Coaching Books

I was interested in a book to learn tennis basics to help my daughter the love of the game that my wife and I both have. This is the one! Not only were the tips helpful to my daughter but we also learned a few things as well. This book should be in any tennis parents library.

I'm a varsity coach, so stepping back and teaching youth wanted to get a refresher course as we set up our youth program. This book is a big help, though for the experienced coach I would assume they know most of it but could use it as a refresher as well. Beginner coaches it would be great, especially for middle school level and below levels.

This is for me, the definitive resource for anyone looking for clear and concise explanations on the new role for management.

Lucy River's has written a very open, honest, and engaging spiritual book. Her story will be very inspirational to all the first time writer's out there waiting to speak up and tell their story. Way to go Lucy!

This past semester I had the oppportunity to take a PE methods course from Dan Midura. Not only is he an amazing teacher, but he has compiled some of the best PE activities I have ever experienced. I have traditionally been the kid that was always the least athlethic, but in Dan's class using the ideas from his book, I felt successful and actually wanted to come to class even though it was at 7:30 in the morning!
I highly recommend his emphasis on working together instead of "cut-throat competition". If you are a Physical Education teacher or even an elementary teacher who wants some new ideas for fun, encouraging physical activities, this is the book to get.

An excellent book for the intensely commited young (college through mid-30's) runner. Anyone else would need to reduce both the number and possibly the intensity of the workouts. If you're a mid-pack runner or wish to complete marathons, this book would be of little value to you. If on the other hand you think of 20 x 400 as a normal workout during the track phase of the season, consider adding it to your library.

I discovered this book while in college. I was a non-dairy vegetarian stuck in the mid west in a time when being concerned with ones health seemed kooky! To make matters worse I was a walk on the track and field team and an 800m runner. When I got the book I had hit a wall in my performance. The book was comprehensive, easy to read (I read it front to back) and everything seemed to make good sense. I tried the suggestions and found an almost immediate improvement in my energy levels mood and performance. My last 2 years of collage post reading this book I was placed on athletic scholarship and doing very well. The recipes in the book aside from juicing and protein shakes are very bland and I would suggest getting a cookbook or checking the web. Especially useful is the section on vitamins and minerals their uses and suggested amounts and forms for athletes. Workout planning is also quite compressive. The book is also good for those not involved in any sports.

I first saw this book while looking for another book on sports drills in a bookstore.

I loved what I saw because the drills are simple and realistic and the book is laid-out nicely.

Each drill is outlined like this:
- Primary Skill (throwing, footwork, communication, catching grounders, etc)
- Objective
- Equipment needed
- Simple graphic of drill set-up
- Coaching points (why do the drill and what the coach should be doing to make the drill effective)
- Player points (what players need to do to be effective)
- Notes (adapting the drill to other situations, warming up for the drill, etc)

Pros:
- well laid out
- drills for all positions as well as batting and base running
- easy to read
- concise and straight forward coaching points
- * the thing that I like the most is that it is spiral as opposed to book) bound, so I can take individual drills and include them in parent/coach/player packets.

Cons:
- Price (usually when this is my biggest complaint, it means I couldn't really think of a con worth mentioning)

There is no preview here on Amazon, so here is an example of a randomly selected drill from the book (I have paraphrased some parts):

9. Back Hand
Primary Skill: Backhanding a short hop
Objective: To develop / practice backhanding a ball
Equipment: 1 Ball per pair and gloves

Coaching points:
- Demonstrate the proper technique before beginning the drill
- Circulate to each pair: emphasize quality not quantity

Player points:
- Pair up, approximately 15 feet apart
- Kneel on the knee to the side of your throwing arm with the front side closed to your partner
- Take turns short-hopping the ball to your partner
- Start with glove on the ground; keep wrist and elbow loose and ready tor eact

This is a great reference book for any soccer coach. This "go-to" wealth of information will be something you refer to even if just for new ideas.

The Complete Book of Man to Man Offense is exactly what it promises to be...complete!

The first three chapters of the book take the reader through a series of steps which help to identify the factors that determine what kind of offense will make a team successful. These are perhaps the three most important chapters of the book as they help the reader understand the basic principles of team offense where other books simply swamp the reader with a series of x's and o's.

The chapters that follow delve into the famous UCLA offense (with some of coach Kresse's own adaptations) the flex plus, and motion offenses. A variety of set plays and options are also discussed with an emphasis on the teaching points to consider.

Special situations are also covered, proposing several options for creating three-point shots as well as inbounding the ball. In each case the explanations are written with a clarity that allows the reader to gain a greater understanding of offensive basketball.

Having read the book it becomes obvious why coach Kresse has lead the programme at the College of Charleston to success. He is a great teacher of the game! If you are a coach this book deserves a place in your library.