I Just Want to Play — A Children's Sports-Book Series by Greg Simmer

The four I Just Want to Play book covers — Hockey, Soccer, Baseball, and Lacrosse — displayed together on a locker room bench
Pre-Order the Hockey Book
👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 For athletes & families 📚 A growing 4-book series 🏒 Written by a former pro hockey player 💛 Less pressure, more play

Peek at the Pages

Look Inside the Series

A sneak peek into each book — hover a page, then click to take a closer look.

I Just Want to Play

🏒 Hockey · Meet Cam

Available Now

I Just Want to Play… Soccer

⚽ Soccer · Meet Paulina

Coming Soon

I Just Want to Play… Baseball!

⚾ Baseball · Meet Jayden

Coming Soon

I Just Want to Play… Lacrosse

🥍 Girls' Lacrosse · Meet Lauren

Coming Soon

The Team

Meet the Players

Four kids, four sports, one big love of the game.

Cam

🏒 Hockey · Bolts #39 · Boston, MA

Cam is eight and lives near Boston. He wears number 39 for the Bolts and loves skating fast, making a great pass, and laughing with his teammates. His favorite subject is math, and his best buddy is Chase, a black-and-white border collie.

Paulina

⚽ Soccer · Ducks #7 · Nashville, TN

Paulina is eight and lives in Nashville. She wears number 7 for the Ducks and loves passing the ball, trying new moves, and cheering on her friends. Her favorite subject is history, and her biggest fans are her dogs, Nash and Henry.

Jayden

⚾ Baseball · Dawgs #39 · Flint, MI

Jayden is eight and from Flint, Michigan. He wears number 39 for the Dawgs and loves a big hit, a great play, and laughing with his teammates. He loves English and reading, and his best buddy is Finn, a silver-haired border collie.

Lauren

🥍 Girls' Lacrosse · Comets #19 · Toronto, ON

Lauren is eight and lives in Toronto. She wears number 19 for the Comets and loves carrying the ball and racing down the field with her friends. Her favorite subjects are science and art, and her best buddy is Scottie, a little black Scottish terrier.

For Parents & Coaches

The Bigger Message

“From skates to cleats… let kids play.
That's where the MAGIC happens.”

Youth sports should build kids up. I Just Want to Play gently trades pressure and sideline yelling for the things that actually keep kids in the game.

Read Greg's Full Letter to Parents & Coaches →

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More Fun

Bring back the joy that made kids fall in love with the game.

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More Confidence

Encouragement over criticism helps young athletes believe in themselves.

🤝

More Friendship

Teammates and lifelong friendships are the real trophies.

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More Learning

Perseverance, teamwork, and heart — lessons that last a lifetime.

Kind Words

Reviews & Endorsements

From athletes, coaches, educators, parents, and young readers. (Sample quotes — verified endorsements coming soon.)

“Exactly the message youth sports needs right now. My whole team read it.”

— Coach, Youth Hockey

“My daughter asked to read it three nights in a row. She just wants to play — and now she does, with a smile.”

— Parent

“Beautiful illustrations and a heartfelt story about why we love the game.”

— Educator

Have you read it? Send Greg your review →

Just for Kids

Kids' Activity Zone

Free coloring pages and word searches starring Cam, Paulina, Jayden & Lauren — download and print at home, no sign-up required.

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Coloring Pages

Color Cam, Paulina, Jayden & Lauren.

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Word Searches

Sports words hidden in the grid.

Join the Kids Club to get new activity sheets first.

Coming Soon

Merchandise

Hoodies, hats & more for every player in the series.

Hockey-themed I Just Want to Play hoodie and gear
Soccer-themed I Just Want to Play hoodie and gear
Baseball-themed I Just Want to Play hoodie and gear
Lacrosse-themed I Just Want to Play hoodie and gear

Good to Know

Frequently Asked Questions

What is I Just Want to Play about?

It's a growing children's sports-book series following relatable eight-year-old athletes — in hockey, soccer, baseball, and girls' lacrosse — built around one message: sports are supposed to be fun, no matter the pressure.

Who wrote the series?

Greg Simmer, a former professional hockey player and youth sports coach, wrote the series after seeing how much pressure can take the joy out of kids' sports. Meet Greg →

Is the hockey book available now?

Yes — I Just Want to Play, the hockey book featuring Cam, is the first in the series. Join the pre-order list below to be notified the moment it ships.

When will Soccer, Baseball, and Lacrosse be released?

They're coming soon, following the hockey book. Join the pre-order list or the Kids Club to get notified as each one releases.

How do I get updates or pricing?

Sign up for the pre-order list below or join the free Kids Club — that's how we share release dates, pricing, and news first.

Get the Hockey Book

Be First to Get I Just Want to Play

We're printing the hockey book first. Join the pre-order list to be notified the moment it's available — and get early access to signed, personalized, gift, and future series-bundle options.

  • ✍️ Signed copies by Greg
  • 🎁 Personalized & gift options
  • 📦 Series bundles as new books release
  • 🔔 First access at launch
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The Simmer Books Kids Club

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