Coaching Books

This book is not for the feint of heart or mind. Reading this book is like taking a Masters Course of study in the sport of gymnastics. It reads like a text book, so get out your highlighters and pencils because you will take notes. On top of it sometimes you have to translate British to American. The book is most definately a masterpiece of knowledge. Anyone that takes thier gymnastics coaching seriously needs to read this book. It's a true testament that quality coaching of gymnastics is both an art and a science.

Sam of Noblesville, IN

This book by Eddie Powell is more practical and helpful than any other I've found. I am a professional life coach who often works with folks in career transition, and this is the book I recommend. It helps orient the reader toward gaining strength of their abilities, finding words that work in both written form and for interviews, and how to finally understand the process of job search is not just mailing the resume.

Readers enjoy a quick resourceful read, while also being able to refer back to this book time and time again. It is also excellent for all ages from high school to retired folks. Thanks Eddie for your good work.

Paul "Bear" Bryant was a football coach rightly beloved by fans of the Alabama Crimson Tide, for his team won six national championships, thirteen Southeastern Conference titles, and twenty-four consecutive appearances in bowl games from 1959 through 1982. Those who knew him best continue to love him, and Al Browning's I Remember Paul "Bear" Bryant is heartfelt testimony to that love. Dozens of his friends and acquaintances, from former football players to childhood friends to family to opponents on the field reminisce in their own words the man they knew. I Remember Paul "Bear" Bryant tells of a master of reverse psychology; a steely disciplinarian; and a truly kind human being beneath the tough-as-nails exterior. Paul Bryant has moved on from this life, but he will not be forgotten. Recommended for anyone who would wish a glimpse into the life of one of the greatest football coaches who ever lived.

This is a solid basic handbook on how to develop your staff through training, coaching, and mentoring. Patrick Forsyth rightly keeps things focused on results and presents his material clearly and concisely. You get eight chapters of ten to twenty pages on each topic. They are:
1) Why development is your road to success
2) Why development is a management responsibility
3) What development requires you to do
4) On-the-job coaching
5) Formal (think classroom) training - content and method
6) Formal training - how to run your class
7) Formal training - getting everyone to participate
8) How to assess your coaching, mentoring, and training efforts.

A pretty good basic guide that provides more content than many longer and more fluffy books.

Reviewed by Craig Matteson, Ann Arbor, MI

In Life, First You Kick Ass: Reflections On The 1985 Bears And Wisdom From Da Coach is classic Mike Ditka sharing his memories of the 1985 Chicago Bears and Super Bowl XX. With the assistance of sports columnist Rick Telander, Ditka is able to bring the reader into the locker room and out onto the field for one of the most memorable seasons the Bears ever had -- with one of the most memorable coaches the game has ever seen. A very highly recommended addition to any personal or community library American football history collection, no true Bears fan can miss out on reading what Mike Ditka has to say In Life, First You Kick Ass: Reflections On The 1985 Bears And Wisdom From Da Coach

Good resource for indoor soccer players and coaches. Covers lots of drills, usefull for teams that have access to an indoor arena for soccer practices.

I'm glad I found this book when I did and I'm even more glad I read it!
I'm not the kind of person reading a lot of books but when I read about the authors life I knew this book was for me. In the book the author describes our lives five levels and when I understood what this really mean my life changed.
My life has turned into something positive today, I'm more balanced and without this book I don't know where I might be today. It seems to me that whatever you want to achieve in life with your health, success in your work or relations you find the key in this book. For me this book is not just a book I read but I use it like a tool, a tool very necessary for my future.

Over three hundred pages of USA coaches clinics transcripts with plenty of diagrams. 39 USA coaches give insights on various topics. Concludes with Legends interviews which include discussions with Bill Walton, Ray Meyer, Guy Lewis, Ed MacCauley, George Ireland, Pete Newell and Jack Hartman.

You can tell that these clinic sessions cover a considerable period of time, from recently to several years ago. References to or discussions of teams and players indicate some of the sessions were fairly recent and some go back several years. There is still a lot of value in the older stuff, though.

Over 30 pages by John Wooden include his pyramid of success, quite a bit of theory, philosophy, and instruction, and 2 detailed (minute by minute) practice schedules including one from January 14, 1975.

Plenty of information by various coaches on

A) various offenses (including Ron Felling on Indiana motion offense, Roy Williams on Kansas offense, Pete Gillen of Zavier on attacking the match up zone, Coach K on the Duke Offense & others on zone attack and man attack, etc.),

B) defenses (including Matchup Zone, and zone, man, pressure, zone press, are among the defensive schemes discussed by various coaches),

C) and transition (plenty on pressure, pressing, fast break and transition),

D) and special situations (such as out of bounds plays) are covered.

There are also articles (clinics) on such topics as sports psychology (& bench coaching), motivating, organizing practices, shooting techniques and drills, rebounding, developing post players (including one on this topic by Rick Majerus).

There is enough material here for a coach's manual (lots of play and drill diagrams) and also plenty to help the individual player. However, the book is primarily organized according to Coaches and then topics. Some coaches cover 3 or 4 topics (Wooden more than that).

The schemes and philosophies are not always compatible with each other. You'll find different ideas about when to shoot the 3, try to penetrate, double team, pull a player out of the game, etc.

Yes, there are a few womens' teams coaches, including Muffet McGraw on Fast Break.

I expect this won't be the last book in this series that I will purchase.

If you are looking for a way to become fit but have little time to devote to it, this is your book. I began running for the first time in my life using this book to train for a 10K race and now, at 48 years old, I am in the best shape of my life. It allows for diversity in activities such as walking, running, swimming, and biking, and encourages you to use your environment to achieve you goals. Great book!

Now in a fully revised, updated and expanded second edition, Introduction To Athletic Training by Susan Kay Hillman is accompanied by a CD-Rom that will operate on either a Windows or a Macintosh platform. Introduction To Athletic Training presents both theoretical and practical information on the duties of an athletic trainer, including caring for injured and ill athletes. The chapter on pharmacology will deepen the reader's understanding of the effects on common drugs used in athletics. The chapter on epidemiology will prove invaluable in evaluating injury trends and reducing the risk of future injuries. Each individual chapter includes critical thinking questions, helpful scenarios, internet resources, chapter summaries, and more. Introduction To Athletic Training should be required reading for anyone who aspires to a career as an athletic trainer, or who is currently engaged in the training of athletes either as a profession or as a volunteer in amateur sports programs and events.