Go For The Goal: A Champion's Guide To Winning In Soccer And Life [Hardcover]

Mia Hamm (Author), Aaron Heifetz (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 19, 1999

For the more than seven million girls from knobby-kneed tykes to high school and college stars who are tearing across the country chasing a soccer ball and dreams of glory, there is one name that eclipses all others, male or female: Mia Hamm. With her cheetahlike acceleration and lightning-bolt shot, Hamm has broken nearly every record in her sport, while winning with her teammates the 1999 Women's World Cup and galvanizing a whole new generation of fans and players. Go for the Goal is not only the inspiring story of how a tiny suburban sprite became a global terror with a ball (and the world) at her feet, it's also a step-by-step guide for any kid with the all-American dream of making the team and becoming a champion.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

Mia Hamm, star of the U.S. National Soccer Team, Olympic Gold Medalist, World Cup champion, and five-time National Player of the Year, has a simple take on her talents that also explains her success: "Many people say I'm the best women's soccer player in the world. I don't think so. And because of that, someday I just might be." That's what's so appealing about Hamm as a role model, and it's the inspirational message at the heart of her autobiography. But Goal is only in part about herself--"There is no me in Mia," she suggests. Sure, she tells the story of the Army brat who rose to international stardom, but her book is really a pep talk and soccer instructional aimed at the hearts of the countless young women hoping to fill her enormous cleats. Mixing anecdote and opinion--she insists Kristine Lilly is the best player in the world, period--with lots of solid coaching and practical advice, Hamm breaks the game down into its essential skill components (trapping, passing, dribbling, shooting, heading, goaltending) and then addresses both the mental and physical aspects of the game in prose that talks up--not down--to her target readers. Photos (some to teach, some clearly to wow), diagrams (x's and o's of drills and plays), and tips from her teammates (Michelle Akers says, "There is a difference between a finisher and shooter.... The players who score tons of goals are the ones who can not only shoot but finish with deadly accuracy") help her cover the field, and Hamm scores additional points with the same contagious spirit she demonstrates every time she puts on her uniform. --Jeff Silverman

Review

"When I was playing, they said soccer was a man's world and that women should remain on the sidelines. All I can say is I'm glad I never had to go up against Mia Hamm." -- Pele

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 12 and up
  
• Hardcover: 240 pages
• Publisher: Harper; First Edition edition (May 19, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0060193425
• ISBN-13: 978-0060193423
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.5 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (49 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #293,122 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #26 in Books > Teens > Sports & Hobbies > Sports

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars I really loved this book and I will work to be a pro., November 15, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Go For The Goal: A Champion's Guide To Winning In Soccer And Life (Hardcover)

She gives you a good idea on the game and how to win. She has been through some tough times and she is now telling you how you can survive those hard times. I am taking her advise and training to help me become a better soccer player, because my dream in life is to be a professional soccer player. I had this dream... almost half of my life. I want to thank Mia for writting this book and for helping me learn the best part of soccer is the emotions.

11 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars About reaching your goals - in sports and in life..., July 26, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Go For the Goal: A Champion's Guide To Winning In Soccer And Life (Paperback)

This book is focused toward the teenaged girls who are soccer fans and it does very well to communicate to them. It doesn't use overly complex vocabulary and avoids vague references to soccer history. You can get the message of this book without any knowledge of soccer. It's about the hard work, dedication and teamwork it takes to be a champion - both on and off the field. The downside, as is often the case with Hamm, is that it doesn't touch on her personal life much - the trials she faced as a teen coming up through the National Team program, losing her brother to disease, her marriage to a Marine pilot. It was also written prior to the Women's World Cup and doesn't discuss the sudden celebrity that the women's team achieved in mainstream America after winning the tournament.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Go For The Goal, October 12, 2001

By 

Courtney (PA, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Go For The Goal: A Champion's Guide To Winning In Soccer And Life (Hardcover)

This is an inspiring book, writen by one of the most famous women athletes of today. Mia Hamm wrote this book intending to help out young soccer players and give them great advice. She also including some of her teammates from the U.S. National Soccer Team, including Kristine Lilly, Michelle Akers and Tisha Venturini. This book gives you tips on drills to do during practice and also some tips on how to play with heart and dedication. This is a very easy to read book. She wrote it knowing that younger children would read it. In the back of the book there is a glossary of terminology used throughout the book the reader may not know. Myself growing up I've played soccer since I can remember. This book has helped me a lot throughout the process of organizing an all-girls' soccer team at my school. I would greatly encourage any girl (or boy) who just started playing soccer or who is a veteran of the game to pick up a copy of this book and read it!