Athletics Books

Great book, for coaches who are training young distance runners. Lots of ideas for the coach to build on as he navigates the pubescence years of both male and female athletes.

I liked how this booked emphasized how important mental training should be integrated into a good, solid training prog. The scientific aspect is easy to understand though not nearly as thorough or complex as Martin and Coe's book. The training is very conservative, but the strength training advice was very helpful.

I am a Cross Country Coach for Lakeshore Middle School in Stevensville, MI and am building a program. I found the "Training for Young Distance Runners" book to be very helpful. I have found the section on Psychology right on target. I have a son that runs High School Cross Country who runs year around and after a successful summer road racing season started the Cross Country Season doing very poorly. Using the Psychology section helped me get him back on track. The Nutrition section has also been helpful for some of my runners. I give the book a two thumbs up.

kandssteve@qtm.net Steve Nielsen

I've been running for 35 years and coaching for many so I expected to pick up a book that would give some insight into a young runner's mind or some biomechanical needs of a young runner. The book is a cursory view of coaching and training. It's fine if you are just starting out with no background. But where's the meat and potatoes?

This diary is perfect for the beginning triathlete. This diary will help you prepare for a triathlon with a 12-week training plan.

This was very informative--especially for someone just starting out. I would recommend it to anyone interested in getting started with Triathloning.

The Triathlete's Training Diary for Dummies is a good book for getting someone in shape for a triathlon, but not necessarily completely prepared for one. The book does give a 12-week training plan that splits the workouts between distance, sprints, and weight training but does not specify how much time should be spent on each of the three sports. For instance, I could follow the entire training plan without setting foot in a pool or on a bike. The training plan also does not specify practicing more than one sport during a workout, so you may not be prepared for the difficult bike to run transition.

Also- be prepared that well over 50% of the book is blank training diary pages. Although the book has good information it does not answer many of a first-timers questions that could be covered with more text and less blank pages.

Overall I would say the book is worth the money if you would like a training diary with a few pages of helpful hints on triathlons. It's a great way to log your workouts in an organized format that lets you see your progress over time.

If watching the Ironman inspires you to get off of the couch and enter a local triathlon, make your first purchase The Triathlete's Training Diary for Dummies. The Diary is more than a training logbook - it also contains a simple, soup-to-nuts guide that will show you how to train for, and successfully complete, that first race. As someone who has moved just beyond the novice level in the sport of triathlon, I can attest to the folly of trying to gleen information about triathlons from various articles and books that are all too often geared for the mature racer. The Diary would have made that first race sooooo much easier!

Experienced triathletes will likely be familiar with all of the training and racing information in the Diary. As for the logbook portion of the Diary, my only compliant is that it does not contain a section for weekly/year-to-date totals - which are very helpful in determining training progress as well as giving one a sense of satisfaction as to what has been accomplished during the course of a year.

actually i'm expecting catalogue for All Star product ,
can't find too many items here

Converse made and continues to make the best and coolest sneakers ever. This book tells the story of Chucks in words and lots of color pictures. A must have for every Converse fan.

Chucks are an American staple, and Chucks is a great guide to the world of Chucks. Why are people so loyal to their Chucks? What are some special Chuck designs? This is a book for anyone who has every owned a pair.

This book provides an excellent perspective from the President of a major academic and sports university of the challenges of intercollegiate sports. Athletics don't make money at any collegiate level (if costs included fixed plant expenses). They can cause serious scandal for Universities. But still the public demands winning programs. Dr. Duderstadt was perfectly experienced to speak on this issue coming from a great school but also a former athlete. He also brings an interesting perspective of the role of the Provost, which he held prior to being President.

But even after listing all of the woes of how athletics affect colleges, he cops out and says they still have a place. I think this shows just how tough the problem is. It was interesting that quite a bit of his reading overlapped mine, and in fact, he agreed with me that Rick Telander, Sports Illustrated writer and former college football player, had a worthwhile solution of making college "pro" sports optional for colleges.

He also had great discussions of the personalities of coaches and athletic directors and how that affects the programs, as well as discussions on how the media can harm college athletics. Sports journalists don't score high on his list.

This book doesn't solve any problems but does give a different and insightful analysis of the challenge. I recommend this book to those trying to understand the finances of college athletics and how an athletic department exists inside a major university.

Jim Duderstadt, former President of University of Michigan, an intercollegiate athlete himself and a full-time Big 10 fan, has finally decided the shred the public relations shroud around the reality of Division I athletic teams. He demonstrates the wanton excess associated with college basketbal programs, as well as most football programs. At the same time, he reaffirms the value of most other sports programs at the college level. His voice is a rational warning, unfortunately heard by few university presidents where accountability for this issue really sits. Too many of them, according to Duderstadt, pass the buck for the appalling professionalization of major college sports, placing blame on alumni, the public, state legislatures, faculty or others. Fortunately, he nails down the responsibilities of each group with incriminating detail, and urges massive reform. The cost of the current game plan in Division I schools is rising, he demonstrates, and may end up in defeat for the institutions we consider essential to educating future generations. Read it now -- before March Madness sucks you into the p.r. spin!

During a season when there are some excellent books on college sports (Shulman and Bowen's Game of Life, and Murray Sperber's Beer & Circus), Duderstadt comes up with something of a dud (sorry for the pun). He calls for the reform of college sports but this is the guy who, as president of the University of Michigan, tolerated a special academic program, Sports Management, in which his jocks with academic problems were sheltered. It is really hard to take him seriously with a background like that. It's as if he has found religion--reform college sports.

Good luck to him, and I suppose that any critic of big-time college sports should be congratulated for taking an unpopular stand but this book is too little and far too late.

I found this book at a library years ago and studied it. When my son took interest in his own exercise program, I recommended it and bought it for him. He likes it too. It's a great book.

I was looking for some fitness instruction when going out for an ROTC scholarship in high school and found this book at my local library. I had no real exercise background but wanted something that I could do at home, without much equipment, that would get me in some kind of basic shape for a potential future with the military. I am happy to say that using this book prepared me sufficiently to win the ROTC scholarship (though I ended up accepting a different funding package to get to college) and I've kept up my fitness to this day. It may not work for everyone, but it's a good basic workout that hits most essential areas, and takes body fat percentage into the fitness equation which is so often overlooked.

Cohen assumes nothing about the level of fitness of those using his program. All exercises have multiple levels of challenge (usually six). Starting with levels for those with no ability to do the excercise and progressing to a level which can best be described as advanced intermediate, Cohen provides a workout program to progess to the level of many of military fitness programs. Requiring little equipment, except for the most rudimentary of items, often providing alternatives available arond the home.

i think these was the best in mma conditioning exercises not only functional but also effective. mark hatmaker books are always the best. im looking forward for a 1 complete NHB manual. all books must be completed and must be complied as one inexpensive manual

"No Holds Barred Fighting: The Ultimate Guide to Conditioning" is one of the best combat-sports primers I've seen. The author presents a variety of excercises, including bodyweight, barbell, dumbell, plyo/agility, and stretching. Hatmaker gives the reader suggestions for sample workouts which vary from begginer, intermediate, advanced, and pro. He covers sports-specific conditioning for grip and neck training, and for sprawling and standing up. Also included is a bodyweight cardio workout, great for those of us who find running tedious. Other topics covered include breath control, when to stretch, and the type of cardio specific to the MMA fight game. As another reviewer stated, the weak points of the text include periodization, which isn't even addressed; nutrition, for which Hatmaker hedges his bets by stating that past champs have eaten a variety of foods and that there's no "magic diet"; and weight cutting, for which he suggests simply fighting close to one's own natural weight. For pure conditioning though, the information contained in this book is worth all my other conditioning books put together. With a straight-forward, easy-to-read style and a variety of useful conditioning information, this book is a plus in any martial artist or fighters library.

I have several of Hatmaker's books. I like the reasonable prices, and no nonsense, conversational style and this one is no exception. If you already have significant knowledge of conditioning, I don't think you are going to learn a lot from this book. Some discussion of periodization would be useful. There is virtually nothing on nutrition. (The author points out that many great athletes have had bizarre nutrition plans and suggest you should do what works for you.)

If you want a clear, inexpensive, easy to ready intro that will give you explanations of a number of exercises and specific suggestions for how to assemble them into a program, you will be very pleased with this book. The book has application beyond NHB and MMA, but if you are looking for something for a particular sport that is not one of those or similar (wrestling, bjj, etc.) then you can probably get a resource that is more specific to your needs.

But the Hawaii Kai loops are all ONE MILE OFF! While training for a long distance race, I thought I should confirm milage and to my surprise they were all off this was also doubled checked by Google Maps. The book is a good source for parking, restrooms, and water fountains. But that is a HUGE MISTAKE!

Rick Varley knows O'ahu. He has been running and coaching runners on the island for over twenty years. The book also contains excellent, easy-to-read maps by Shingo Matushima, one of Hawaii's top graphic designers. If you are planning any runs on O'ahu, this book is a must.

I just got my copy of this book last week, and I definitely like it. There are running options all over the Island, and good directions for how to get there. The book also makes sure to include things like water fountain and restroom access for each run. If you are new to the Island and not sure where to go, this would be a great resource. My complaints are that the maps for each run are a little difficult to follow, and that there aren't more trail runs mentioned (although the author DOES go over the Tantalus trail system). Thanks!

Compared to other triathlon primers, Tinley's is far less technical. He explains right up front that the reader will need to seek other sources for detailed information on many subjects that he raises only briefly. In a way, it almost seems he is seeking his own ground in light of Dave Scott's earlier, much more comprehensive book on the sport. Best about Tinley, however, is his constant reminder to keep things in perspective and balanced. Remember that this sport is supposed to be fun.

I FOUND THE BOOK VERY ENTERTAINING AS A FIRST YEAR TRIATHLETE. BUT ONE MUST REALIZE THAT A LOT OF THE TECHNICAL INFORMATION INCLUDED IS OBSOLETE AS THE BOOK IS 11 YEARS OLD. IF YOU ARE A FAN OF TRIATHLON THEN YOU SHOULD READ JUST FOR A GLIMPSE INSIDE ONE OF THE SPORTS PIONEERS SLIGHTLY TWISTED PSYCHE. BUTCH FORSYTH (GARLICDUDE@aol.com) SALINAS, CALIFORNIA

Besides Dave Scott's book, this book was one of my primary sources for training and motivation for the triathlon. Tinley's writing style is easy and informative with delightful insights to some of his past experiences and what worked and did not in his triathlon training.

Beyond the brink, a book about a Championship team who came to victory with four seconds to go in the Championship game. Indiana was the team who shocked the people around the world by winning the championship in 1987. Indiana is a team that can't be predictable, especially coach Bobby Knight. The coach that will live infamy; his coaching and his actions were unforgettable.
The book review the 1986-87 season, where Bobby Knight banged his fist on the officials table and broke a phone and was fined $10,000 and when the Hoosiers won the NCAA title. When Bobby Knight didn't think he had the team that could go all the way. It was also the season that the championship game will not be forgotten either. It was the shot the Keith Smart took with four seconds to go. Beyond the Brink, is an awesome book for Indiana basketball fans. I liked how the book broke every game down into pieces and it showed how the team progressed through the season. I was only three years old and I hear about this year and the last game and that's when I wanted to read about it. I was born an Indiana fan and to like and understand why the book is called beyond the brink is why you should read it.
I wish that the book would have started from the very first game of the season instead of starting it from the summer before. I do not think the summer where two players played in the Olympics had nothing to do with the season because it does not include the whole team. The book was really specific and detail to a point. I think that some of it could have been left out because some information might not seem in the right place. Altogether, this book is made for only real Hoosier fans that enjoyed everything about Indiana basketball.

This game-by-game account of Indiana's 1987 NCAA championsip season recaps the ups and down of an exciting year. The author is a (now retired) writer from the Bloomington Herald-Times - and one of Bob Knight's closest friends. Interesting tidbits, stats, and stories. If you're an IU fan - buy this book.

Great for young coaches and high school coaches. It will provide the coach with a framework of the importance of athletics and the role they play in later life development. It is not about "winning" alone ... but about the intangibles that accompany the process of winning. Great historical coaches are examined and insight is given into what they truly believed was important. A must for young coaches ... many life lessons are provided.

This book examines the coaching approaches of six "philosopher coaches": Vince Lombardi, Woody Hayes, John Wooden, James "Doc" Counsilman, Brutus Hamilton, and Percy Cerutty. Each is afforded a chapter in the book, and the final chapter gives a summary of the "essence of philosopher coaching." The book's premise is that the men presented believed that coaching was more than wins and losses, that it is inextricably intertwined with the development of the whole person. Each coach presented took a different approach to his methods, but all of them had this philosophical element in common. One of the pleasures of this book is that it has chosen coaches from a cross-section of sports: Lombardi and Hayes from football, Wooden from basketball, Counsilman from swimming, and Hamilton and Cerutty from track and field. Also interesting is that the summary chapter discusses, in part, the flawed elements of each coach's character, implying that they shared the journey toward self-discovery and personal development with the players they coached. An informative book that will certainly help shape (or re-shape) the coaching philosophies of those who read it.