Throughout the book, Mia Hamm describes vital techniques which are needed to become an excellent soccer player. One of those techniques is passing. Mia explains the fundamentals of passing, and then continues to explain the importance of it. Although passing is a basic technique which most players quickly learn in the beginning of their soccer career, the importance of practicing it and essentially using it during game time is a topic Mia was key in stressing. She stated the fact that although she made twenty goals for the National Team in 1998, she also had twenty assists, which means that when a player makes a goal, the person who passed them that ball assisted them, and therefore receives an assist. She also become the career assist leader in National Team history. Through the course of the book, Mia always denies claims made by others that she is the best women's soccer player in the world. However, the fact that she understands and utilizes the importance of soccer being a team sport, shows her character. The fact that she is the career assist leader symbolizes her unselfishness and that she respects her teammates tremendously. It portrays the message she displays throughout the text that she can not be the world's best women's soccer player. Soccer is a team sport, and each player and each position has their own part in every victory and every loss. However, one can help their team by practicing to perfect their game, passing to and assisting their teammates, and sharing their love for the game with others.
Imagery and Symbolism
