Athletics Books

I picked up this book at a bookstore and started reading it. It was amazing, so I bought it. I've never been the best coach of my abilities, so I thought the book would help. And it has--immensely. The book is painstakingly detailed, researched (sources at the end of each chapter)--basically, it's the best running book out there.

This book by a world class athlete with over 40 world records is very easy to read due to the frequent headings, colour coding throughout, 50 action photos in colour, and the conversational,concise writing style.

Due to the great detail (e.g., comprehensive index, and over 300 expert references) in 440 pages and 22 chapters, it serves as an excellent reference book on running. However, half the chapters are applicable to athletes in general: e.g., large chapters on nutrition, mental training, injury prevention, weight training, stretching, inspiration etc. Hence it is a book on body, mind and spirit training.

The detailed material would be useful for coaches and trainers, and a range of runners from beginner to elite, and for young and old competitors.

It covers all important aspects of running training including detailed schedules for sprinters to marathoners,i.e., the five energy systems, the five training systems, recovery, etc.

After reading and understanding this book you become your own running coach and an athlete capable of excellence in performance.

This book is very easy to follow and I have used it for about 14 weeks now and have seen incredible gains. However, the only drawback to this book is the amount of time it takes to complete every thing on a day to day basis. I have unfortunatly not had time in my personal life to do all the book reccomends, yet I try. This book is great if your serious however it will take up much of your time. 2-4hr workouts consistantly.

Zupancic presents the optimal football conditioning program for enhancing strength, endurance, agility and speed. As a football player and coach I have tried a number of programs. The Zupancic program is the program I selected for my own two sons who play at the High School level. My son's coaches have commented on the vast improvement in the play of both my sons.

Zupancic breaks workouts into Chest and Arms; and Shoulders and Legs. Workout intensity also varies. Monday is a heavy Chest and Arm day. Tuesday is heavy Shoulder and Leg Day. Wednesday is an off day. Thursday is a light Arm and Chest day. Friday is a light Shoulder and Leg day. Workouts change from week to week in 16 week cycles. Each workout consists of stretching, weights, running, agility and speed drills.

What is different about the Zupancic workouts is the number of different types of exercises recommended. The only drawback is the amount of time each day one must dedicate to the program. This program is designed for the serious football player. However, both my sons gained more strength, speed and agility than their team mates who followed a less intense program recommended by the school trainer.

The strength portion of the workout is the same for all postions. However, the agility and speed portion of the program is position specific.

If you are looking for an edge on the playing field, I recommend Zupancic's program. However, you best want to work hard. This is not a program for the faint hearted.

This book is a must read. "Cougars of Any Color" documents how the University of Houston broke down the racial sports barriers prevalent throughout the South. Reading this book made me proud to be not only a supporter of The University of Houston, but of the accomplishment of three brave athletes, their teammates, and their coaches. A great book.

The University of Houston should be proud of it's contribution to collegiate sports. "Cougars of Any Color" tells a story of courage and determination by UH to dismantle segregated athletics. This book has very thorough documentation and first person accounts and is a quick read.

Cross-Training For Dummies is like having your own personal trainer! You pick a cross-training plan to follow (I picked the Weight Loss plan, but you can also choose from a "Base Fitness" plan, Athletic plan, or "Mix-n-Match" plan). Each plan tells you how much time you should spend on cardio and strength training, which exercises (cardio and strength training) you should try, and how much time you should spend on flexibility and power. Then, you just turn to the chapters they note to get a description of the exercise you should do! If you are already involved in a sport, you can also find exercises that will help you with that sport. Plus, there are a bunch of charts you can use to track your progress in your general health, body measurements, or weight training.

This book would be good for someone who is new to fitness and can be used as a reference to someone that already has a fitness lifestyle. It will answer alot of questions you may have but don't want to ask. I highly recommend this one!

I guess I'm kind of qualified to write this review because Herb's a friend of mine. He's a professor of African Studies now at Georgetown's School of Foreign Service, and a world-renowed expert on mercenaries. Most of his students don't know he ever went through what he went through, but even without it, he's still one of the most popular, most beloved professors at Georgetown. This book just proves what a good man he really is. Highly recommended.

I read this in 1981 and return for few line review, 16 years later. Why? Because I still strongly recall the great encouragement it provided to me during that time. Afflicted with cancer, Mr. Howe, a man in his 20's, fights back w/the 90's moniker of a in-your-face tenacity. From his title, very heavy excercise, and a killer positive attitude to get IT before it gets him carries this work that would inspire many, if not all, present day motivational speakers. More than a biography, its strength is in the achieving what one once thought of as impossible.

I found this book provided innovative and real solutions to the various problems I've faced at my children's baseball and hockey games over the past several years.

I am very fortunate that I have two sons that are naturally talented
athletes and are always selected to be on travel and all-star teams. When I
read Fair Play I was surprised to find that despite the success my sons have
had I learned that they could be excelling and learning more if they were
invovled in programs such as the book suggests and illustrates. This is
truly a book for every parent to read.

I played field hockey about 9 years ago and recently my arm has been slightly twisted to coach middle school hockey. I had forgotten all the basics of the game and this book is a quick to the point guide. I like the pictures it provides and the drills. My goalie coach who had never even seen a game before has been able to use the book and apply it to coaching my goalies. I definitly recommend this book whether you are a coach who is looking for a break down of skills or a player looking to improve your game.

it gave me the winning touch!!!!! I want to reccomend this book for every field hockey player in the world!

This is a wonderful book, about multicultural friendship, friendship between women, and also about the importance of loving what you do (and of course, it definitely puts being athletic and finding a sport you love in a positive light).

I really enjoyed this book when I read it -- and read it many times afterwards too. It's a pity it's out of print. I believe the author is R. Rozanne Knudson ???

Look for it at your library if you can't find it here. It's a very strong, validating book for young women.

This is a wonderful story of a young American Indian girl who is recruited to run for the Utah Utes. It soon becomes clear that she is extraordinaryly gifted. Through her coming to terms with competitive running, those around are healed and she herself is healed. It is charming and funny.

This is must reading for parents and athletes. As a former high school coach I've seen many kids that struggled with not only the attention they receive as a top athlete, but with decisions they must make regarding their future education and/or career. This book will give the athlete and his/her family a step by step approach to the future. I really think that this book should serve as required reading in college. I don't believe that the NCAA or the professional leagues do enough to help prepare athletes for the future. Many of these athletes will make more money coming out of school than any CEO. Why don't we consider this education? Another thing this book does is teach that not everyone is going to make it to the big time, and all athletes need to prepare for the day the cheering stops. My hope is that every potential college or pro athlete takes the time to understand the lessons that Mr. Smith teaches.

This is must reading for parents and athletes. As a former high school coach I've seen many kids that struggled with not only the attention they receive as a top athlete, but with decisions they must make regarding their future education and/or career. This book will give the athlete and his/her family a step by step approach to the future. I really think that this book should serve as required reading in college. I don't believe that the NCAA or the professional leagues do enough to help prepare athletes for the future. Many of these athletes will make more money coming out of school than any CEO. Why don't we consider this education? Another thing this book does is teach that not everyone is going to make it to the big time, and all athletes need to prepare for the day the cheering stops. My hope is that every potential college or pro athlete takes the time to understand the lessons that Mr. Smith teaches.

Tom Waddell always planned on writing a book on his life. He thought he had more time, in life, to write about his life. However, his life was abruptly ended at the age of 49, before he could complete his journal about his life. ABC Sportscaster Dick Schapp completes Tom's dream of writing a book. Schapp first became interested in Waddell's life at the 1968 Mexico City Olympics. Waddell competed against U.S. Decathalon Champion Bill Toomey. While Waddell didn't win a medal, his time at the Mexico City Olympics was somewhat controversial. Waddell campaigned against the opression of African-Americans, in the Southern United States, and drew fire from the U.S. Olympic Committee. In his personal life, Waddell was also making news. After coming out of the closet, Waddell organized what was to have become the "Gay Olympics". However, the U.S. Olympic Comittee would not allow Waddell to use the word Olympic in the title of the games. That litigation began an ongoing legal battle that would not be solved until Waddell's death. In his personal life, Waddell was also controversial. He wanted a child so much, that he and a lesbian conceived what would become his daughter Jessica. He and Sara, another Olympic Athlete, later married. Waddell's dream of seeing his daughter grow up never materialized. He was one of the first to become infected with the HIV virus, and died in 1987. "Gay Olympian" is a moving account of Waddell's life. his love of life, sports, medicine and his daughter. Dick Schapp combines Waddell's Journal to his daughter with the story of Waddell's life. It also paints a disturbing picture of the vindictiveness of the U.S. Olympic Committee, and the pain the organization caused in his life. I highly recommend this book

Tom Waddell is more than just the creator of the Gay Games, he is someone who has dedicated his life to making people feel welcome, making them feel accepted, no matter what is different about them.
This is the heartwarming story of a young man who knew the feeling of being "different" and decided to dedicate to fight intolerance and AIDS until the very end, his death.
After hearing about the Gay Games, I decided to write a paper for one of my classes about this. I interviewed people who had worked with Tom Waddell, and people who still worked for the Gay Games, that were held that year in my home country, the Netherlands.

The story of the 60 year old woman who had never participated in a sports contect before, who wasn't particularly athletic, who didn't win an official prize but who won the prize of being part of something fantastic. The story of the swimmers not getting out of the water to collect their medals, but to cheer for those still in the water.
These stories truly touched my heart, and I can't do anything but recommend this story to everyone. Gay or straight, "normal" or "different", Tom Waddell's will teach all of something about the true spirit of sports and games, love and acceptance.