Athletics Books

John Wooden is an amazing coach. he led UCLA for many successful years. So, while I haven't read this book yet, I am assuming it must be the most masterfully written book ever produced. It is going to be a smooth read, almost as smooth and a micheal jordan stride to the hoop and open mouthed slam dunk.

Any coach should take the philosophies of John Wooden to heart, they work! Using his teachings you can win games and the players have a heck of a lot better experience. After a dismal record in only my 2nd season fresh out of college I started researching his work, and applying it - only to have one losing season over the next 7. Started to get away from his teachings recently making my frustration levels go through the roof so bought this book as a refresher, it helped and recommend it to all coaches.

If you've read a lot of Coach Wooden's books, you may be familiar with his wisdom, maxims and his wonderful pyramid of success; this book studies the methodology of his teaching and how he applied his wisdom to the successful transfer of knowledge and skills. If you're a teacher, buy this book!

Ron Gallimore and Swen Nater combine their incredible knowledge about teaching and basketball to deliver a new and insightful look at the teaching practice of John Wooden. The book is a wonderful balance of personal stories from Nater and insights about teaching and learning from Gallimore that demonstrate just how incredibly wise, intentional, and gifted The Coach was and is. This book demonstrates the hard work, preparation, courage, and commitment to continuous learning that defines quality teaching. A must read for every teacher and coach.

Swen Nater knows John Wooden - that much is clear. Clear too, is what a great teacher John Wooden was and, continues to be. This is a book any teacher can learn from. Sure it is great for coaches, but when a teacher is looking for guidance on how to handle varying student potential within their class, is it better to treat everyone the same - or to treat each individual differently, according to their personality, talent, ability, commitment etc. as Wooden did? Swen does a great job of interjecting his own life's experience into the priniciples Wooden taught. And he uses those of "Alcindor", Wicks, Walton, Allen and others to make the stories fit the lesson. This is textbook material, or should be required reading for aspiring or experienced teachers - 5 Stars plus!

The conclusion of this book is the best part, but I found that I needed to read the '101 ways' to really understand it. I suggest you scan the table of contents to see if what leads you to look into this book is addressed, and just buy it if any are even close. If you think you need this book.... you do. Buy it, read it.

This is a much needed book in my opinion. I want to do everything I can to help my child. Also recommended: 'Everything You Never Wanted To Know About Your Nonprofit Corporation' by Ms. Cellaneous, The Unknown Attorney, for a look at kids sports and booster clubs from a legal and protective (of your kids) viewpoint.

Dr. Fish's book is truly outstanding. This book has brought me and my children closer together and I would highly recommend other parents to read it. My attitude toward my children and their athletics has changed and I have a new outlook on being a positive sports parent.

Every parent with sports-playing kids needs this book! I saw Dr. Fish on The Today show two months ago and I really liked what he had to say about not pushing kids too hard so I got the book. Since then, I've given a copy to two parents on my daughter's soccer team and insisted that my husband (who gets carried away with our son's hockey to read it). This book has validated me in my decision not to allow my daughter to be on the travel team right now. (We have two other kids with activities so the travel has been an issue.) I like how he offers advice on how to help your child and evaluate your child's experience. This is just an overall great guide for parents whether or not there's a problem or issue.

26.2: Marathon Stories

This was the perfect gift for my brother who was completing his first marathon. He read it from cover to cover on the plane. He loved it. I loved it and I didn't run a marathon! It's filled with interesting and inspiring stories and neat facts. It makes a great gift for the runner in your life.

Great book, especially for those who have run a marathon and can appreciate first hand the highs and lows involved every step of the way. Couldn't put it down.

As a recreational but devoted marathoner, (currently training for #9), this was an obvious must-have for me. Most books published under the Rodale title are generally just rehashes of old RUNNERS WORLD magazine articles, but this is definitely not the case here.

This handsome coffee table book is beautifully designed and offers not only inspiring passages we've come to expect in the world of the long distance runner, but breathtaking photography and insight into the minds, passions and heartaches associated with the sport. It fairly examines the good and the bad throughout the long history of "Marathon;" from ancient Greece to contemporary pop culture.

Divided into 26.2 chapters, it is a wonderful book for both the devoted runner and interested spectator as well. Would make a great gift.

I actually had an emotional reaction by the time I got to "the Finish Line." Just like in real-life! So this book willl definitely be a treasured addition to my library.

I'm a "senior", "middle-of-the-pack" runner and been at this for 30 yrs, completed 7 marathons and read most of the books concerning the subject, but found this one to be truly original. Running is basically a simplistic sport but to extend oneself to the extent to complete a marathon requires a special effort which this book manages to capture better than any other I've read so far. A must for anyone interested in running or those trying to figure out what makes people do this crazy stuff. Easy reading and wonderful photography!

I've had chronic back pain all my life and have tried many different approaches to find relief. \ I have found that the Acupressure Warmup techniques to be very effective in relieving my pain instantly. Because my pain is chronic I find myself stiff and sore after work and in the morning when I wake up. After applying the techniques I can go throughout the day with much pain and muscle spasms.

In my massage practice, I encourage people to use self help for managing their health. This book is a great one to have for
in home care. Written & illustrated in a clear easy to use format, it gives the layperson simple instruction on point location. Utilizing tennis balls, it allows you to work on specific problem areas, using the body weight pressure to relieve aches & pains. The techniques are simple to use and are aided by the addition of meridian stretches shown in the back of the book. As an another bonus, symptoms of imbalance are included to guide your choice of areas to address. A great companion book to this one is Acupressure's Potent Points by Michael Reed Gach. I also highly recommend The Touch of Healing by Alice Burmeister, which incorporates the ancient Japanese healing art of Jin Shin Jyutsu.

The truly simple and amazing precedures explained in the book produce incredible results not only to relieve pain but to keep you from injury. I am in my 50's and play tennis four times a week. Prior to using the Acupressure warmup routine, I was prone to injury. I have been warming up with this method for five years now and have been pain and injury free, and it only takes 10 minutes! I have recommended this book to dozens of friends who have had similar success. My husband who travels a good deal, uses tennis balls on his back pressure points while driving or flying to relieve back pain. I highly recommend this book to young and old.

This book is a useful resource not only for helping me to manage my own aches and pains, but I also recommend (and frequently lend) this book to my patients. As a physical therapist, I am always looking for ways to teach people to take control of their own pain and this book acts as a great adjunct to my own treatments. I currently work with chronic pain patients and several of them have borrowed my book and subsequently ordered their own copy as these techniques have given them excellent relief.

"Airball: My Life in Briefs," is about Kirby Nickel, a 7th grader who lives with his grandmother and has never seen his mom or dad. Kirby is the Captain of his 7th grade basketball team, and the book tells the story about Kirby and his team as they go through their season with the hope of visiting their hero Brent McGrew. Kirby wants to meet Brent because he thinks that Brent is his dad.
The book starts out at basketball practice and the coach announces that if they have a good season that he will take them to see Brent McGrew when he gets his jersey retired at the University of Kansas. Brent is a famous NBA basketball player who played in Kirby's town when he was younger. Everyone is excited about possibly seeing Brent McGrew, but they are not sure if they will be able to because the team has not been good since Brent McGrew played there. Kirby's coach also was not sure that they would be able to win, so he came up with a plan to have them practice in their underwear.
That week the coach orders uniforms, but he doesn't give it to the team. Instead he makes them practice in their underwear until they get better at basketball and they become a team. They start to play better so for their first game, the coach gives them really nice uniforms. Kirby and his team like the uniforms, but they don't play very well. At halftime, Kirby said that they don't deserve to wear the uniforms so they take their uniforms off and play in their underwear for the second half. In the second half, they come back and win the game so they decide to wear underwear as their uniform for the rest of the season and they win all of their games without their uniforms.
During the season, Kirby finds some clues that Brent McGrew may be his Dad. In Kirby's attic, he found a Brent McGrew jersey, a medal, and a picture of his mom and Brent dancing. He also realized that he and Brent had the same birth mark. So, at the end of the season, when they meet Brent McGrew, Kirby gives him an envelope with all of the clues showing that Brent might be his dad. Brent said that he wasn't the guy in the picture, but the coach took a look at the pictures and said that they were pictures of him. He then realized that he was Kirby's dad. They were happy after that and the book ended with Kirby and his team scrimmaging again Brent McGrew.
I recommend this book to other kids my age because I like basketball and it was funny.

This book was great it kept me wondering what was going to happen next, and If you like basketball you will love the book Air Ball my life's in briefs.

The book Air ball my life's in briefs is about a boy named Kirby Nickel, who grew up in a basketball loving city, but the thing is he didn't really like it. Kirby thinks that the Kansas City star Brett McGrew is his father. Kirby and his friend Bragger find evidence to prove it. They go through so much trouble trying to find out the truth. Kirby had to try out for the basketball team, and his friend Bragger voted him for team captain, and Kirby couldn't turn it down. But the only way he could meet Brett McGrew was he had to be the leader of the team. Kirby didn't want to be captain for the fact that he didn't know one thing about basketball, and he didn't want to deal with the coach. At the end of the book you will never guess who his dad is.

This book is hilarious! I laughed so hard I thought I was going to wake the entire house. And, every time I stopped, I turned the page and laughed again.

Poor Kirby! Kirby loves basketball as much as everyone in his basketball-crazy Kansas town. The problem? He isn't very good. But, he must make the team and have a winning season if he wants a chance to go to Allen Fieldhouse to participate when KU retires the jersey of Stuckey's own future-NBA-Hall-of-Famer, Brett McGrew.

Kirby thinks McGrew is his dad and it's Kirby's and only chance to meet him. But, first--he and the rest of the seventh grade team must live through the coach's extreme coaching tactics: Stealth Uniforms. Yes, they're playing in their undies!

If you've ever experienced life in a small town that revolves around youth or college sports--a town where the youth sport IS their "professional" team, you'll appreciate this book. Mix in the coach's new uniforms (Emperor's New Clothes-style), a boy who risk just about anything (including the humiliation of playing basketball in his underwear) to meet his long-lost father, a trouble-making cousin who helps Kirby become captain of the team, the thrill of victory and some harmless nosing around to find proof that McGrew is his dad and you have a recipe for a great afternoon of rural basketball reading fun!

A clean, fun book for anyone who can read at the middle grade level or higher. No profanity or sexual content that I recall--just boys parading around in their briefs! A great fall, back-to-school read!

This book is delightful. I chuckled, grinned, laughed out loud, and empathized with each character in turn. Kirby Nickel is a seventh grader who lives in Stuckey Kansas, population 334, a basketball crazy town. Kirby is clumsy and nerdy, shunned by jocks, terrified of his P.E. coach, an orphan raised by his grandmother. He's the self-described worst basketball player ever. Stuckey is the hometown of Kansas
University hero and NBA icon Brett McGrew. Stuckey has not had a winning season since McGrew was in school and Coach Mike Armstrong is determined this year will end that losing streak. Most boys in Stuckey dream of basketball scholarships, playing for Kansas University, then heading off to the NBA like their hero, McGrew. Kirby dreams of riding the bench with cool confidence, of injuries to keep him off the team, and of locating a father who disappeared before he was born. He believes Brett McGrew is his father. But will McGrew
reject him? Kirby knows too well that sometimes the thing you want the most in the world doesn't want you back.

K.U. is retiring McGrew's jersey and invites the 7th grade team from Stuckey to participate. Kirby's team members are seriously bad players. To boost their confidence and enhance
team spirit, Coach Armstrong presents the boys with invisible "stealth uniforms". In other words, they practice in their underwear. To Kirby's surprise, he's elected team captain, a position he takes seriously. The boys improve dramatically while practicing in their underwear. They learn to function as a team, thanks to Kirby's influence and the stealth uniforms.

The characters in Airball are perfection, presented with humor and compassion as each learns the value of teamwork, friendship, equality, and hope while playing skivvy basketball. Kirby is an appealing character. Coach Armstrong is a strong role model who sympathizes with the team because he has his own secret dreams and disappointments. And Kirby's teammates are typical boys longing for acceptance and striving to excel. Airball is perfection and highly recommended.

I almost couldn't put the book down. Finished it in three nights. Anyhow, the writing style is fantastic and the story is compelling. Lots of ups and downs. The best part is that the book is about real people. Definately read this book.

This book juxtaposes basketball and real life. In doing so Swidey provides a multiple perspectives.

Sometimes the reader is present almost as a fellow team member during very private times in the coaches and player's lives; both on and off the court. You know what music they are listening to - the complex dynamics that are playing out under the surface - what they are thinking during emotionally charged situations. The author has an uncanny ability to bring the reader into these young adult's lives.

Other times Swidey provides a 360 helicopter vantage point that allows the reader to see all character's points of view at the same time; and an ability to see how relatively small events in the present; have big consequences as events unfold.

From either point of view the story is compelling. While based around a basketball coach and his team's on and off court struggles - it is more accurately about a good but flawed man's attempt to help good but flawed kids navigate their urban maze.

This is not just a book about basketball. Ask anyone who ever played a sport, and they can probably tell you how much their coach influenced their life. At a time in life when boys are becoming men, a positive male role model, whether it be a parent, coach or a teacher, can make all the difference. Neil Swidey's insider's view of the lives of the players, their families and Coach O'Brien was both heartwarming and disturbing. But this is not unique to Boston. All over the country, we continue to spend money building more jails instead of improving our schools, after school programs and parks. This is a good read for young or old. And not just men.

I am not usually a reader, but I had a hard time putting this book down. Swidey does an excellent job capturing what has been an incredible story in Boston over the past few years. It's about basketball but, it is also about so much more. He describes how the aftermath of school desgregation in Boston has left the public schools in crisis, and how having someone who cares can make such a huge diffrence.

This is THE book for everyone including gym owners and parents. The Back Handspring is the premier trick needed by both gymnasts and cheerleaders.

As a former gym owner,and a Mom, I highly recommend it. This book takes the mystery out of the skill and breaks it down into easy to learn pieces. Safety is the number one concern when learning this skill and Coach Rik makes safety an integral part of the learning process.

This book is for everyone (coaches, students, owners and parents) that wants a "How To" manual on this skill.

I will be the first one in line when he writes another book on skills.

Keep "flipping" those pages.

Rayelynn Henderson

Like the author, I have probably spotted a million back handsprings. I found this book to be a great refresher for someone who is an "expert" but also useful to those who are just beginning. If you follow the author's guidelines and work through to the end of the book you really will learn a back handspring. This book is easy to read and the directions are clear and concise.

Written by former competitive gymnast and current trainer Rik Feeney, Back Handsprings: the Secret Techniques is a straightforward guide for cheerleaders, gymnasts, dancers, martial artists, and choreographers. Chapters cover the four areas that any athlete needs to work on in order to master the back handspring: conditioning, training, environment, and desire. Black-and-white photographs and diagrams illustrate the step-by-step instructions to strengthening muscles, aligning one's body properly, performing appropriate training drills, and more. "In both the handstand and the back handspring, it is very important that you position your hands correctly to prevent injury to the wrists, elbows, and arms. If your hands are turned out, you can cause the elbows to lock which could lead to hyperextension injuries, dislocations, or worse." A "must-have" for anyone seeking to master the back handspring.

written so that if a child is reading it, she'll understand it.
very helpful for a beginner and advanced. Drills and skills to straighten out problem backhandsprings. best book out there
for this skill.

This resource is worth 5 stars - it is specifically for adults and is easy to read, easy to access. All steps are described and illustrated. Worth purchasing especially if you are a beginner.

I have the 3rd edition of this book, which was required for a college Ballet I class. As a beginning, adult, male student, I found the book to be very detailed - which I like. She gives you illustrations of steps, with the French name & pronunciation, why your doing it (e.g. to stretch certain muscles), a description, etc..

Initially, working at the barre (e.g. how to stand, plie', positions of the feet) Sandra gives correct & incorrect drawings. Of course, no book or video can replace being in class nor should it. With ballet you need a teacher to correct what your doing wrong so you can learn from it. Then having good books, videos, etc. as reference material helps you learn.

The book is written for us beginner adults, not children and not the pro's, which is really nice. Since we don't have nearly the flexibility of them. It also includes some history in the back of the book. Illustrations show men as well as women. Also included is what to wear to class, what to expect in class, how you should act, etc..

Get her other book once you get beyond the basics.

This book provides a good solid basic technique overview. It has been used as a textbook at some colleges, and was highly reccomended by my former headmistress. I found the text interesting and helpful, and the illustrations sufficient. Of course, no book can replace a talented instructor, but as a supplement to a dance program, this book is superior.

Finally a good ballet instruction book that's encouraging and doesn't talk down to adult beginners. The more ballet classes I take, the more I realize how well this book distills the important aspects of ballet. Sketches and photos showing correct (and incorrect) body positioning are appropriately used. When I started ballet, I picked up a handful of books, and I always reached for this one when I had 10 minutes to learn a new tidbit. The brief history of ballet in the final chapter is added bonus. If you're an adult beginner, start with this book and the David Howard videos, plus a good teacher once or twice a week. You won't be auditioning for the American Ballet Theatre, but you'll become a proficient dancer pretty quickly.

As a three year old, my horse was kicked by another horse. Her right foreleg was unusable and she was practically paralized. We decided to put her down, but she wanted to live, so a therapist gave her laser treatment. She is still with us, now almost 11 years old. Two years ago she developed severe back problems, had a shortened stride and went lame. Last year she could almost not walk anymore and has severe muscle problems. Several therapists tried to help her, most of them could not not. Shiatsu helped her a little, but the only one that showed spectacular progress after just one treatment was a therapist practising the Jack Meagher method. I wanted to know more about the method, so I bought the book. It is great!

Wonderful Teacher! Much to be learned using the simple rules and calculations that Jack explains in depth. Only downer is the fact that the book is only available as a combed binder issue and not a hardcover bound publication.

This is a fabulous book that every horse owner should have. It has saved me hundreds of $$$ in chiropractic and massage therapy bills. I have recommended it to owners, instructors, and trainers complaining about horse performance issues. In every case the book helped.

I read this book over 15 years ago. I wanted to see if I could get another copy as mine was stolen (it was so good). Helped me a lot with horses. As I heard that Jack Meagher died last week, I thought I would look for it. I think I only paid $15 for my paperback copy years ago and would not suggest anyone pay $70 for this book but it was very good. The price is so high I think because of recent demand due to the author's death. I will keep looking rather than purchase a copy here.

superb program. good general information. program focuses on overall athleticism/power, including reasonable agility, stretching and plyometric regimens (which is rarely seen but a necessary part of a premiere program). program is applicable to nearly all athletes (perhaps not ideal for a pro/college athletes, solely because they would have programs designed to peak at the season of their sport).

I am a Division one track and field athlete. I have been looking for an out of season lifting program that will help make me stronger and faster. I was never a fan of these core lifts until I bought this book. The variation that is available really caught my attention. For example, the power clean has been an exercise that I refuse to do and this book offers many other options. Instead I perform a hang clean. So far, I think that this program will do nothing but improve my athletic ability.

This is a great book for any athlete out there high school or college, it teaches great techniques for lifting and also gives great variations on the already well known core lifts. This book is not for the weak or undisciplined it should only be used by people that are willing to work hard and give everything you got to be the best.

My degree is in physical education and I have been teaching for 11 years. Shepard's Bigger Faster Stronger program is among the best I have found. The biggest benefits of this program are in sports requiring explosive strenth such as judo, wrestling, boxing, field events, and sprints.