect the views of RotoWire. Jordan Cooper plays in daily fantasy contests using the following accounts: FanDuel: blenderhd, DraftKings: blenderhd. Andrew M. Laird plays in daily fantasy contests using the following accounts: FanDuel: kingmorland, DraftKings: andrewmlaird, Yahoo: Lairdinho, TheSix: Lairdinho.

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Sports Review 2018: Mullinalaghta march to their own beat to light up GAA landscape

Leinster Club SFC final: Mullinalaghta 1-8 Kilmacud Crokes 1-6 - December 9th, Tullamore

Going with Mullinalaghta as the highlight of 2018 could easily be construed as the act of a contrarian. It is probably, at the very least, wilfully esoteric. Dublin's four-in-a-row was only the fourth such achievement in the history of Gaelic football, after all. To elevate the relatively small potatoes of the Leinster club championship above it is surely an insult to one of history's great teams.

Think about it though. What's going to stick? When we're old and grey - or older and greyer, more accurately - what will last? If you wanted to pick a stand-out moment from their 2018 All-Ireland, what would you go with?

Stephen Cluxton's kick-out to send Jack McCaffrey away in the final when Tyrone were 0-5 to 0-1 ahead is probably the one bit of genius to hang on to. But otherwise, Dublin's supreme excellence is the air we breathe now. It's just there, a simple fact of life for everyone to deal with.

Sport, at its best, can get like that. A team or a person can click into a groove and become a self-fulfilling prophecy. The Dubs are flying at their own height now and it's all very impressive. But it doesn't get you out of your seat. It can't.

Certainly not in the way a story like Mullinalaghta's can. The numbers are a well-told tale at this point, a parish of less than 450 people, a team made up of a handful of different families. Most of all, the pull of the club providing just enough elastic to drag young lads back home to Longford from the cities to play to a high level on the weekends.

Mullinalaghta's triumph is their own, of course. But its resonance is universal. So much of sport now is about size and resources and economics. In pro sports, the best payers are the best winners. In our little GAA corner of the sporting planet, the battle still generally tends to go to the strong. Sheer weight of numbers, coupled with a general war on inefficiencies, dictates that it must.

And so, a tiny club from the second smallest county in the country winning a provincial title would have been incredible no matter how they did it. The fact that they overcame one of the Dublin superclubs to do so brings with it an obvious deliciousness, Goliath taken down by the little kid David used to bully at school. Outside of Stillorgan, did anyone hear the result and not crack into a mile-wide smile?

Mullinalaghta deserve to spend the winter cosying up to their achievement, embracing it for themselves. But at a time when the GAA needs more than ever to keep hope alive for the little guy, their success will sing out across the country all the same.

Low point

No competition here. The Irish soccer team have been circling the plughole for most of the year. Rotten to watch, dreary to cover, no goals, no hope. The one thing Mick McCarthy has going for him is that it can't get any worse. It can't, right?

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Book Review: 'The Quiet Fan' is a lively, entertaining and realistic trip through soccer fandom

"This idea that fans care about nothing in the whole world besides their team is not the way I experience soccer, and I think that applies to millions of other fans -- it's a fake concept that's come with the hype and mendacious marketing of the Premier League age."

-- Ian Plenderleith.

Ian Plenderleith's "The Quiet Fan" is an ode to the fans whose hearts always have room for their teams but do not match the popular image in which they've been portrayed.

"Football fans may be more interested in the fate of their teams than is perhaps healthy, and they may spend too much time and money on their interest (but then what's a hobby for?). Some of them may, for a short while, take defeat far more seriously than is rational. These are all parts of being a normal football fan. ... For the most part we are not, as commonly portrayed, obsessives."Plenderleith skillfully maneuvers a dozen themes – Cursing, Tears, Kissing, Violence, Despair, Hope, Change, Love, Death, Birth, Reconciliation, Success – all linked to soccer games, in this memoir of sorts.

Laced throughout are sometimes delightful, sometimes sad stories from his life in and around soccer. What is most enjoyable is how much Plenderleith speaks to you, the reader. His voice isn't condescending, he's not afraid to break the fourth wall, often cracking jokes at his own expense, giving his audience the life lessons soccer may teach.

Reminiscent of Nick Hornby's 1998 "Fever Pitch" –– a book he references –– Plenderleith attaches a distinct human experience to specific games of his beloved teams: first Lincoln City FC, the team of his childhood, which spent much of the 1970s bouncing around the third and fourth divisions.

He describes himself as a shy boy when he first started attending soccer games. "They called me 'taciturn,' which was a word I didn't understand." But that changed in the soccer stadium.

At age 7, he yelled: "Come on Lincoln, you useless twats!" during a Lincoln match against Exeter City.

"These words caused a shocked quiet to spread across the main St. Andrews Stand at Sincil Bank in January 1973 for the home tie with Exeter. Not because Lincoln fans were prudish about bad language back then, but because the words came from a mouthy seven-year-old boy. I had not yet become the quiet fan. …

"I can also recall that as the words came out of my tender, unsoaped gob, my dad sort of jerked, which made me sit back down and think that something wasn't quite right. Years later, he told me that he was trying to stop himself from laughing. I can also recall that an uncanny silence settled upon the fans around us. Either they were disgusted at my dad's moral laxity and were perhaps waiting for him to wallop me one, or they were laughing up their sleeves as well."

In "Love and Birmingham," Plenderleith returns to Hornby's Fever Pitch. Though Hornby starts the memoir off by saying that he falls in love with football like he falls in love with women, Plenderleith disagrees: "Human beings who do not give or receive enough love will be unhappy and will suffer. Human beings who do not get enough football will not, really." Such is Plenderleath's writing style: poignant humor combined with a realist's conviction. He imagines what it would be like if a fan's relationship with a club was indeed like with another human:

Dear Torquay United FC,

I've been thinking for a while now that things aren't right between us. Every week I show up at the appointed place and time, just like you tell me to. You always turn up, but you're not always there -- lately you've seemed kind of absent. I keep to my side of the deal, doing what you asked by putting in time, money and rousing terrace chants for 90 minutes, but there's no response. Last Saturday, for example, you lost 0–3 to Braintree, and then left the pitch without even waving goodbye.

Even a goalless away draw would, at this stage, offer me some hope that things are maybe working, that we have a future. And though my friends are calling me a fool for continuing to believe in you ...

Studying abroad brought him to Arminia Bielefeld of the German second division. He followed D.C. United when he moved to the USA's capital. His Scottish roots link him to that national team. A Celtic-Aberdeen clash in the 1984 Scottish Cup final is couple with "Despair." Birmingham City-Crystal Palace in 1987 is linked with love.

Plenderleith, who now lives in Frankfurt and writes a column for Soccer America, is also a player, referee and coach. His previous books include Rock 'n' Roll Soccer: The Short Life and Fast Times of the North American Soccer League and For Whom the Ball Rolls. In Germany, he played in a league with with no nets, no sidelines, and most importantly, no referees. "With no referees around, it's remarkable what you can find out about yourself and the world around you. ...

"I think it would be a fantastic psychological experiment to stage an important professional match without referees. Would it end up in a 22-man brawl, or would the players, like the kickers of the Wilde Liga, learn to adapt to their new circumstances and reach sensible consensus decisions in a split second?"

"The Quiet Fan" meanders across deep, human emotions in all of its chapters for people in different stages of life. Plenderleith doesn't pretend to have the answers; he offers his own experiences and lets the reader make of them what they will

He intersperses nuggets of knowledge throughout the humorous passages of the book, rooting it in all of the places, people, food, pints and languages he's experienced as a fan of the global game.

The Quiet Fan by Ian Plenderleith (260 pages) Paperback $13.55. Kindle $5.99

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New year, new you? 20 things that will help you get in shape for 2019

Kate McCarthy Reviewed.com

Published 3:30 PM EST Dec 20, 2018

– Our editors review and recommend products to help you buy the stuff you need. If you make a purchase by clicking one of our links, we may earn a small share of the revenue. Our picks and opinions are independent from USA TODAY's newsroom and any business incentives.

The new year is here and you know what that means—everyone is ready to make 2019 their best year yet. For some that may mean saving money or starting a new career, but for most people the new year means one main thing; it's time to get in shape.

Instead of blindly signing up for classes at the gym or trying to run 5 miles every morning, invest in a few quality items to keep at home or bring to the gym with you. That way, you won't get burned out too soon and you'll actually still be going to the gym come February. These top rated fitness items will get you whipped into shape in 2019, leaving you healthier than ever. 

1. A mat that's not just for yoga

Whether you are a long time yogi or just getting back to the fitness grind, a yoga mat is an essential tool. It can be used as a mat for ab workouts and push-ups, toted to a hot yoga class, or rolled out onto your living room floor for some guided YouTube yoga. Incorporating stretching into your daily routine will help strengthen muscles, increase blood flow and improve your posture. Plus, our favorite yoga mat ensures that you'll have a firm grip and zero slippage, whether you are doing a headstand or just trying to master downward dog.

Get the Reversible Mat from Lululemon for $68

2. The perfect way to reduce muscle soreness

Getting back into shape comes with plenty of aches and pains, but don't let that discourage you. Instead, invest in a tool that makes you feel like you have your own masseuse in your living room—our favorite foam roller. This tool will make sore quads and hamstrings feel normal again and get the knots out of your back better than any loved one ever could.

For those with limited space, invest in the Elite muscle roller stick. Same outcome for your muscles, but easier to store.

Get the LuxFit foam roller on Amazon for $23.95 

3. A home workout that makes you feel like you're at a studio 

Our Director of Audience development is obsessed with her Peloton bike. A former Soul Cycle addict, the Peloton now proudly sits in her living room, where she can access on-demand classes with the tablet screen that's attached to the cycling bike. It's the best of both worlds, a tough workout that makes you feel like you're surrounded by others in a studio, all in the comfort of your home.

If you're looking for something that costs a little less but is still luxurious, our editor Courtney LOVES the Mirror. Doubling as both a mirror and projector of on-demand fitness classes, you get home decor and your own at-home boutique fitness studio. Shop the Mirror here.

Get a Peloton Cycling Package from Peloton for $2,245 - $2,694 (or as low as $58/mo - $70/mo for 39 mos at 0% APR) 

4. Headphones that will get you excited to go to the gym

No, headphones aren't going to help you get in shape, but they can help with motivating you to actually work out, which is key. The JLab Audio Epic Sport Wireless Headphones are our favorite headphones for the gym. With a 12-hour battery life, they will last from a Monday morning treadmill run to a Friday afternoon elliptical workout, without having to stop for a charge in between. Plus, with bendable ear hooks and multiple earbud sizes, you're all but guaranteed you won't have to worry about constantly adjusting them while you're working out.

Get the JLab Audio Epic Sport Wireless Headphones on Amazon for $49.99 

5. A weight set that is just as good as an entire weight room 

What's better than having an entire weight room? Having two dumbbells that are basically the equivalent. With these adjustable dumbbells, it's like having an entire set of weights ranging from 5 to 52.5 pounds. Perfect for those who are looking to start light and move their way to heavier weights as they gain muscle (or for those who are sick and tired of people re-racking their weights in the wrong spot at the gym).

Get the Bowflex Adjustable Dumbbell set on Amazon for $289.08 

6. The most user-friendly fitness tools ever 

Resistance bands are the perfect introductory tool, whether someone's just starting out or trying to get back into the workout groove. Since they're lightweight and can fit in your pocket, these are perfect to take to the gym so you don't have to use the worn out communal bands.

This set also comes with an instruction booklet and online videos, so you can learn exactly what exercises to do if you want to target certain body parts (or just want to work out at home). Best of all, these are the most user-friendly fitness tools you could ever encounter. No scary weight machines to look at here—just colorful bands!

Get the Fit Simplify Resistance Band Set on Amazon for $10.95

7. The perfect reminder to get you moving

Let's be honest, we all need a little reminder now and then to get up off the couch and get moving. The Fitbit Charge 3 can give you the extra boost of motivation you need, especially heading into the new year. The updated version of our favorite fitness tracker has an improved battery life of seven days, a touchscreen that automatically adjusts to lighting conditions, and best of all, is waterproof.

From the office to the gym to the pool, there's no limit to where you can track your fitness. Plus, if it wasn't your most active day, you can disregard looking at your step count and scroll through your texts instead (we all have lazy days, just embrace them).

Get the Fitbit Charge 3 on Amazon for $128.96

8. A hula hoop that makes you feel like you're at recess again

Going to the gym doesn't have to be a chore. In fact, it's basically the adult form of going to the playground. Bring back the days of childhood joy with a weighted hula hoop that actually provides a great workout. Perfect for when you wish recess was a part of your schedule still.

Get the Sports Hoop Weight Loss Series Weighted Hula Hoop on Amazon for $29.35

9. A fun way to mix up your workouts

Forget about pricey fitness classes or expensive home equipment, for the best workouts, sometimes you just need to add the element of surprise. These fitness dice are perfect for someone who is stuck in a rut and tired of doing the same old thing at the gym. The dice take basic exercises and turn them into a fun game that you can do by yourself or with a gym buddy. It doesn't hurt to note these were invented by a military fitness expert, so it's almost like you're guaranteed a killer workout.

Get the Fitness Dice by Strength Stack on Amazon for $19.97

10. For when you have some extra aggression you need to get out 

Embrace your inner Muhammed Ali this year with these boxing gloves. These are perfect for taking to class or using if you have a punching bag at home. With over 1,200 reviews on Amazon, these are a great fit for someone who is a beginner looking for a quality product at a reasonable price. As one Amazon reviewer said, "These survived my first boxing classes with flying colors!".

Get Sanabul Essential Boxing Gloves on Amazon for $29.99

11. Your own pair of spin shoes that haven't been sweated in by a stranger 

Instead of renting the same worn-out shoes every time you go to class or struggling on bikes with normal sneakers on, invest in a pair of your own kicks. No longer will you have to think about the other people who have sweated buckets into the rented shoes as you happily strap into your own personal pair.

Note: These don't come with clips, which have to be purchased separately, so make sure you know what type of bike you usually spin on.

Get the Garneua Multi Air Flex Bike Shoes on Amazon starting at $94.95

12. A water bottle that won't let you forget to stay hydrated

Will a water bottle physically whip you into shape? No. But replacing your usual sugary drink with water instead definitely will. Our top-rated water bottle will keep your beverage chilled all day, so you won't be sipping horrible warm water by the end of the afternoon. Plus, it will help you be more sustainable in the new year, eliminating those awful one use plastic water bottles.

If you really need the extra push to be hydrated, invest in a Hidrate Spark bottle. This water bottle of the future can connect to your phone, Fitbit or Apple Watch, glowing throughout the day to remind you to drink. It's battery operated (one less thing in your life you need to charge) and dishwasher safe, an accessory that is sure to be the talk of the office.

Get the Hydro Flask Water Bottle on Amazon for $29.95 

Get the Hidrate Spark Smart Water Bottle on Amazon for $54.95 

13. A workout that will make you feel like a kid again

The best way to get back on the cardio train? Pretend you're on the playground again. This jump rope is far from the tattered ones you were used to in elementary school though. Originally designed for boxing gyms, the adjustable rope allows for people of any size and shape to tailor the length to their needs. Finally, a jump rope for people over six feet tall. You're welcome.

Get the Survival and Cross Jump Rope on Amazon for $10 

14. The office chair you truly need in your life 

This is one of the most versatile pieces of equipment you can have at your home. Need a place to lie down while you do abs? Exercise ball. A place to put your feet while you do push-ups? Exercise ball. I used to use one as my office chair and I can't shout to the rooftops enough about what a game changer it was. Plus, sitting on a giant bouncy ball just makes you feel like a kid at heart again, and who doesn't want that feeling?

Get the URBNFit Exercise Ball on Amazon starting at $18.99

15. The most basic, yet most effective way to start lifting weights 

Get ready to swing, squat and deadlift with one of the most basic (yet effective) pieces of equipment out there—kettlebells. No matter your current fitness situation, there is a kettlebell size for everyone out there, so you don't have to be an Olympian to embrace the benefits of a good old-fashioned kettlebell swing. With over 1,000 reviews on Amazon, this brand, in particular, is a crowd favorite. As one reviewer said, "It's a ball of metal with a handle on it, how hard is it to mess up?"

Get the Yes4All Solid Cast Iron Kettlebells on Amazon starting at $11.99

16. Shoes that will actually support you during your workout

The only thing worse than a tough workout—suffering through it in the wrong shoes. If you haven't bought a new pair since the last presidential administration or you have a stinky pair sitting at the bottom of your closet, look no further than the Brooks Ghost 11. Not only have Ghosts gotten me through two marathons hassle-free, but they've also won the Editor's Choice award at Runner's World magazine seveb times. I can't promise they'll make you run a 6-minute mile, but I can promise that whoever wears them will be comfy and blister free every single mile.

Get the Women's Brooks Ghost 11 sneakers on Amazon for $120 

Get the Men's Brooks Ghost 11 sneakers on Amazon for $120 

17. The only ladder you'll never climb up 

To be honest, these remind me of going to soccer camp back in the day and being absolutely exhausted after doing a couple of rounds. Hence why we need to bring these back into our adult lives. You can hop, skip and sprint through this ladder, with tons of different footwork combinations to try out. Trust me, this will have your heart rate soaring in no time.

Get the Yes4All Speed and Agility Ladder on Amazon starting at $9.99

18. The best way to try out new classes in your city

As a recent convert to the ClassPass cult, I can say one thing: this is probably one of the greatest fitness innovations I've encountered in a looong time. Living in a city where boutique fitness classes can range anywhere from $20 to $35 can be tough (especially since I always want to try every new studio that pops up in Boston).

With ClassPass, you pay a fixed monthly rate, depending on how many credits you would like to book classes each month. The app makes it super easy to book a class and even check out which ones your friends are going to. Best of all? ClassPass offers a 2-week free trial so you can see how it works before you sign up for anything permanent.

Get a membership on ClassPass for varying prices 

19. An entire gym in just two straps 

If you're looking to avoid endless hours on the treadmill, a TRX suspension training system is the perfect workout. The original idea started in the Navy SEALS, but don't let that intimidate you. Using only your body weight, gravity, and two straps, this workout is perfect for gaining strength and enhancing your core muscles. Best of all? You can take this pretty much anywhere. Perfect for your own home, traveling or even outside, so you'll never have an excuse to skip a workout again.  

Get a TRX All In One Suspension Training System on Amazon for $149.95 

20. Socks that won't let you slide all over the place

Let's be real, one of the most annoying parts of yoga class or any barefoot workout, in general, is having your sweaty feet slip all over the mat. This has bothered me to the point where I've skipped yoga or pilates entirely just because I couldn't stand having a poor grip with my feet. Enter, barre socks—the game changer of the fitness industry. These socks have tiny grips on the bottom that ensure you won't fall off your mat or slip out of place while doing squats. The most basic, yet most necessary tool of barefoot workouts, my entire sock drawer is now filled with them.

Get a 3 pack of Barre/Pilates/Yoga Socks on Amazon for $16.56 

Follow Reviewed on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

Prices are accurate at the time of publication, but may change over time.

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15 of the best Nintendo Switch games you can get for under $20

The Nintendo Switch has plenty of amazing AAA games you can pick up in stores at full price, but if you're looking to save a little cash, the console has also become one of the best places to find affordable titles. From racing games to platformers and even full-on role-playing adventures, there is something available for practically every thrifty player, and with cross-platform play enabled on some of the games, you can even play with your pals on Xbox One. Here are the best Nintendo Switch games at or below $20.

'Celeste'

Celeste is an absolute steal at 20 bucks. Why? It's one of the best games on Switch. Period.

Celeste is both a stellar platformer and an inspiring tale about depression and anxiety. You play as Madeline, a young woman determined to climb to the top of Celeste Mountain to regain her sense of self. The mountain offers a perilous test, though, one that requires you to string together jump sequences to clear each screen.

Like all great platformers, it's simple to get the hang of but challenging to master. Madeline and the supporting cast shines through insightful writing and gameplay that often mirrors her current emotional state. Climbing to the top of Celeste Mountain is immensely satisfying the first time. And if you're up to the even more trying challenge, you can do it all over again through unlockable bonus chapters.

If you're not sold yet, just know that we awarded Celeste a 10/10 in our review.

'Into the Breach'

Into the Breach is a small-scale turn-based strategy game from the team behind FTL: Faster Than Light. In an intriguing twists, losing all your precious few units, brings the game back to the start in the same fashion as a rogue-like. Rather than taking out all the enemies on the board, the name of the game is protecting your power grids.

Each round only lasts a few turns, but a lot can happen in the span of just a few minutes. The result is a tactics game that requires you to think ahead, from the very beginning, in order to make it out alive with your infrastructure intact. The more you play Into the Breach, the more you discover its staggering depth.

Like Celeste, we awarded Into the Breach a 10/10 in our review. It's an absolute must-play for strategy fans.

'The End is Nigh'

The End is Nigh is a lot like Super Meat Boy in that each level is bite-sized and you'll die hundreds, if not thousands, of times. That makes sense, considering Super Meat Boy co-creator Edmund McMillen designed it. In The End is Nigh, you work your way through a series of dreary worlds as Ash, a small blob who just wants to play his favorite video game.

The End is Nigh features slick, tight controls that fans of Super Meat Boy will feel familiar with. While you cannot wall jump, you can grab onto ledges, a vital skill for advancing past obstacles and enemies. The End is Nigh is perfect for short spurts, as you can literally make progress in just a few seconds. But, trust us, it's hard to put down once you get going.

'Hollow Knight'

This 2D Metroidvania became one of the Switch's biggest indie hits when it launched Summer 2018. Hollow Knight has been compared to Dark Souls for its challenging combat and exploration system that often sees you stumbling into hidden areas. You play as a diminutive insect knight armed with a needle sword.

The exploration is really what makes Hollow Knight stand out. The map is absolutely massive, with a bunch of unique biomes that become open to you as you unlock new abilities. Danger is always near, as enemies can lay waste to you rather quickly, and boss fights prove to be a huge challenge. Hollow Knight gradually reveals itself to be one of the most well-rounded, engaging Metroidvania's ever made the further you progress. You can easily sink more than 50 hours into this mystifying world without even realizing how long you've been playing.

'Night in the Woods'

If you're a fan of dark comedy, look no further than Night in the Woods, a wonderful sidescroller starring a town of anthropomorphic animals. In Night in the Woods, you step into the paws of Mae, a cat and college dropout, who heads home to Possum Springs. The problem is that the town and the animals who raised her aren't what she remembers.

Night in the Woods isn't a challenging game, as it's action mainly involves talking to the animal of Possum Springs. In this respect, it's closer to an old school point-and-click adventure game. Night in the Woods will make you laugh — a lot — but it also has a poignant and sobering message beneath its surface.

'Sonic Mania'

Sega's Sonic Team hasn't had much luck with the blue hedgehog in recent years, delivering duds like Sonic Lost World and the recent Sonic Forces. But super-fan Christian Whitehead wasn't looking to create a modern take on the franchise with Sonic Mania.

Instead, he looked to the classic Genesis games for inspiration, creating a fast platformer that pays tribute to the original games' stages while also introducing plenty of its own ideas. Letting players control Sonic, Tails, and Knuckles and using a 16-bit art style, Sonic Mania will remind you just how fantastic and influential the series was in its heyday, and how much potential it still has when it returns to its roots.

'Rocket League'

Typically, sports and racing video games don't cross over, regardless of their combined category at The Game Awards. The skills to play a sport like soccer or basketball are far different than the ones necessary to control a rocket-powered automobile, but Psyonix managed to meld the two into the worldwide phenomenon that is Rocket League.

Essentially soccer with small cars substituting for players, the game has managed to attract a considerable competitive scene, with the top players capable of ridiculous acrobatics as they attempt to knock the ball into their opponents' net. On the Switch, you'll be able to play the game anywhere you go, and with Xbox One cross-play the game has a sizable community to compete against.

'SteamWorld Dig 2'

The "Metroidvania" genre has a long history on Nintendo consoles, and there are few developers who have mastered it as much as Image & Form. SteamWorld Dig 2 builds on the addictive mining adventures of the original game, filled with secrets to discover and enemies to defeat. With upgrades available for your gear, a hookshot straight out of Zelda for exploring larger areas, and tight, polished platforming, you can easily play it until the battery on your Switch dies, but that's when you can dock your system and use the Joy-Con controller to continue the action. Its bright and unique take on the Old West offers a nice change of pace from the science-fiction and fantasy typically seen in the genre, and there are plenty of surprises in store.

'Battle Chef Brigade'

Aside from Monolith Soft's Xenoblade Chronicles 2, there aren't too many role-playing games available on the Switch right now, and Battle Chef Brigade fills that void in a very unique way. Part cooking game, you must create delicious dishes using a "match three" system similar to series like Bejeweled or Candy crush, but before you can cook, you must hunt.

In this segment, Battle Chef Brigade is an old-school 2D action-role-playing game, with storybook-like backgrounds and sharp animations. There are two playable chefs, Mina and Thrash, both of whom are voice acted, and the game even includes "puzzle rush" and "break the dish" modes if you want to compete against your friends on the leaderboards.

'Stardew Valley'

The Harvest Moon series had been in a downward slump for years when first-time developer Eric Barone decided it was time to inject new life into the farming genre. Stardew Valley is much more than a basic Harvest Moon knockoff, however.

With a cast of memorable characters and a charming story, it's a world just as immersive as anything created by BioWare or Bethesda, and the game continues to be updated with additional farming features. Once you're done improving your town and choosing a marriage partner, you can even explore dangerous dungeons to battle monsters and find hidden treasure.

'Golf Story'

We live in an era of yearly sports titles with incremental changes to rosters, a few additional features or modes, and a new coat of paint. Golf Story thumbs its nose at these trends, with a game that is part golf and part role-playing adventure.

Similar to Mario Tennis on the Game Boy Color, the game is supported by a unique cast of characters to meet, and your golfing isn't limited to the course. Nearly every location you visit will have a challenge to complete, such as launching a drive into a hard-to-reach area, and the eight different environments are wildly different from each other. It might not offer the most realistic form of golf, but it is the most enjoyable.

'Resident Evil Revelations 2'

The first Resident Evil Revelations game began its life as a 3DS exclusive, but it clearly had console ambitions. The full-length horror game used a camera perspective and control scheme similar to Resident Evil 4 and Resident Evil 5, but with an emphasis on atmosphere over action.

Its sequel is often more impressive, with its prison-island setting and multiple playable protagonists offering an experience that feels like a television show – originally released episodically, there are "endings" and cliffhangers with each chapter, and the game adds in plenty of dumb humor that fans of the original few Resident Evil titles will remember. The return of fan-favorite characters Barry Burton and Claire Redfield is just icing on the cake.

'Oxenfree'

Growing up is tough, and it's made even harder when there's a time-shifting supernatural entity looming over your head. In Oxenfree, a group of teenagers vacation to a secluded island, hoping to enjoy themselves before they're forced to return to everyday life. Instead, they watch each other die, relive traumatic events of the past, and attempt to solve the mystery surrounding the island's true nature.

There isn't much "action" to speak of in Oxenfree, as the game's main mechanic is a simple dialogue-choice system, but it allows you to make subtle changes to characters' personalities based on how you want them to be used in the story. Short and straightforward, it's the perfect game to take with you on the go.

'Snipperclips – Cut it out, together'

Whether you're in front of your TV or out and about, the Nintendo Switch is the perfect console for cooperative play, and no game demonstrates this better than Snipperclips – Cut it out, together. The puzzle game tasks two players with cutting pieces out of their own bodies in order to fit a particular shape or complete a task.

One character may have to turn into a bucket in order to catch a falling pencil, while another activates a button. Four players can enjoy it simultaneously, and its simple controls make it a good candidate for the single Joy-Con control scheme. Even those who aren't particularly familiar with games will be able to enjoy it, so it's also a great option for get-togethers – maybe a rooftop party.

'Thumper'

The Nintendo Switch's handheld mode makes it a perfect spot to play rhythm games, and Thumper's unique brand of "rhythm violence" puts a new spin on a genre that seemed to have no room for innovation.

As you make your way through each stage and its bumping jams, you'll destroy objects in the environment and watch them explode into a pleasant mist of particle effects, and the audio cues make it the perfect choice to play when you're using headphones. We wouldn't recommend it if you're going on particularly bumpy car rides, however, as the quick movements might lead to a queasy stomach.

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FIFA Soccer will make you love and hate your PS Vita (review)

EA Sports didn't just drop a year number from the PlayStation Vita version of FIFA Soccer, a title that's hugely important for the franchise's success in portable form. While the developer made some omissions to simplify the intricacies of the console version, this is undoubtedly the most complete handheld iteration ever — not that the bar is set very high in this area.

For me, the previously released FIFA 12 didn't only cement the series' fanny to the soccer throne, it provided a marquee moment for virtual sports. The introduction of the Tactical Defending System, Precision Dribbling, and Player Impact System revolutionized the genre so thoroughly that it rendered Konami's Pro Evolution Soccer efforts completely pointless. FIFA 12 was the result of sustained hard work and invention from EA's dedicated team, a sacrifice that can be felt throughout each match.

Luckily, the franchise's galvanization in quality hasn't dampened the effectiveness of FIFA Soccer on Vita. The aforementioned "Holy Trinity" doesn't make an appearance, but this never becomes a substantial problem. Dual-analog sticks allow for a slick game, as passes ping around the pitch with vigor. Your team constantly strives to find space, providing you with the means of unlocking even the most hardened defense. The default camera view is excellent when analyzing what ball you need to play next, providing peripheral vision that's vital to success. The Vita scales proceedings down considerably but manages to replicate a sense of composure and pace that series aficionados will feel instantly comfortable with.

Successful FIFA players have always had to adapt their game from one iteration to the next, and this title is no different. While elements such as defending and dribbling aren't as archaic as they were in FIFA 11, they lack the precision of the latest console release. Perfect timing isn't needed to tackle, and the game won't punish you too often for sticking a leg in at the wrong time. Stoppages are harder to come by, as retrieving the ball lacks any real risk. While your team shies away from instantly homing in on the player in possession (like they did in FIFA 11), you'll never have to plan your defensive strategy to the extent of FIFA 12. The onus is placed on dealing with each situation as it arises, without any emphasis on pre-determined tactics or structure. Basic formations are needed to execute each gameplan, but you won't be shoring up free space and jockeying the opposition to win every single ball.

The lack of defensive efficiency is a backward step, but it allows the Vita to show its strengths in other areas. Controls convert across well, with only a handful of slight alterations to learn. Due to the lack of trigger buttons, players now perform chip shots by clinking both the L+R buttons down together, an example that pinpoints how EA has overcome the limitations of the hardware. Although simple for the most part, dribbling runs into a few noticeable problems. Flicking the right stick in a certain direction still puts space between your player and the ball (a key skill for evading opposition in the console game), but it lacks accuracy and precision. I found it easier to pass around the defense rather than heading into a one-on-one conflict.

Utilizing Vita's touchscreen and rear touchpad, FIFA Soccer's most interesting inclusion is the arrival of an entirely original control scheme. Like in EA's iPhone titles, you can pass the ball to any player by tapping his position. Fundamentally, this should work, but the Vita's stocky size isn't as conducive for this as Apple's handheld, a system where such control is necessary. Instead, you'll find yourself losing grip of the Vita and the match in front of you, rendering the inclusion as nothing more than a failed experiment.

The use of the rear touchpad is far more interesting. EA has cleverly doubled it up as a template for the goal you're trying to penetrate, an application that sounds better than it works. If you want to plant a thunderbolt in the top corner, the idea is to poke Vita's back in the corresponding place. Power is strengthened by holding your finger down for an extended amount of time, but as intriguing as this is, it never outshines the classic method of control.

Having the rear touchpad active during a match can also throw up persistent frustration, as you accidentally punt the ball away with the slightest of touches. This restricts how you hold the handheld even more, and I doubt many players will continue to use it after the novelty has worn off. It certainly represents a step in the right direction and an early indication as to what Vita could do with the series, but right now it isn't fleshed out enough to be considered essential.

FIFA 12's career mode is very much intact here, allowing you to cut it as a player, manager, or combination of both. It couldn't be more pleasing to see EA has taken its content seriously, moving across all of the console game's single-player modes. Transfer markets thrive throughout each career, rumors swirl, and your team has to be managed with a dedicated amount of care. Be-A-Pro also makes a welcome return, giving you the opportunity to build your very own rags-to-riches story. Your created player's statistics can improve during any of the game's single-player modes, from the 15-year career to the training arena that masks each loading screen. Everything is so instantly accessible and familiar that the only major differences show themselves on the pitch.

For all its single-player prowess, FIFA Soccer is lacking in a couple of multiplayer areas. Ultimate Team is the most noticeable absentee, somewhat surprising when you consider the massive push it's received over the past year. Vita is perfect for such a mode, as the option to buy cards, improve squads, and build your fantasy club seems to go hand-in-hand with the device's portability. If EA really had its minds in gear, Ultimate Team would have been included with PlayStation 3 connectivity. I want to be able to improve my team on the fly, return home, and challenge the world on my big screen. Right now this is an outlandish dream, much like my desire for England to bring home the 2014 FIFA World Cup.

Visually, this title does a decent job. Each player is suitably detailed and recognizable, and I urge you to use the instant replay's zoom function to admire EA's handiwork. From Carlos Tevez's scars to David Beckham's chiseled good looks, FIFA Soccer doesn't fair much worse than its console cousin, in a static state at least. Once the action gets moving, each match flows solidly, especially for a first crack on Sony's handheld. Replays don't fair so well, highlighting choppy animation that isn't spotted when the game is running at full speed. Definitely room for improvement but there aren't too many complaints to be had at this point in time.

ConclusionWith a plethora of familiar modes and polished gameplay, FIFA Soccer is a comforting portable companion for fans of the sport. It sits between the slickness of FIFA 11 and grit of FIFA 12, forging a simple experience that acts as a welcoming introduction to Vita's capabilities. As ever, EA has produced a thoroughly enjoyable and time-consuming addition to a series that continues to grow in popularity. Drawbacks aside, this is an accomplished and worthwhile addition to any soccer fan's collection. Score: 75/100

FIFA Soccer was released for the PlayStation Vita on February 15, 2012. A copy of the game was provided by the publisher for the purpose of the review.

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