What do you think?
Rate this book
Catch Them Being Good: Everything You Need to Know to Successfully Coach Girls
The head coach of the U.S. Women's National Soccer team shares his insights into coaching girls, showing coaches around the country how to get the best performance out of young female players. 35,000 first printing.
256 pages, Hardcover
First published August 26, 2002
38 people are currently reading
169 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
October 1, 2015
Absolutely love this style of writing, full of wisdom and knowledge encapsulated in real life anecdotes. I really took my time with this one to absorb as much as possible. Looking forward to meeting Mr. DiCicco this winter.
April 10, 2020
I've been coaching volleyball since 2016, and I mostly work with young girls between the ages of 13-15. Sports psychology is something that I'm super passionate about and it's a large focus in this book.
All in all, I really enjoyed it and I will definitely be pulling different quotes and pieces of advice for future use. Mainly, I really liked the way that it discussed the concept of pressure, and how it's usually taught in an inherently negative way in sports. As they put it, "[leading up to the world cup], we never talked about pressure because we saw [it] as an opportunity. We knew that as soon as we allowed the word 'pressure' into the equation, the process would revolve around avoiding pitfalls and barriers to our goals and, inevitably, we would lose focus". This may seem like a simple idea, but to me, it was just just the breakthrough I needed in terms of how I could teach this concept to young girls. When these kids are getting to compete and experience real 'pressure' for the first time, I always struggled with communicating the idea that pressure shouldn't be something to be afraid of, and this passage really helped me. Now I know how to teach this concept to them, and I think it will be extremely beneficial and something they can carry with them throughout their entire athletic careers.
All in all, I really enjoyed it and I will definitely be pulling different quotes and pieces of advice for future use. Mainly, I really liked the way that it discussed the concept of pressure, and how it's usually taught in an inherently negative way in sports. As they put it, "[leading up to the world cup], we never talked about pressure because we saw [it] as an opportunity. We knew that as soon as we allowed the word 'pressure' into the equation, the process would revolve around avoiding pitfalls and barriers to our goals and, inevitably, we would lose focus". This may seem like a simple idea, but to me, it was just just the breakthrough I needed in terms of how I could teach this concept to young girls. When these kids are getting to compete and experience real 'pressure' for the first time, I always struggled with communicating the idea that pressure shouldn't be something to be afraid of, and this passage really helped me. Now I know how to teach this concept to them, and I think it will be extremely beneficial and something they can carry with them throughout their entire athletic careers.
June 19, 2022
I just wrapped up my US Soccer D Course and, despite this book being 20 years old, it aligns perfectly with the current vision of Grassroots coaching. DiCicco was able to bring out the best in his players by developing them holistically- successful teams come from individuals with optimal mindsets, driven by a sense of responsibility to their team. Trust-building exercises by the team sports psychologist Hacker are fun, valuable opportunities give the team more cohesion. I'm excited to try the dragon game with my teams next season.
August 24, 2024
A good book, one required for my work to read before our meetings start. It was awesome hearing from DiCicco who coached the USWNT in the 90s and early 2000s. How he found and built success and instilled it in the women he had the pleasure of working with and leading to various championships. It was cool seeing him explain how to do what he did with professional women and apply it to coaching girls/women of all ages, at whatever level you are at. Good read! Definitely recommend if you are coaching girls/women in soccer at any level!
February 28, 2018
May is on the horizon so the Accidental Soccer Dad is trying to ramp back up for Spring soccer. While a lot of the focus in this book is on more elite levels of the game as opposed to the Rec league I coach in the basic principles were relatively universal and helpful. The team building exercises and chalk talks at the end of each chapter may prove handy in planning a practice or two but the meat is in the chapters themselves.
January 22, 2023
A great read for soccer coaches, with tons of practical tips for mental and physical aspects of the game. As a soccer parent, I gained an appreciation for many elements of coaching and playing. I also learned many techniques that will help me as a manager (in non-sports domains).
January 28, 2020
I really enjoyed this book and plan on buying a copy so I can re-read. Full of great coaching advice!
February 12, 2014
I think I read this book too late. Published in 2002, it was one of the first to focus on coaching women and girls specifically. At this point in my career, many of the ideas that DiCicco and Hacker present are much more commonplace than they were when the book was published. I am fortunate to have learned many of these lessons in other places and I attribute those lessons to DiCicco, Hacker, and others like them.
Even if this book was too late for me, it can make a difference for many new coaches of youth sports, especially girls. I think that many of the ideas and lessons apply to coaching youth of both genders as well as to coaching women. The book can be a valuable resource to coaches who are looking to create good coaching habits. Many of the chapters have important ideas about building relationships with athletes, which is of great importance to a coach's success in ultimately helping the athlete improve.
There is one potential area of distraction in the book, the sections that follow each chapter. Those sections are team building exercises (by Hacker) and soccer-specific coaching concepts (by DiCicco). If the reader is not a soccer coach and/or interested in the team building exercises, the sections are easy to skip over. Skipping over those sections will not detract from the overall utility of the book.
On a side note, I was fortunate to attend a lecture by Dr. Hacker in the winter of 1996, only months after the Olympic Games in Atlanta that figure prominently in chapters. It is cool to see some of the ideas she expressed in that lecture become part of this book.
Even if this book was too late for me, it can make a difference for many new coaches of youth sports, especially girls. I think that many of the ideas and lessons apply to coaching youth of both genders as well as to coaching women. The book can be a valuable resource to coaches who are looking to create good coaching habits. Many of the chapters have important ideas about building relationships with athletes, which is of great importance to a coach's success in ultimately helping the athlete improve.
There is one potential area of distraction in the book, the sections that follow each chapter. Those sections are team building exercises (by Hacker) and soccer-specific coaching concepts (by DiCicco). If the reader is not a soccer coach and/or interested in the team building exercises, the sections are easy to skip over. Skipping over those sections will not detract from the overall utility of the book.
On a side note, I was fortunate to attend a lecture by Dr. Hacker in the winter of 1996, only months after the Olympic Games in Atlanta that figure prominently in chapters. It is cool to see some of the ideas she expressed in that lecture become part of this book.
August 16, 2015
I'm probably being unfair about this book because it wasn't the book on coaching girls soccer that I was hoping for, nor did it significantly and insightfully address the difference (or lack of it) between coaching girls and boys. I am coaching a girls middle school team this fall and was interested in getting some practical advice. Instead, I got A LOT of anecdotes about coaching the USWNT. Unfortunately, coaching middle school girls who might be required to play soccer by their parents is not the same as coaching a team of professional women, or the kind of youth team that he does occasionally talk about. We don't see the parents except at games, we don't have meetings or see the girls outside of practice, and I have no idea what the skill level and commitment will be like. I guess I'll just have to do my best without any help from Tony DeCiccio!
February 17, 2020
I am not a fan of soccer, but after a guest talked about this book on my podcast about coaching and leadership, I gave it a read.
What an incredible book. I coach youth sports and have a successful basketball team full of incredible girls. This book reminded me about the power of our approach. Coach them to be their best, but do it in a way that helps, does not hinder.
Each chapter contained powerful insights that can help anyone who coaches, or mentors people. I will apply many of these ideas to my coaching. There were some great team challenges to help them spark new ideas about being a good teammate and leader along with some great reflection questions for both players and coaches.
This is a book that will lead to action and to helping me become even better in what I love to do.
What an incredible book. I coach youth sports and have a successful basketball team full of incredible girls. This book reminded me about the power of our approach. Coach them to be their best, but do it in a way that helps, does not hinder.
Each chapter contained powerful insights that can help anyone who coaches, or mentors people. I will apply many of these ideas to my coaching. There were some great team challenges to help them spark new ideas about being a good teammate and leader along with some great reflection questions for both players and coaches.
This is a book that will lead to action and to helping me become even better in what I love to do.
August 30, 2013
great coaching philosophy/psychology book. I have read and used a few for different classes I have taken. this is the best and most succinct book I have read for the topic.
I coach soccer so.this issue doesnt really affect me. but this book mainly deals with girls soccer and not necessarily any other sport. you can read it as it will help but all the examplea are soccer related.
the other thing that happens is the repeating of stories. he mentioned a few stories more than once, just skip them. overall very.good
I coach soccer so.this issue doesnt really affect me. but this book mainly deals with girls soccer and not necessarily any other sport. you can read it as it will help but all the examplea are soccer related.
the other thing that happens is the repeating of stories. he mentioned a few stories more than once, just skip them. overall very.good
September 24, 2014
Having coached for 34 years, there is still so much to be learned, but this book made a significant difference. Moving from negative coaching to positive coaching paid huge dividends.
The book is a great collaboration between a sports psychologist and a national level coach, and perhaps some may think that what they used to motivate players would not be replicable; the reality is that the lessons and methods build the confidence of every type of player.
If you are a coach, there are few books I would rate higher
The book is a great collaboration between a sports psychologist and a national level coach, and perhaps some may think that what they used to motivate players would not be replicable; the reality is that the lessons and methods build the confidence of every type of player.
If you are a coach, there are few books I would rate higher
September 2, 2008
I checked this out of the library because I knew a bit about the coach and used to coach girls H.S. sports (as well as women's rec-leagues sports), though never soccer.
Typical sports coaching book in terms of voice and structure. If you are interested in the World Cup team DiCiicco coached, there are a few good stories of players women's soccer fans will recognize, and if you coach a few good exercises on team building, etc. in general and soccer drilling in particular.
Typical sports coaching book in terms of voice and structure. If you are interested in the World Cup team DiCiicco coached, there are a few good stories of players women's soccer fans will recognize, and if you coach a few good exercises on team building, etc. in general and soccer drilling in particular.
Read
October 7, 2011Great advice for parents/teachers/coaches/mentors of young tweens to adults. Advice applies to setting the tone in various situations where the young people find themselves in teams: Team sports, music, afterschool activities, work groups, laboratory groups. I found a copy of this book very useful for motivating young people, both young women and young men.
June 23, 2012
This was definitely one of the best books I have ever read! I probably highlighted half the book so I can refer back to it later. Great for parents who have kids in sports and coaches of any level or sport!
March 30, 2013
I was hoping for more insight than instruction. You can tell that Tony has coached incredibly talented players, and was spoiled by that experience. Could be valuable to a coach of young players but not helpful if you are coaching at any level between 10 year old players and world class athletes.
March 17, 2013
I read this when I was coaching a girls' competitive soccer team, and I know it improved my coaching and in turn, the girls' success. If I were still coaching, I would keep a copy to re-read. There is so much valuable information in this book for anyone who works with girls in any sport.
March 13, 2008
Picked this one up as my daughter is about to start soccer.
A lot of good stuff for coaching boys as well as girls. It does a good job of addressing the mental side of the game as well.
A lot of good stuff for coaching boys as well as girls. It does a good job of addressing the mental side of the game as well.
June 12, 2010
3.5/5 - Good read, although not entirely what I was looking for. Aimed more at a higher level than what I'm coaching, but it was an interesting read nonetheless.
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews