For fans of inspirational memoirs, a powerful journey of resilience and rediscovery in the world of soccer, set against the backdrop of personal tragedy, for readers seeking hope and motivation.

When rising college soccer coach Scott Martin was struck down by a rare, flesh-eating infection that took both hands and parts of his feet, doctors told him he was lucky to survive.

But survival wasn’t enough. Overnight, the man who lived for the game had to relearn how to move, teach, and live—without the very tools that once defined him.

From hospital beds and courtroom battles to the touchline of a dusty youth-league field, Martin’s twenty-five-year journey is one of heartbreak and rebirth. He rebuilt his body, lost—and found—his purpose, and when everything seemed over again, rediscovered his passion by leading a ragtag team of twelve-year-olds to an undefeated state championship.

Told with unflinching honesty and humor, Play From Your Heart is a memoir about endurance, grace, and the power of sport to heal what medicine cannot.

For anyone who’s ever faced the unthinkable and still chosen to stand back up, this story proves that the human spirit—like the game itself—can never be defeated.