Everything Your Coach Never Told You Because You're a Girl: and other truths about winning Paperback – October 20, 2014

I purchased this book in 2017, for myself, when I accepted High School Varsity Girls Soccer Head Coach position at a small to mid-sized school in NY. This Fall, I am moving on to a new position as the Head Coach of another Girls Varsity team in Connecticut. Just ordered 25 new copies, that the new players will get after I am introduced to the team.I figure it is about time to say Thank You to Dan Blank.BY FAR----his books have been the biggest influence in my/our success, and in how I was able to cultivate a winning team mindset in our team. When I came to my first school in 2017, soccer there was an afterthought. They never won a thing. By the time I left last month, the school had 4 Class Championships, 2 Regional Championships and played for a State Championship. We went from being the school that everyone scheduled on their Senior Night to being the school nobody wanted to play.Got National Licenses from both Federations. Yes, you need that to know how to train your players effectively. But I will tell you undoubtedly, the thing that got us there was we used this book as a roadmap to create a mindset and culture where the expectation was "we are here to succeed, and we are willing to do the work required to win". Easy to say. How do you do it? I had a vague idea of what kind of environment I wanted to exist around the team. This book (and Soccer IQ 1+2) bought it all in to focus for me. I will tell you that 90% of the battle is getting your team to buy in. IF you can do that, the rest so much easier.This fall I am moving on to a new coaching challenge at a bigger school (that has had a mediocre soccer history...hmmmm) in Connecticut. Just hired this week, will be meeting with the team soon. My plan is to introduce myself, then give every player a copy. How do we get there together? THIS is where we begin.

If you have a daughter that plays soccer and she has some skills, then this book is an ABSOLUTE MUST READ for both you and her!There will come a time when soccer must shift from being a social event to a serious competitive. At this point, (usually around the age of 14) she will either quit to pursue other "social activities" (aka boys) or will need to get serious about her game. If your little girl chooses the latter, then she will have to catch up on all the things the "boys" have been taught since they first touched that funny ball with the black patches. That soccer is a tough physical game and you need to come prepared because once you cross that sideline you have entered a battlefield where no quarter is given or asked for. If she does not learn this from you, the lesson from the competition will be harsh and painful.Coach Dan explains everything I have tried to teach my budding star (unfortunately before she was ready to hear it) in clear and easily understood terms. He covers all the bases and tells it straight. If your daughter (and you) are ready to take this sport and life itself to the next level, I have yet to find a better guide for doing so.If you make this commentment to help her improve, go all the way and purchase the audio book as well. This is the kind of information that needs to be heard ( from someone other than Dad) to be fully appreciated.I am not sure if my budding star has what it will take to achieve her goal (hers right now is starting midfielder for UCLA) however; after being exposed to the concepts in this book, she now knows and even more importantly, understands what she needs to do to be successful. As a dad, that is the least and best we can hope for. It makes writing all those checks for the Club dues, tournament fees and private coaching a little easier to take. She is starting to get it and it shows. That is all I can ask. The rest is up to her.Thank you Coach Dan for making me look so "right" all these years. As much a I hate to see it, she is growing up and it was your words in part that helped make that possible. Sign me up - I am an absolute believer. You will be too after finishing this book.

This book is a must have for any young competitor. It focuses on an unapologetic mindset of striving to win both on and off the field. Much of the content was something super relatable and I could easily pick parts and use them as speaking points with my daughters who have also read the book. We would have good conversations about a what it really means to be a female competitor.

Dan does a great job not holding anything back and "tells it like it is" behind the scenes for his teams. I like how he described why players were successful and included some "back-stories" into his various personalities he has coached over the years. As a former college level coach on the Men's side now working with high school age girls, his words are insightful and helpful.Mike R

I have read and really enjoyed all of Dan's books. I read both Soccer IQ books a few years ago, and followed with Shutout Pizza and Possession. I really have loved all of your books and have tried to implement the lessons into my own sessions. During the last few months, I picked up and read Everything Your Coach Never Told You and In My Tribe, and thought they were terrific. I have encouraged my high school girls players to pick up Everything Your Coach Never Told You (which I know a few of them have because they have been talking about it at our socially distanced summer fitness sessions). I also gave it to my daughter that is going into high school, and she has been reading it while she has been recovering from knee surgery. She was really upset that she is going to miss her freshman year, but I think some of the lessons in the book have encouraged her and helped her realize she can still be an important part of the team.