The Beautiful Game: Sixteen Girls and the Soccer Season That Changed Everything – An Inspiring True Story of Teamwork, Leadership, and Champions

by Jonathan Littman

Once nobody noticed Santa Rosa's Thunder. They were a ragtag team of girls who wanted to play soccer, and no one took them seriously. Their male coach expected little from his "ladies, " and their mediocre performance convinced them he was right. Then a kind of miracle happened. Emiria Salzmann, Thunder's new coach, a top player herself, knew what it took to win--discipline, relentless drills, thigh-burning sprints, and an inspired passing game. The girls hated it, but their coach never let up. Tough and determined, she showed them what it felt like to be winners--and they loved it. As the momentum grew with a string of victories, the girls thrived on the competition, believing they had the right stuff to become champions. They were right! With spirits soaring, Thunder won its league on the last day of the season and headed for the state cup, emerging not just as powerful athletes but as strong, confident, emotionally healthy human beings--champions in the game of soccer, and in the game of life.

Genres: Sports, Nonfiction, Soccer

304 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1998

Reviews

[Glen · Rating 3 out of 5]

A young coach takes over a girls' travelling team. She introduces a system, and eventually, they become winners.

The author is angling for a movie option, as this reads like a movie script.

[Lisa · Rating 2 out of 5]

I just finished this book. I had originally purchased it for my 10 year old soccer-playing daughter (NWO div.3--so this Santa Rosa story is literally in our backyard). She inhaled the book in a couple of days and I wanted to read it as well.

First of all, it's a great story. Very inspirational for young athletes, coaches and parents. The story-telling however is lacking. I appreciate the author wanting to get the girls' (players')perspectives...however it is done in such a way that it is difficult to know who is saying what. The story does not flow smoothly.

I'd give it 2 1/2 stars...definitely worth reading for anyone who loves the sport and loves the inspirational achievements young athletes can reach.

[Brenya G · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cool true story, but I had to read this for my sports literature class and I’m just not that crazy about soccer. Or sports. Or literature. Why did I take this class

[Aidan M · Rating 4 out of 5]

heartwarming and makes me nostalgic for my own time as an athlete. An easy but fun/cute read!

[Sloane Reisdorf · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Beautiful Game by Jonathan Littman was a great book. This book is about pursuing your dreams and never giving up. A few girls did not make the soccer team they wanted because of their personal set backs. Including speed, height and aggressiveness. The girls worked very hard that year on getting better at those things and tried out for the same team the next year and made it. This shows that if you want something, you just have to work hard for it and you will get it. I recommend this book to soccer players or anyone that plays sports.
The girls practice every day at soccer and stay determined to make the team the next year. No matter what anyone says to them, they stay focused and work hard at their set backs. They study the best players of their age and think about what they could be doing better. "Responsibility wasn't a concept limited to Thunder's stars. Every player, from star to sub, had to care about her teammates. Take responsibility for every dribble and pass. Each time the girls stepped on a field, whether it was a practice or a game, Emiria wanted them to remember why they were there, the duty they had to themselves and their teammates to play with passion and be accountable for their actions," (65,66). This proves that the girls care about their sport a lot and they has to be dedicated.

If you do not enjoy sports, I don't recommend you read this book because it would be hard to relate too. Although, if you do play sports, I recommend reading this because if you are having a hard time making a team or something of the like, it will give you some inspiration. I very much enjoyed this book and it made me want to work harder at playing soccer and never give up.

[Jorge Arevalo · Rating 4 out of 5]

The book "The Beautiful Game" by Jonathan Littmanis is about a girls soccer team called "Thunder". They had a coach that expected very littlw of them. When a new coach (Emiria Salmann), that came from college she took over the team ans showed them what it took to win. They tranied very hard, some girls puckes after practices. Some of the girls stared not to like her. The team was made up of many diffrent girls that had multiple personalities and didnt agreed with Emiria's traing, but what they didn't know was that she could lead the team to victory. They practiced very hard in the rain, hail, sleet, snow and sunshine. The zweather didnt matter. The team went on realy long runs, did burning sprints and drills untill they thought they were goimg to collapse. The girla eventually started to get along and became bestfriends beacuse they were a team. They stared hanging out all the time. The team "Thunder" became very close, and shared the joys of winning its league at the end of the season, and advancing to state.

[I · Rating 5 out of 5]

In his non- fiction book, "The Beautiful Soccer Game", Jonathan Littman describes that determination is a strong key point to being a soccer player. Emiria Salzman their first woman coach that brought them pain, sweat and tears. Never gave up on them or herself. Littman supports this work by rejoicing the discipline, thriving on the completion and making themselves Northern California State champions. Jonathan purpose is to tell the reader that even though the girls didn't have a great record and its financial resource they were modest.Success was anything but automatic for the "thinking athlete"(page 20). In order for this success, the author expresses the teams accomplishments by making you feel like it's your own team winning that championship. The author uses inspirational tone with his readers.

[Taro Yamashita · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this book. It grabbed my attention early and never let go. An inspiring, but very human story of a rookie coach, the girls she coached, and the magical team that they created. The team that every coach really wants to create every year.

I might start making my athletes read this book.

[Jesus Grajales · Rating 5 out of 5]

Some of the books i read i does not compare to this one. it have a little of everything comedy sadness. this book i recomended for people that lioke books that contain sadness.i really enjoy this book

[Deborah · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was amazing. Any young girl involved in any kind of team sport should read this book.

[Arabelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is such a great book!!!!!! For soccer players definitely but really inspiring and fun to read.

[Alex · Rating 3 out of 5]

so far the book is alright. Not the best but its good. If you like soccer this book is for you.