The Beautiful Game

By Katherine Handcock, A Mighty Girl Communications Specialist

It’s played by 250 million people in over 200 countries, and in many nations, it’s the most prominent women’s team sport. Women’s soccer games have been recorded since the late 19th century, and today, 177 nations have national women’s soccer teams. Best of all, the future looks bright for women’s soccer: girls’ soccer leagues continue to thrive, with gender representation among youth soccer players almost exactly 50-50. With such an incredible love of the Beautiful Game out there, it’s no wonder that many Mighty Girls have been eagerly awaiting the 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup!

To celebrate this event — and the love of girls and women everywhere for the sport — we’ve collected some of our favorite books, toys, posters, and clothes celebrating the great game of soccer. We hope that these resources will have your Mighty Girl dreaming of her favorite game long after the World Cup is won.

In addition to our recommendations below, there's also a guidebook to everything going on during the 2015 Women's World Cup, FIFA Women's World Cup Canada 2015: The Official Book.

Stories About The Game: Soccer-Themed Books and Movies

If your Mighty Girl loves soccer, she’ll love reading stories about soccer players! For the youngest Mighty Girls, Lucy Cousins’ popular character Maisy experiments with soccer in Maisy Plays Soccer (age 3 - 7). Maisy and her friends try out the sport with a 3-on-3 game. There’s lots of action, excitement, and fun, with everyone vying to score that first goal — and when the game is done, win or lose, both teams will celebrate.

Mighty Girls who struggle with the competitive aspect of soccer will love Olympic gold medalist Mia Hamm’s picture book Winners Never Quit! (age 4 - 7). When Mia’s team starts losing a game, she quits, right in the middle of it! She soon realizes, though, that she loves playing more than she hates losing. Mia has to work hard to convince her teammates that her attitude has changed but, when she does, she’s learned a valuable lesson about sportsmanship and the joy of the game.

Soccer-loving girls can also learn lots of other skills through their love of the game! In Game Time! by Stuart J. Murphy (age 5 - 8), the story of two girls’ soccer teams preparing for their big match makes the perfect framework for teaching units of time. Weeks, days, and hours pass as they wait for their game — and then, of course, the game itself is made up for quarter hours, minutes, and those final critical seconds for the game-winning goal!

The Dream Big Toy Company, makers of the Go! Go! Sports Girls dolls, has a new book series for early readers that includes Soccer Girl Cassie’s Story: Teamwork Is The Goal (age 5 - 7). When Cassie meets Anna, who’s mad about soccer, Cassie can’t resist trying the sport as well. As she struggles to learn the basics, though, she learns that eventually her team and Anna’s will play head-to-head. How can inexperienced Cassie hope to make a good showing against highly skilled Anna? Cassie quickly discovers, though, that no single player can keep up against a terrific team! Along with tips and tricks to improve your soccer game, this books teaches some great lessons about teamwork on the field and friendship off of it.

Olympic gold medalist Alex Morgan has also turned her hand to writing soccer-themed fiction; in Saving The Team, first book in The Kicks series (age 8 - 12), Devin would have been the captain of her school soccer team — if she hadn’t moved across the country. She’s expecting stiff competition at her new school; instead, she finds a mess of a team and a coach who doesn’t even care if the girls are improving their skills. Devin’s not willing to let the Kentville Kangaroos go down without a fight! With some hard work, the Kangaroos can be a real team — win or lose. Full of great messages about teamwork, assertiveness, and the pleasure of perfecting a skill, this first book of a series is sure to be a hit. Fans of The Kicks should also check out the latest release in the series, Hat Trick, or this boxed set of the first three books.

Montalbano is also the author of Breakaway (age 8 and up). LJ is a soccer star, and she knows it — and her attitude both on and off the field is aggravating even her most devoted friends and teammates. She has particularly little patience for people like Tabitha, who doesn’t seem to care much about the game and spends most of her time on the bench. LJ’s bad temper leads to the worst punishment she could imagine: the coach puts her on the bench, forcing her to give up being a star — and Tabitha to step onto the field. Watching her play, though, LJ realizes that being a star doesn’t get your team ahead... and that winning means a lot more than scoring the most goals.

Your Mighty Girl might also enjoy reading biographies and autobiographies of some of the great players that inspire her! Whether her idol is Abby Wambach (age 7 - 10), Hope Solo (age 8 - 12), Alex Morgan (age 7 - 12), or Mia Hamm (age 8 and up), it’s sure to be thrilling to read about how her favorite player made her way from her first field to international play.

There are also some great soccer-themed movies out there. If your Mighty Girl wants a glimpse into a world before Title IX, check out Gracie, directed by Davis Guggenheim (13 and up). In 1978, Gracie is growing up in the shadow of her athletic older brothers, but when her oldest brother dies in a tragic accident, she wants to honor his memory — by taking his place on the varsity soccer team. In order to do that, she has to overcome the school’s rules and her family’s skepticism, as well as her own grief. But this determined young woman knows that she is meant to play, and despite all obstacles, she will find her place on the field.

Bend It Like Beckham, directed by Gurinder Chadha (12 and up) also tackles the conflict between a girl’s love of soccer and her family’s expectations. Jess’ family is Indian, but she was born in England, and grew up with a desperate desire to become a soccer star like David Beckham, her favorite player. When her traditional family won’t let her play, Jess relies on her new friend Juliet to help her join a girls’ team in secret. But when the team starts drawing more and more attention, Jess begins to wonder how long she can keep her secret and what her parents will think when they find out. But maybe soccer will be the thing that brings her family together!

For some real-life inspiration, you might want to check out some great stories about America's groundbreaking women's team! Kids will love either the newly released World Soccer Legends volume on the U.S. Women's Team: World Soccer Legends (age 7 - 12) or The World At Their Feet: The Legendary Story of the U.S. Women’s Soccer Team (age 8 and up). Both tell the story of how the U.S. national team went from obscurity to international fame, culminating in the record 90,000 person attendance at the 1999 World Cup. The World At Their Feet ends with the 1999 victory, while U.S. Women's Team goes right up to the present, including the players who will take the field for this year's Women's World Cup. Your soccer-loving Mighty Girl will love to hear how women’s soccer became the prominent sport that she loves.

Play All Day: Soccer-Themed Toys and Decor

Your Mighty Girl soccer fan will no doubt want soccer to be part of every moment of her day! By filling her room with toys and decor that celebrate her love of soccer, she really can play all day.

For the youngest fans, Sassy’s Mini Sports Rattle (age 0 - 2) and the Fisher-Price Laugh and Learn Singin’ Soccer Ball (age 0 - 3) are great ways to show a love of soccer from the very beginning. Slightly older Mighty Girls will enjoy Melissa and Doug’s Shot On Goal floor puzzle (age 3 - 6). With 48 large-format, sturdy pieces that are easy to clean, and an assembled size of 24 by 36 inches, this floor puzzle will be a durable favorite.

The Go! Go! Sports Dolls feature a soccer player also featured in the book, Anna (age 3 - 8). Both feature soft bodies, come with a backpack, soccer ball, and towel, and have a secret message on their tummies saying “Dream Big Score Goals.” They’re sure to inspire your Mighty Girl to have fun with their favorite game.

If she'd like to play out a whole soccer game, rather than just pretend with a single player, check out Kaskey Kids' soccer girl figure set (age 3 - 12). This set includes two soccer goals, a referee, a ball, a playing field mat, and 24 hand-painted 2" soccer players. She can use it for pretend play or as a coaching and practice tool, laying out how different plays would look in the big picture.

To bring soccer inspiration to your Mighty Girl’s walls, why not get a great motivational poster? Two soccer-themed posters, Achievement and Challenge Yourself feature dynamic images of soccer players and motivational slogans.

Your Mighty Girl can celebrate the wisdom and determination of her favorite players with wall art, too. An iconic image of Hope Solo holding the American flag is sure to be a favorite. She can contemplate some words of wisdom about winners from Mia Hamm on this wall decal, which reads “A winner is a person who gets up one more time than she is knocked down,” or about determination from Marva Collins in this poster, which reads, “Success doesn’t come to you? You go get it.”

Or, for a real thrill for your budding soccer player, check out this customizable soccer girl decal. When you order, you customize the player name, number, and accent color. She’ll love seeing her own name and number up on the wall!

Wear Your Sport: Soccer-Themed Clothing

Your Mighty Girl can show off her love of the game with clothing, too! These great clothing options provide something for Mighty Girls of all ages — as well as for soccer-loving women!

A great pair of soccer socks may be just what she needs to give her kicks some extra muscle. These soccer ball socks and Word Up soccer socks, both from Sports Katz and suitable for ages 13 and up, are thick and comfy for those long hours of practice. You can also check out Red Lion's soccer ball athletic socks (age 5 - 12), which feature a cushioned sole for high performance on the field.

Is your Mighty Girl a Soccer Monkey? This t-shirt from Sports Katz features their character Maisy Monkey, all kitted out for a soccer game, and comes in toddler and youth sizes.

If she wants to show off her determination on the field — whether at practice or in a match — she’ll love this Blood, Sweat, Tears, Soccer t-shirt (age 13 and up, including plus sizes.) She can remind everyone of what soccer teachers with this Girl Power Soccer t-shirt, which is available in a wide variety of styles and colors, in sizes ranging from infants to adults. To remind everyone that soccer girls aren't made of sugar and spice, but determination, competitiveness, agility, and so much more, check out the Made of Soccer T-shirt from Utopia Sport (age 8 and up). And for the ultimate in empowering shirts, check out the popular Play Like A Girl shirt, which reads “I know I play like a girl. Try to keep up” and comes in toddler, youth, juniors, adults, and adult plus sizes.

Up Your Game: Resources To Improve Soccer Skills

Of course, the best way she can show her love of the game is to work on perfecting her soccer skills! From inspirational books, to soccer gear, to coaching manuals, these products will help your Mighty Girl make the most of her time on the field.

To start your practice, you don’t need anything more complicated than a soccer ball. However, a few other items can definitely come in handy! Even the littlest Mighty Girls can get started with Little Tikes' Easy Score Soccer Set (age 2 - 10), while the PUGG pop-up goal set (age 4 and up) is easily transportable, but sets up quickly; they’re perfect for an impromptu game or a little extra practice. For something a little more elaborate, check out the SKLZ Star Kick Solo Soccer Trainer (age 8 and up), a harness that holds a #3, 4, or 5 ball so that your Mighty Girl can practice shooting, passing, receiving, juggling, and goal interception — all by herself! And to get her gear from home to practice, check out the Diadora Junior Squadra soccer backpack (age 6 and up), which has space for supplies like water, shin guards, uniform, and even a special compartment for your ball.

To prepare for her practice, your Mighty Girl can spend some time reading up on rules, strategies, and skills. The Everything Kids’ Soccer Book (age 7 - 12) is full of important tips about health, fitness, and, of course, soccer! It’s a great resource for a Mighty Girl who’s new to the game, or one who’s starting to take more of a role into her practice and development.

For a little inspiration, Mia Hamm’s Go For The Goal: A Champion’s Guide To Winning in Soccer and Life (age 12 and up), Alex Morgan's Breakaway: Beyond The Goal (age 12 and up), and Anson Dorrance’s Vision of a Champion (age 12 and up), which all provide stories about soccer and day-to-day life that show how teamwork, dedication, and focus can make all the difference in the world. For a book that offers a mix of inspiration and facts, check out For Soccer Crazy Girls Only by Erin Downing (age 7 - 10), which teaches useful information while celebrating a love of the game.

Girls who are moving from recreational to competitive soccer — and the parents and coaches who support them — will want to check out Everything Your Coach Never Told You Because You're A Girl: And Other Truths About Winning by Dan Blank (age 13 and up). This straight-talking guide to what makes the best athletes great is thought-provoking and inspiring.

And if you’re a parent getting into coaching, you may want a little inspiration yourself! To give yourself a good foundation, check out Coaching Girls’ Soccer by John DeWitt, which teaches not just the basics of soccer rules and techique, but also effective coaching strategies and ways in which you can tailor your coaching to the needs of a girls’ team.

Tony DiCicco, who coached the US Women’s team for the 1996 Olympics, and Colleen Hacker, the teams’ psychology consultant, have written Catch Them Being Good: Everything You Need To Know To Successfully Coach Girls, which provides some ideas of how girls and boys (and men and women) respond differently to coaching, as well as teaching you how to build a strong, successful team. Although their lessons can apply to any sport, unsurprisingly, soccer provides the majority of their examples!

And if you’re a parent who’s not coaching, but who wants to support your Mighty Girl athlete, check out Games Girls Play: Understanding and Guiding Young Female Athletes by Caroline Silby. Silby talks about how to find the right sports for your Mighty Girl, as well as how to handle motivation problems, self-esteem issues, struggles with coaches, and even the challenges she’ll find in puberty as her rapid body changes throw off long years of practice. Whether your Mighty Girl is just discovering a love of soccer, or is racing through the ranks, this book will help you see her achieve her goals.

When World Cup play is over, it’s just the start of many great games to come! We hope you and your Mighty Girl have a great game.

Additional Recommended Resources

• For more Mighty Girl books featuring soccer, visit our selection of soccer books in our Sports / Games section .
• You can find toys and gear for your young athlete in our selection of Sports Equipment.
• For parenting books to encourage girls to live healthy, active lives, please visit our Healthy Living parenting section.