Catch Them Being Good: Everything You Need to Know to Successfully Coach Girls [Hardcover]

Tony DiCicco (Author), Colleen Hacker (Author), Charles Salzberg (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 22, 2002

When Tony DiCicco first became head coach of the U.S. Women's National Soccer Team, his star player, Mia Hamm, gave him this piece of advice: "Coach us like men, but treat us like women." Now the most successful coach in American international soccer history shows coaches and parents how to get the most out of young female players.

Catch Them Being Good provides an outline for how to build a team-from selecting players and setting team goals to giving instructional feedback, dealing with wins and losses, and building chemistry. The book also offers exercises and drills that any coach can implement, along with invaluable advice on the differences in coaching males and females. In addition, this book is an important tool for parents, as DiCicco and Hacker answer some of their most common questions: How can I tell if the coach is doing a good job? What if I have a problem with the coach? What should I do if my child wants to quit? Abounding with stories about the personalities of the championship teams, Catch Them Being Good is the ultimate soccer book for parents, coaches, and athletes-from America's soccer authority.

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

DiCicco coached the U.S. Women's National Soccer Team to victory in the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta. Hacker is a psychology consultant for the team. They join their expertise in this accessible, useful guide for coaches at all levels. Primarily written in DiCicco's enthusiastic voice that's straight off the sports field, the book's practical advice includes insight on coaching girls and women (forget the outdated intimidation tactics used by many famous coaches for men); forming a team, making cuts and nurturing exceptional players; criticizing and motivating effectively; working with parents; and evaluating one's own coaching performance. Throughout, Hacker offers clear, helpful ideas for team-building exercises, while DiCicco follows with companion training workouts. Most of the examples focus on soccer, but coaches of all sports will learn a great deal from this straightforward guide based on impressive experience. Also suggest Hannah Storm and Mark Jenkins' Go Girl! Help Your Daughter Be Healthy, Confident and Successful by Playing Sports [BKL My 1 02]. Gillian Engberg
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

Review

"An invaluable tool for coaches of all levels." -- Michelle Akers, Two-Time World Cup Champion, Olympic Gold Medalist, and FIFA Player of the Century

"An invaluable tool for coaches of all levels." (Michelle Akers, Two-Time World Cup Champion, Olympic Gold Medalist, and FIFA Player of the Century) --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 256 pages
• Publisher: Viking Adult; First Edition edition (August 22, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0670031224
• ISBN-13: 978-0670031221
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6.3 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #296,573 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

13 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Good new coach book with many team building exercises, January 20, 2003

By 

Robert Sykora (St. Joseph, MI United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Catch Them Being Good: Everything You Need to Know to Successfully Coach Girls (Hardcover)

I read this book after reading Anson Dorrance's Training Soccer Champions and Lauren Gregg's The Champions Within. This book is better for the new coach who may be just forming their coaching attitudes and style. For coaches of totally dedicated Premier level teams or higher, the other two books are probably better. Catch Them Being Good shares many of the viewpoints of the other two books on building teams, motivating players, and forming strong positive attitudes. The other two books had better technical information and (perhaps because I read them first) struck me more powerfully than this one. This book was more readable for a beginning coach. I think the team building exercises are a real plus and are the biggest items I will take away from reading this book.

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars If you coach females, read this book., January 10, 2009

By 

Randall S. Rhyne "Teacher-Coach" (Chesterfield, VA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Catch Them Being Good: Everything You Need to Know to Successfully Coach Girls (Mass Market Paperback)

I've been coaching high school soccer for less than 5 years and wanted to do better for the team. I've played soccer for 35 years and coached boys before, but the girls team had me confounded; this book has completely reshaped the way I will coach these girls.
Essentially, the book looks at the major aspects of the game (game psychology, strategy, practice, etc.) and analyzes the female perspective. So many of the questions that start "Why won't they..." are answered. Solutions to address a multitude of problems are provided as well. The book addresses most playing levels, not just elite. Highly recommend this one for anyone that coaches females.

5.0 out of 5 stars A Must Read for Coaches!, December 19, 2011

By 

T Ward - See all my reviews

This review is from: Catch Them Being Good: Everything You Need to Know to Successfully Coach Girls (Paperback)

This book is fantastic, whether you are coaching young or older girls. I coach a U8 girls club team and I really liked the section devoted to younger players. We are using a lot of the ideas in our practices and games and they make a difference. It is required reading for all of my coaches! It is well worth the investment of time and money!!