Life Is Short, Don't Wait to Dance: Advice and Inspiration from the UCLA Athletics Hall of Fame Coach of 7 NCAA Championship Teams

Valorie Kondos Field, a former professional ballerina, has created a legendary coaching career through curiosity, creativity, attention to detail, and unwavering care for her athletes. Her book, "Life Is Short, Don't Wait to Dance," shares her philosophies and coaching style, featuring unforgettable stories of Olympians and athletes she has worked with. Miss Val emphasizes that life is about choreographing your life and owning the choices you make, and her coaching approach is unorthodox. The book offers valuable advice for anyone seeking success, and she shares her own journey through a breast cancer diagnosis, turning it into one of the best years of her life.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 240 pages
Publication date: 31 October 2019
Publisher: Little, Brown & Company

Valorie Kondos Field, affectionately known as Miss Val, is a former professional ballerina who has never engaged in tumbling, flipping, or any organized sports. Despite this, she has built a legendary coaching career through her curiosity, creativity, attention to detail, and unwavering care for the well-being of her athletes. For Miss Val, the focus is not on winning and losing but on choreographing one's life and owning the choices one makes.

Miss Val has transformed her UCLA Gymnastics program into a life skills class, imparting her lessons to individuals from various backgrounds, including athletes, business leaders, and those seeking to own their destiny. Her philosophies are timeless, and her coaching style is unconventional.

In her book, "Life Is Short, Don't Wait to Dance," Miss Val takes readers on a thought-provoking and enjoyable journey through her 35-year career as a dancer/choreographer turned athletic coach. The book features unforgettable stories of the Olympians and athletes she has worked with, including the inspirational journey of Katelyn Ohashi, whose perfect 10 floor routine went viral, reaching over 100 million viewers. Other triumphs include Olympian Jamie Dantzscher, who found confidence at UCLA and learned tools to combat her past abuse, and sensation Christine Peng Peng Lee, who helped the Bruins clinch the 2018 NCAA championship with back-to-back 10s.

Miss Val also shares her favorite memories of her mentor, legendary basketball coach John Wooden, as well as her thoughts on Larry Nassar and the gymnastics sexual abuse scandal. Through her coaching journey, Miss Val encountered challenges before finding her own best approach. She realized that her dance background played a significant role in her coaching style and that her passion for helping athletes reach their full potential drove her success.

Miss Val's book offers valuable insights and lessons for anyone seeking to enhance their life skills, whether in the realm of sports or beyond. Her coaching philosophy emphasizes the importance of self-awareness, resilience, and personal growth, and her stories inspire readers to embrace their passions and make meaningful choices in their own lives.

Weight: 252g
Dimension: 209 x 140 x 14 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781546077121