"Catch them being good" by Tony DiCicco

Discussion in 'Girls Youth Soccer' started by ctsoccer13, Mar 5, 2006.

  1. ctsoccer13

    ctsoccer13 Member+

    Mar 25, 2002
    Connecticut
    Club:
    Manchester United FC
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Has anybody read this book? Did it help you in any way? I went to Tony's soccer clinic this past weekend at Mohegan Sun Casino. He partners up with Ray Reid (UCONN) and puts on a pretty good clinic. This was my third year there. But, back to the point, I picked up his book but obviously haven't read it yet. I was just wondering how it was in general. Thanks.
     
  2. Bird1812

    Bird1812 New Member

    Nov 10, 2004
    It's good, but I don't have it at the top of my book list. My preference in reading are those that are short and to the point and it tends to be a little too wordy for my taste. However, I would still recommend that it be read. If specifically looking for books on girls/women's soccer, here are others that should be read. These all fit my preference of short and too the point:

    Coaching Women's Soccer by Ian Stokell
    This one is good even if you coach boys as it makes a point that coaching soccer through games rather than drills is a better way to teach soccer.

    Training Soccer Champions by Anson Dorrance
    This is a description of the UNC program. Dorrance gets into the differences between male and female soccer player which why his system is what it is. Dorrance has another that is pretty good, The Visions of a Champion, but it's not as short and to the point as this.

    Coaching Girls by John DeWitt
    The first three chapters are the meat of this book.
     
  3. ctsoccer13

    ctsoccer13 Member+

    Mar 25, 2002
    Connecticut
    Club:
    Manchester United FC
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Thanks for the info, and "yes" I'm specifically looking for books on working with girls. Anson actually did part of last year's Soccer Champions Clinic hosted by Tony and Ray Reid down at Mohegan Sun casino in CT. He touched on some of his styles and his formation, but I don't ever remember him mentioning his book. Again, Thanks, I appreciate it.
     
  4. Labdarugo

    Labdarugo Member

    Dec 3, 2000
    Downwind
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    I don't know the DiCicco book, but an excellent, excellent book is "Game Girls Play: Understanding and Guiding Young Female Athletes," by Caroline Silby who is a sports psychologist and former competitive figure skater. It's not just about soccer, but about helping our daughters and the female athletes we coach "to deal with the issues they face as athletes -- and as young women -- by using the most powerful training tool they have: their mind. By shaping the way they view themselves and various situations, athletes can reap all the benefits of sports participation no matter their ability level. And athletes with exceptional ability can use the same techniques to reach even further heights."


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  5. unsuspectingsoccermo

    Mar 27, 2006
    I haven't read the book but will add it to my list along with the others recommended here. An interesting point was raised in this thread about coaching girls and the difference between coaching boys. Here is another question, do girls benefit from playing on a boys team, do they need to learn a different coaching style when the switch to an all girls team?
     
  6. Bird1812

    Bird1812 New Member

    Nov 10, 2004
    I think girls definitely benefit from playing with boys. Boys are just naturally quicker and playing with boys can help the girls in this respect. Girls are more team oriented, so the boys can also reap those benefits when playing with girls. However, we are speaking in general terms of pre-adolesent boys and girls, so the coaching styles are usually no different. Once the hormones kick in is when you see coaching styles changing to accomodate gender differences. Once the hormones kick in, it will be difficult to have girls and boys play together because the physical differences will be too far apart.
     

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