Product Description

Successful sports coaching is as dependent on utilising good teaching and social practices as it is about expertise in sport skills and tactics. Understanding Sports Coaching offers an innovative introduction to the theory and practice of sports coaching, highlighting the social, cultural and pedagogical concepts underpinning good coaching practice. Now in a fully revised and updated second edition, the book explores the complex interplay between coach, athlete, coaching programme and social context, and encourages coaches to develop an open and reflective approach to their own coaching practice. It addresses key issues such as:

• power and the coach-athlete relationship
• viewing the athlete as a learner
• instructional methods and reflection
• how our view of ability informs assessment
• coaching philosophy and ethics.

Understanding Sports Coaching also includes a full range of practical exercises and case studies designed to encourage coaches to reflect critically upon their own coaching strategies, their interpersonal skills and upon important issues in contemporary sports coaching. This book is essential reading for all students of sports coaching and for any professional coach looking to develop their coaching expertise.

Product Description
Finally, a book to help all aspiring archery coaches. Full of advice on not what to teach but how to teach it. A must for beginning to intermediate archery coaches. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Top notch aid for archery instructors and coaches!
When I heard that this book would soon be on the market, I could hardly wait.I'm a big fan of Steve's work in Archery Focus, Precision Archery and Discover Archery publications.I read this book, cover to cover, twice in 2 days...in order to soak in all its contents. It is now part of my library of books to take and use at my classes, and refer to it often. I had lots of "wows", "great idea", and had "lights turning on" often!I, then, made some modifications to my teaching cirriculum and power point presentation for training students and new instructors in archery...based on my "Ah-Ha's" found in the book.At my most recent class for Intermediate level archery instructors I showed the book off to my students and recommended that they purchase it...as an adjunct to their NADA course manuals...maybe this book should be part of the course's texts.

A Great Place to Start
In Coaching Archery, Steve Ruis, takes on preparing new archery instructors for the task of teaching beginning and intermediate archers in a group setting. Just because you are an experienced archer and can shoot a fine Field or FITA round doesn't mean you have the knowledge or experience necessary to teach the sport to a group. Many practical considerations must be taken into account or you could end up with dissatisfied students or, worse yet, dangerous situations. In this book Ruis explains the components of a good program from the ground up. He knows what he is taking about because he and his partner Claudia Stevenson have setup multiple programs throughout out the country. Ruis is also certified at a high level by the USA Archery and the National Field Archery Association, national governing bodies for archery in the U.S.

In Coaching Archery, Ruis covers equipment, practice, and mental aspects that come into play when instructing or coaching. Personally, I differentiate between instructing and coaching and in my mind this book has its focus on squarely on instructing.
The only thing that isn't covered is actual instruction materials (curriculum) but Ruis gives lots of tips on where to find these. I believe he didn't include these because the choice of appropriate curriculum depends upon many factors (students ages, goals and the style of archery to name a few).

Coaching Archery is a great book to get to get a handle on what setting up and running a program will look like. Many instructors (myself included) have learned the hard way, by making lots of mistakes and hoping our students will smile and understand. I think Ruis would agree with me on this as we worked together setting up our first program. Fortunately, Ruis has remembered what worked and presented it in an easy to follow guide that belongs on the bookshelf of every archery instructor.

Table of Contents
Chapter 1 Getting Certified/Staying Connected
Chapter 2 Safety Paranoia
Chapter 3 Running a Program
Chapter 4 Helping with Equipment
Chapter 5 Tuning Concepts
Chapter 6 The Mental Side of Archery
Chapter 7 Practice
Chapter 8 Coaching Style/Communication Style
Chapter 9 Coaching at Tournaments
Chapter 10 Hitting the Big Time--Championship Level Coaching
Chapter 11 The 13 Commandments of Coaching Archery
1. The Joys Of Coaching--Find Them or Go Play Golf!
2. Take It Seriously (You Gotta Wanna, Be Organized)
3. It's Okay to Just Have Fun
4. Style Doesn't Matter ("If you shoot a bow, you are my friend.")
5. Get Out of Your Own Way
6. Praise Effort, Not Outcome
7. All Archers Believe in Magic
8. Performance is Determined by Self Image (Lanny Bassham)
... Read more

Product Description

"Scott and David have done a fantastic job getting into the psyche of these very young players. What I really love is their emphasis on FUN, and that kids learn by DOING. This book will make a great extra assistant as you prepare for your season."—Bobby Clark, Head Soccer Coach, University of Notre Dame; author of the best-selling Coaching Youth Soccer: The Baffled Parent's Guide

Coach. You're the new coach of your child's soccer team, and you're not sure how to teach your players the fundamentals of soccer while also ensuring they have fun. Don't panic—Coaching 6-and-Under Soccer is here to help.

Coaching 6-and-Under Soccer offers straightforward advice, tips, and techniques, including reward-based games and drills; your first six practices in an easy-to-photocopy format; and how to teach soccer basics to 4-, 5-, and 6-year-olds in ways that are fun for you and your players. This complete tool kit for a new coach includes:

• The twelve easy-to-run drills that work best with young soccer players
• How to keep your young players happy and active while they learn
• How to make parents your best assistants and supporters
• How to keep the focus where it belongs—not on winning or losing, but on having fun
• How to have a terrific time coaching young players

"Coaching 6-and-Under Soccer shows you how to teach your young players the right way—through lively games that encourage kids to use their creativity and self-expression when playing."—Brandi Chastain, Olympic and World Cup Soccer Champion; author of It's Not About the Bra: Play Hard, Play Fair, and Put the Fun Back into Competitive Sports

"I have no doubt that young players will come to love the game of soccer if their coaches follow the simple, straightforward advice in this book."—Anson Dorrance, Head Women's Soccer Coach, University of North Carolina; author of The Vision of a Champion: Advice and Inspiration from the World's Most Successful Women's Soccer Coach

"I highly recommend this terrific book to coaches who want to instill good sportsmanship and the love of the game in their young players while building a solid foundation in basic soccer skills and teamwork."—Jeremy Gunn, Head Men's Soccer Coach, Fort Lewis College ... Read more

Customer Reviews (14)

Excellent purchase
This is an excellent purchase for anyone taking on the task of coaching U6 and under.I am a second year U5 coach and had no clue where to begin.The book addressed most of my concerns.If you are new at soccer or have been around for a while - coaching 3,4 and 5 year olds is a far different beast that your older kids.Great book - lots of personal stories that will make you laugh and most of all encouraging you as a coach to have fun with this age group.Because it is all about fun for U6 and under.

A lifesaver for new coaches!!
My husband and I decided to coach our 5 year old son's soccer team this fall, because he had a prettynegative experience with his last volunteer coach and we wanted to make sure this soccer season was more fun. Neither of us had ever coached before, but this book really saved our bacon. It helped confirm what we already believed, that soccer for this age group should be about having fun, learning skills and building friendships, not about competition. The drills in this book are all presented in the form of fun games, and the kids loved them! As a result, we had very few behavior problems with our kids, tons of enthusiasm, and almost 100% attendance at every practice and game. Coincidentally, we also won every game we played, even though we didn't focus on the competitive aspects of the sport. I think we won because our kids were so happy and excited about playing. Their parents all expressed appreciation and gratitude to us. In short, this book is golden... buy it!

Fantastic book
Fantastic book!!! If you're looking to coach a young team, then buy this book!

I'm a first time coach for 5 year old girls team. This helped me better understand how to teach them. Just in the second practice, the girls started to get a good handle on dribbling. Had our first game yesterday and they really did great handling the ball/scoring goals. The practice schedules in the back are very good and fast paced. I recommend even cutting them down to 8-minutes each, as there's always something that delays the breaks.

A helpful guide
Having played soccer for decades, this book helped me when it came time to coach my first very young team.There are some great ideas and the book is very good at preparing a coach for the mindset of coaching very young players.Pick it up - well worth having in your bag of tricks.

Great Start
Book helped me to be a successful coaches assistant for the ages six and under. ... Read more

Product Description
As a coach, your success depends on the success of your players. Now you can better ensure players’ development and team performance with Coaching Tennis Successfully.

The United States Tennis Association (USTA) presents this comprehensive manual with information on planning productive practices, conducting drills, developing physical and mental skills, and teaching match tactics. You’ll find ideas to prepare singles players and doubles teams for competitive matches. Plus, the book offers the best methods and helpful tips for teaching key skills:

· Footwork

· Serves

· Groundstrokes

· Overheads and volleys

With more than 670,000 members and programs that encompass all 50 states and beyond, the USTA is able to tap into the best minds and mentors in tennis coaching. Coaching Tennis Successfully synthesizes and shares that expertise to give you the winning edge! ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

Coaching Tennis
As a first year Coach I found this book Excellent. It taught me tennis from the Coach's perspective, rather then the players.

I had played both High School Tennis, as well as College Tennis for a Southeastern Conference school. This book helped me to understand the mental part of the game that had top be imparted to the players, as well as the refresher for the physical part. Passing on the mental toughness required for the players was critical for their future in Tennis.

coaching for dummies
As a beginning tennis coach, this book helped me immensely

Terrific stuff for the novice coach
Covers all the basics with a personal touch. Well done!

right to the point of coaching tennis
Iam a coach of a high school tennis team. I found your book right on the money. Thank you for writting it ... Read more

Product Description
The first reference to bring scientifically proven approaches to the practice of personal and executive coaching

The Evidence Based Coaching Handbook applies recent behavioral science research to executive and personal coaching, bringing multiple disciplines to bear on why and how coaching works. A groundbreaking resource for this burgeoning profession, this text presents several different coaching approaches along with the empirical and theoretical knowledge base supporting each.

Recognizing the special character of coaching-that the coaching process is non-medical, collaborative, and highly contextual-the authors lay out an evidence-based coaching model that allows practitioners to integrate their own expertise and the needs of their individual clients with the best current knowledge. This gives coaches the ability to better understand and optimize their own coaching interventions, while not having to conform to a single, rigidly defined practice standard.

The Evidence Based Coaching Handbook looks at various approaches and applies each to the same two case studies, demonstrating through this practical comparison the methods, assumptions, and concepts at work in the different approaches.

The coverage includes:

• An overview: a contextual model of coaching approaches
• Systems and complexity theory
• The behavioral perspective
• The humanistic perspective
• Cognitive coaching
• Adult development theory
• An integrative, goal-focused approach
• Psychoanalytically informed coaching
• Positive psychology
• An adult learning approach
• An adventure-based framework
• Culture and coaching

Customer Reviews (4)

A scientific approach that strengthens coaching practice
This is a reference book that presents several different coaching approaches along with knowledge base supporting evidence that would help executive coaches reinforce their practice. I have found particularly refreshing, the inclusive approach of its authors to the many different schools of coaching present today. This overview of different systems,methods,concepts and philosophical backgrounds have enriched my understanding of the many different approaches available to the coaching conversation and has helped me optimize my ability to improve the way I conduct conversation learning processes.

A Great Resource in the Field of Coaching
Dianne Stober has been an active player in improving the field of executive coaching so I was delighted to see this publication. The handbook is comprehensive in coverage and well-organized. I am glad to see a book that has a strong theoretical base that also offers some easy to understand models and frameworks of coaching. While I enjoyed the entire book, I particularly liked the authors' chapter on a contextual approach to coaching as well as the chapter on positive psychology.I would highly recommend this book.

Academic Review
Notwithstanding the marketeering/hype that the book presents "scientifically proven" information, this "evidence-based" approach is on-target.In one source text the academic community now has a clearly presented body of knowledge from which we can trace how theory and practice can be linked.We also have a first opportunity to offer graduate programs or other disciplines where coaching is taught a volume that will allow an appreciation the breadth of coaching approaches available and the opportunties for engaging in further study as students, teachers, researchers, practitioners or combinations thereof.Within a few hours of reading this book (from cover to cover) I ordered 6 additional copies for our coaching faculty in the Organizational Dynamics Masters Degree program at the University of Pennsylvania.

I can't wait for the book to come out!
Dianne and Anthony - As a coach and social worker, I look forward to your work because I know that it will further develop and refine my skills. It will also evolve the coaching field as a whole.Thank you for taking the lead in this important area! ... Read more

Product Description
From a 40-year veteran, the only book available devoted to coaching high school basketball

In Coaching High School Basketball, Hall of Famer Bill Kuchar presents an indispensable instruction manual for experienced and rookie coaches alike. A combination of classic tactics and new, cutting-edge strategies, this one-of-a-kind handbook provides easyto- read diagrams and instructions, plus dozens of practice drills to reinforce fundamentals and teach innovative moves. Readers will learn how to:

*Master Kuchar's "double motion offense"
*Locate, protect, and infiltrate zones
*Defend against the fast break
*Use last-second plays for when the game is on the line
*Make the most of out-of-bounds plays
*Scout and evaluate junior high school talent
*Get college coaches to scout their games ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Needs more careful editing.
This book has a lot that would be useful to a new HS coach, but unfortunately it seems that there was a lack of communication/checking between the author and the person who DTP'ed the diagrams. The diagrams contain many errors and inconsistencies which sometimes make it difficult to understand the plays and drills. Some arrows are missing or pointing in the opposite direction from what the descriptions indicate, offensive players are sometimes marked with an "X", diagrams occasionally show the ball going to one player while the description indicates a pass to a different player, etc.

Furthermore, the descriptions themselves could have been a little more detailed in places. It's clear that Coach Kuchar knows his basketball, but it's surprisingly difficult to explain basketball plays on paper, and I think this book would have benefited from a careful check by somebody who represents the target audience: a new coach with some understanding of the game but who doesn't already know what the author is trying to say.

My advice is to wait for the second edition.

Coaching High School Basketball : A Complete Guide to Building a Championship Team
This has everything a high school coach needs to run a sucessful program. It does not go into great depth as other books do, it is more concise and assumes you know the fundamentals. It has a great drill section and practice itinerary. You do not need your own practice plan-If you follow Bills plan your on the road to success.
... Read more

Product Description
With extraordinary candor, passion, and insight, basketball legend Larry Bird talks about the incomparable sport that made him an international superstar and one of the most respected figures in the game.Larry Bird captured the imagination and admiration of basketball fans throughout his 13-year career with the Boston Celtics with his trademark style of creative, intelligent, exciting, and hard-nosed play. And last year, in just his rookie season as head coach of the Indiana Pacers, he remarkably managed to turn around a slumping franchise, lead the team to the conference finals, and was subsequently named the NBA's Coach of the Year. Now, this beloved sports legend shares his thoughts on the game he loves: From dissecting offensive and defensive strategies to assessing the talent of NBA players and coaches to describing how he manages today's temperamental and overpriced players, it's all here, a must-read for every fan.Larry Bird's autobiography, Drive (Doubleday, 1989), sold more than 300,000 copies in hardcover and more than 350,000 copies in paperback. It spent over two months on the New York Times bestseller list, and foreign rights were sold in six countries.Before Michael Jordan, there was Larry Bird. Arguably the best player of his generation, Bird led the Boston Celtics to three NBA titles, was a 12-time NBA All-Star, and a 12-time member of the ALL-NBA First Team. He was also a member of the original Dream Team which won the Gold Medal at the 1992 Summer Olympics in Barcelona, Spain.Also available as a Time Warner AudioBook.Amazon.com Review
The first sentence of Larry Bird'scandid post-player memoir begins blandly enough: "On August 18, 1992,I announced my retirement from the Boston Celtics." It's the one thatfollows--"It was one of the happiest days of my life"--that sets thetone for the book. Most stars have to be pulled off center stage, butas Bird Watching makes clear, the former Celtic legend whoreturned home to eventually coach the Indiana Pacers is certainly arare bird. He's not afraid to ruffle feathers. And he's not afraid totell his truth.

Perhaps the most striking revelations concern hisheart. On top of the back pain that plagued him through much of hiscareer, from time to time Bird experienced the feeling--anddisorienting flush--of an irregular heartbeat, which he kept hiddenfrom the Celtics. Even now, in the stress-filled world of coaching,Bird has almost passed out on the bench a couple of times--but heremains a fierce competitor. "I'm not going to be stupid about thisheart condition, but I'm not going to live my whole life in fear ofthis thing either. If it goes, it goes."

Bird Watchingspendsvirtually no time with Bird the player; he's not one for lookingback. He's more interested in explaining his evolution and thinking asa coach, examining the current state of the NBA, and picking apart thePacer's disastrous 1999 playoff loss to the Knicks. He does, however,reminisce about his amazing connection to Magic Johnson, comparing itto the bond between Ali and Frazier. "I knew it was going to be likethat forever after I played him in college for the nationalchampionship," Bird writes. "I never came up against anyone, otherthan Magic, who could challenge me mentally. Magic always took me tothe limit." From Bird, it's hard to imagine a more heartfeltcompliment. --Jeff Silverman ... Read more

Customer Reviews (20)

Good book on life and times of Larry Bird
Good behind the scenes insights on Larry Bird. Easy read. Well worth your time and money. Lots of laughs, too.

Good read
This is a follow-up to Bird's book Drive.It takes up at the end of his playing career and focuses on his post-playing career.He goes into the Olympic experience and the back pain that ended his career long before his skills had eroded.

He goes into detail about his figurehead jobs with the Boston Celtics and what ultimately led him to leave and eventually take up the head coaching job with the Indiana Pacers.Most of the book revolves around his first year coaching: he dispels myths and propaganda about his coaching and his life and h explains how he selected his coaches and his coaching philosophy, and his team.

The book was just a very enjoyable read.

Bird Watching - Larry Bird
Bird Watching (by Larry Bird)
Reviewer: Known as one the of the best basketball players to have ever stepped foot onto a NBA court, Larry Bird's book will teach you many things about himself as well as the game. Larry brings the reader into some of his most personal things that he has never shared with anyone. He gives you a first class view on all of his experiences of playing professional basketball in the NBA. He shows you the downsides, positives, but most of all the victories. You'll find out first hand all of the injuries Larry has encountered that until now he has kept as a secret.

Through this book Larry will share with you information of his hometown, French Lick, Indiana. You'll learn about his family, about his fathers' death and the way up to his mothers' death. Larry talks about more than just his parents he introduces you to his wife, Dinah and his two children, Conner and Mariah.

Larry will walk you through his entire career. All the way from his high school career, where one of his favorite coaches, Jim Jones coached him. Jim Jones was the coach who really taught Larry all of the fundamentals of the game. Larry didn't seem to have that many coaches that he didn't care for. Larry is also a very hard worker, he really appreciated it when coaches made him run hard. He believed that every basketball player should be conditioned to play the game. Then later on in his career when he ends up becoming a coach he incorporates all of the coaching skills that he has gathered from his previous coaches and uses them on his players. He brings you through some of his most exciting journeys and some of his most famous friends and players.

Just about everything in this book flows together. Larry explains everything that you know about him and a lot of things that you have no idea of. The only thing that I disliked about the book is that none of it was put in order from the beginning of his life to the end of his career, it seemed to jump around a lot. Another big thing was that each chapter was long in itself, but it seemed to talk about the same thing and just ramble on and on. For example one of Larry's biggest problems was his back and he talked about it for a whole chapter then he talked about it more in a few different chapters. Although there some very good and interesting chapters in the book that taught me many things about Larry Bird.

Overall I thought the book was very good, but somewhat long for me, but if you read often then it will be just fine. I would recommend this to anyone who has a great liking of either Larry Bird or basketball. You also need to have a pretty good understanding of basketball to be able to understand some of the topics Larry teaches you.

Celtics Rule
I think that this book is good for those who are fans of the Boston Celtics and that of the NBA.This book is a biography; it has a little bit of everything.With a foreword by Pat Riley (Head Coach of the Miami Heat) the book could not more complete.

This book begins in a small town in Indiana.Larry Bird was a star basketball player for his high school and the rest of the state.Larry left high school to go to Indiana University on a full basketball scholarship and play for the one and only Bobby Knight.Larry was not on the campus very long before he became overwhelmed by the great amount of students.Larry would then leave the school and transfer to Indiana State University.After college Larry entered himself in to the NBA draft and was selected 6th overall by the Boston Celtics.

Bird Watching: On Playing and Coaching the Game I Love
Bird Watching, an autobiography by Larry Bird, is a story for any lover of sports. Bird Watching is a detailed account of the life of Larry Bird, from his NBA career with the Boston Celtics to his coaching position with the Indiana Pacers. After reading the first page of the book, the reader realizes there is more to this NBA legend than meets the eye.
Unlike most professional basketball players, Larry Bird never regretted the day he left the NBA and even says that the day he retired was "one of the happiest days of [his] life." Faced with chronic back problems and an irregular heart, Bird was happy to see the day when he no longer had to endure the pain of playing the sport he loved more than anything. Coming from the man himself, the story describes Bird's life in a detailed and personal manner. From beginning to end, the reader easily notices the uniqueness of this man's character and not only sees, but feels the impact this incredible man left on so many fellow players, fans, and loved ones.
I thought this was a great book, especially for a sports fan. I felt that for a sport's book, it was particularly well written. The author's style allows the reader to get a personal glimpse of the life of Larry Bird and causes the reader to feel as if they knew this NBA legend. Because of the story's subject, the author employs very few literary devices. However, the author uses many similes in describing Bird's injuries, allowing the reader to appreciate Bird's choice in leaving the NBA. The book lacks an overall dominant theme, but simply wishes to convey the story of one of the greatest and most unique basketball players of all time. ... Read more

Product Description
Fine-tune your skills as a motivating manager, supervisor, or adviser with this proven self-study primer. Learn the differences between counseling and coaching--and when to apply each technique for the best results. Reader-involving chapters help you identify your weaker coaching and counseling skills and build upon your stronger ones.

Learning Objectives:To explain how to coach employees to develop job skills.To explain how counseling can help employees remove barriers to performance.To describe criteria on whether to coach or counsel.To provide a model for giving effective feedback. ... Read more

Product Description

Human Relationship Skills: Coaching and Self-Coaching presents a practical 'how to' guide to relationship skills, showing how readers can improve and, where necessary, repair relationships. This thoroughly revised and updated fourth edition reflects the increased interest in coaching, showing how it can be applied to everyday life.

In this essential book, Richard Nelson-Jones takes a cognitive-behavioural approach to coaching people in relationship skills. These skills are viewed as sequences of choices that people can make well or poorly; covering a range of skill areas the book assists readers to make affirming rather than destructive choices in their relationships. It begins by addressing the questions of "what are relationship skills?" and "what are coaching skills?", and follows with a series of chapters which thoroughly detail and illuminate various relationship skills including:

- listening and showing understanding

- managing shyness

- intimacy and companionship

- assertiveness and managing anger

- managing relationship problems and ending relationships

The book concludes with a chapter on how users can maintain and improve their skills by coaching themselves.

Accessibly written and using activities, the book will be appropriate for those involved in 'life coaching' as well as general counselling and therapy. It will be essential reading for lecturers, coaches and trainers as well as students and anyone who wishes to improve their relationship skills.

Product Description

Product Description

Successful sports coaching is as dependent on utilising good teaching and social practices as it is about expertise in sport skills and tactics. Understanding Sports Coaching offers an innovative introduction to the theory and practice of sports coaching, highlighting the social, cultural and pedagogical concepts underpinning good coaching practice. Now in a fully revised and updated new edition, the book explores the complex interplay between coach, athlete, coaching programme and social context, and encourages coaches to develop an open and reflective approach to their own coaching practice. It addresses key issues such as:

• athlete motivation and long term development 
• viewing the athlete as a learner
• instructional methods and reflection
• working with different athletic and learning abilities
• coaching philosophy and ethics

Understanding Sports Coaching also includes a full range of practical exercises and case studies designed to encourage coaches to reflect critically upon their own coaching strategies, their interpersonal skills and upon important issues in contemporary sports coaching. This book is essential reading for all students of sports coaching and for any professional coach looking to develop their coaching expertise.

Product Description
Coaching Hockey Successfully is your blueprint to a successful hockey program. The book covers every aspect of the coach’s role, including fundamentals like developing a coaching philosophy, building a program, planning for practices, handling game situations, and evaluating performance. Much of the material centers around teaching the sport’s skills and understanding the Xs and Os. Throughout these sections are coaching points, related drills, and practice tips that will benefit your team immediately.

Author "Red" Gendron has coached at all levels of competition, and his teams have won everything from high school state championships to a Stanley Cup. In Coaching Hockey Successfully he shares his wealth of knowledge and winning approach to help you strengthen your own hockey program.

Whether you’re new to coaching or looking for more effective ways to coach the sport, take advantage of the expertise and experiences available in this all-encompassing manual. If you do, you’re sure to be a more successful hockey coach. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (5)

Absolutely, positively, the best hockey coaching book on the market today.
I bought this book when it first came out in 2003 and it is still, by far, the best hockey coaching resource on the market. Even today, whether coaching or writing, when I'm looking for coaching information, Red Gendron's book is still the first one I pull off the shelf to look for answers.

The book is well thought out and well written. While it does contain a fair amount of skills and drills, it is not a skills and drills manual. This book is geared towards those bantam, midget, or high school coach's who are looking to gain deeper understanding and knowledge of systems and tactics as well as the concepts, processes and nomenclature of ice hockey.

USA Hockey Inc. thought so much of this book that they slapped a new cover on it and began using it as their Level-IV coaches manual.

I've been coaching hockey for over a quarter century as well as write a syndicated hockey column called "Hockey from the Neck up" and of all the coaching books I've read over the years the only book that has had more of an influence on my coaching development has been Mike Krzyzewski's "Leading with the Heart" - and that's a basketball book!

Best hockey book for coaches
This book by far is the most comprehensive for hockey coaches I have found anywhere. You can read it over and over again and get something new from it every time. It may be too much for the beginner coach but there is something in this book for everyone.

The best book on coaching hockey that I have seen.
If you are serious about helping kids learn, this book will help you.

This is an fantastic book for someone that has an understanding of hockey.Maybe not so helpful to someone just starting.

Most of the books that I have seen either talk in circles or just draw diagrams.This book is thorough, easy to read and very instructive.

If you are looking to understand the game or systems you are not familiar with, this book will help you.If you are looking for a FEW really good drills, this book will help you.If your team is not quite grasping what you are teaching, this book will help you.

Best Hockey Coaching Book Out There!
This is geared for Bantams, Midgets, and High School.But has tons of info and great detail.I basically took the info that applied to my team and made it out team manual.
Systems, drills, coaching advice, how to present, how to motivate, etc... its all in there.

Bottom line, it's a great book.If you're a hockey coach for these levels you need this.Its that good

Keep in mind as a coach you have to know your team and what applies to your team.You cant read this book and expect everything to work.Like most coaching book you have to use the info that applies.Be open, be creative.Don't be a coach who lives inside a book to give him/her the Xs and Os.This is a guide....a great guide.But you have to understand your team first for this to work.

Dynamite Book for Coaching Midgets
Coaching Hockey Successfully has a loads of valuable information from hockey philosophy (teach your players to create space and time and teach them the concept of support) to good drills to teach your players hockey sense. This book would get five stars but sometimes Gendron loses you e.g. a description of a drill to which he does not have a diagram and one you do not understand. I thought it was my problem until I talked it over with a friend. This book is so valuable. If you are coaching Bantam and above, it's a top notch resource. Thanks, Red! ... Read more

Product Description

Better Coaching provides updated information on the sport sciences, including anatomy, physiology, psychology, biomechanics, and skill acquisition, which are vital for coaches in a range of sports. It features practical guidelines to develop athletes' endurance, speed, strength, power, and flexibility, and also uses of a range of case studies, examples and anecdotes to de-mystify some of the more technical sports science information. Coaching tips at the end of each chapter summarize key messages from each chapter.

This edition also has a greater emphasis on the management, planning and interpersonal skills required of the modern coach. New chapters on risk management, resource management, and coaching methods are important additions to this manual, and emphasize the broad role of the coach in sport. Excellent new chapters include ‘Working with Teams', and ‘Adopting a Balanced Approach to Coaching'.

The welfare of the athlete is another important theme emphasized in Better Coaching. The opening chapter, ‘The Role of the Coach', sets the scene for an athlete-focused approach to coaching. In addition, the chapters on ‘Coaching Athletes as Individuals', ‘Sports Nutrition', and ‘Medical Considerations in Sport' provide information and examples on how best to assist their athletes with the range of issues they may face.

Better Coaching combines the application of training principles and methods with the people skills required to succeed as a coach. The text encourages a balanced approach to training, recovery, competition and life, and illustrates how best to enhance fitness, technique, mental skills and nutrition to minimize injury and illness. In addition, contemporary-coaching issues, such as legal, ethical and behavioral issues, drugs in sport, and information technology developments are addressed.

Product Description

To be #1, your team has to play as one

How many times have you heard, "There is no I in team"? Still, U.S. basketball continues to be dominated by individual play, which has led to a number of embarrassing upsets on the world and Olympic courts. From middle-school to the NBA, there are no championships without teamwork--and there's no teamwork without good coaching.

Get away from the flash and start building your successful team today with this one-of-a-kind, step-by-step guide that helps you to:

• Communicate the core values of integrity and respect
• Create a vision statement
• Recruit team players
• Develop trust and unity with a buddy system
• Inspire your players to embrace teamwork
• Get your five defenders working as one
• Master winning offensive plays that utilize the whole team
• And more

Customer Reviews (3)

Team is the MOST important thing in basketball!
I was excited when I got this book.I have truly come to believe that the single most important key to success in basketball is not individual talent, but being a TEAM!It is also the thing that will make the game more enjoyable for players, coaches and fans.

Coach Crean would certainly agree with the above statement.There is no doubt that his players play as a team when you watch them play on TV.I just wish he had gone into a little more detail, well a lot more detail, about how he creates the environment that fosters this essential key to success in basketball.

Still, I did not feel like I had spent money unwisely.It is a good overview of the topic and certainly there are many coaches WHO NEED to understand that being a team, and not a collection of prima donas is how you succeed in basketball.

Coach Crean is certainly an ambassador for this cause and the book does provoke some big picture thinking about what is important.

Kevin Sivils - author of Game Strategy and Tactics for Basketball
Game Strategies and Tactics for Basketball: Bench Coaching for Success

Not bad, but not great.
If you are a coach, you will learn a thing or two with Tom Crean's book:Coaching team basketball, but there are far better books for coaches such as Wooden on Leadership, Wooten's Coaching Basketball Successfully, and Bo's Life Lessons by Bo Schembechler.Those books are better at helping a coach develop or rethink their philosophy and how to start a new basketball program.Coach Crean was very broad and talked about what makes a team, but not how to make a team as a coach.

Badger fan review
Coaches Crean and Pim offer very objective and practical lessons in coaching and leadership.Their approach is both extremely detailed and well organized. ... Read more

Product Description

Your hands-on guide to coaching youth volleyball

Have you been asked to coach a youth volleyball team? This friendly, practical guide helps you grasp the basics and take charge on the court. You get expert advice on teaching key skills to different age groups, running safe and effective practices, helping struggling players, encouraging good sportsmanship, and leading your team with confidence during a match.

• Lay the groundwork for a great season — develop your coaching philosophy, run an effective preseason meeting, and get up to speed on the rules and terminology of the sport

• Build your team — size up the players, find roles for everyone to succeed in, and coach all different types of kids

• Teach the basics of volleyball — from serving and passing to setting, attacking, and blocking, instruct your players successfully in all the key elements

• Raise the level of play — teach more advanced offensive and defensive skills and keep your kids' interest in volleyball going strong

• Make the moms and dads happy — work with parents to ensure a successful and fun season

• Score extra points — keep your players healthy and injury free, resolve conflicts, and coach a volleyball club team

Open the book and find:

• Clear explanations of the game's fundamentals

• An assortment of the sport's best drills

• The equipment your team needs

• Player positions and their responsibilities

• Tips for running fun-filled practices

• Refinements for your coaching strategies

• How to meet players' special needs

• Ten ways to make the season memorable

Product Description
Coaching young players, developing their skills, and cultivating a love for the sport may be the most rewarding experience baseball can offer. Cal and Bill Ripken understand this like few others.

From their father, Cal Sr., a legend in the Baltimore Orioles organization for 37 years, they learned to play the game the right way. Those lessons, paired with their combined 33 years of big league experience, helped develop the Ripken Way, a method of teaching the game through simple instruction, solid explanations, encouragement, and a positive atmosphere. In Coaching Youth Baseball the Ripken Way, Cal and Bill share this approach to coaching and development.

Whether you’re teaching your children at home, managing the local travel team, or working with high school-level players, Coaching Youth Baseball the Ripken Way will help you make a difference both on and off the field, with these features:

• More than 50 drills covering defense, hitting, pitching, and baserunning
• Age-specific practice plans for players ranging from 4 to 15+
• Strategies for setting goals and reasonable expectations for your players and team
• Advice on communicating with parents, players, and staff
• Methods for creating a positive and fun environment in which kids can learn the skills and strategies of the game

Customer Reviews (9)

One of the best books for coaching little league baseball

Lays out the plan to train, manage and teach young players the right way. For less than $20, you get the basic training you need to help your team be their best. Outstanding tool for any baseball coach.

A Good Book For Youth Baseball!
You come away after reading this book that both Ripken brothers
love the game of baseball to no end. And they want to share their
love of the game with everyone.
The drills are good but needed a little more detail.
Worth the purchase price.





This person also reviewed these popular baseball instructional products:
Youth Baseball Drills
The 59 Minute Baseball Practice
Schupak's Baseball Super 8 DVD Set
"The 59 Minute Baseball Practice"Mem-cards

Great Book!
I've already coached one kid from tee-ball thru the 11-12 group.Just about to start again with a 4 year old next season so figured I'd buy a few books to do a better job.Got some personal validation when I found out that I have much of the same philosophy as the Ripkens, and also got some great new drills and coaching advice to go along with that.I bought two books, Play Baseball The Ripken Way, and Coaching the Ripken Way, and both have great tips from dealing with parents and then going on to cover just about every aspect of youth baseball coaching and playing that you will need to know, including illustrated drills.I'm a slow reader, these books are interesting and very easy to read, I had no trouble at all getting through them and will definitely continue to use them once the practices start up again.And for the price, way worth it!In my opinion paying ten or eleven bucks for even just a good really good drills would be money well spent, but these books have way more than that.

Great Coaching Tool - HIghly Recommended
We think anyone who coaches young baseball players should read and use this book.One of Cal and Bill Ripken's biggest goals is to get young players to LOVE THE GAME and have fun!We originally picked this book because it is written by the Ripkens (and we think Cal Ripken is one of the best ballplayers of all time!)

The book is not just a list of drills but they also take time to discuss coaching responsibilities and philosophies and reasonable expectations.They include great ideas for practices and how to run games at the younger levels - we wish this book was required reading for ALL volunteer youth baseball coaches.Drills included are several for Hitting and Baserunning, Throwing and Pitching, and Fielding.

The best part of the book is the Practice Planner, where they go over Practice Particulars for each age group (4-6, 7-9, 10-12, etc.)They also tell you what skills you should be teaching kids at what age level.I was amazed at the "basics" that my 8 year old son hasn't learned yet.The Ripkens want kids to learn and have fun doing it so they love the game.

We found ourselves agreeing with everything the Ripkens had to say and we will be using the rest of the spring/summer to "backyard coach" our 5 year old, 8 year old and 10 year old daughter now that baseball is over for the year - keeping it fun, of course!We would love for our children to go to one of the Ripkens' baseball camps, but this book will have to suffice.

Perfect for any Baseball Coach
This is a fantastic book. I'm a first time Tee-Ball coach and this book gave me a great start. I now plan to look into other Ripken Way products. ... Read more

Product Description
Dan Gable's feats as a wrestler and coach have established him as the top figure in the history of the sport:

• 15 NCAA Championships and 21 Big Ten Conference championships and a 355-21-5 mark as a head coach
• a 182-1 record and five championships as a high school and college wrestler
• a 6-0 unscored-upon record as an Olympic gold medallist in 1972

In Coaching Wrestling Successfully, Gable shares the special philosophy, motivational techniques, training plans, teaching methods, match strategies, and evaluation systems he used to build his wrestling dynasty. Gable also provides a rare insight into the influential people, lasting lessons, inner drive, and mental focus that spurred him to championship after championship.

If you coach wrestlers, this book is a blueprint on how to be the best. If you wrestle, this book challenges you to develop yourself into a tough, competitive champion.

And if you're a wrestling fan, this book is an inside look at the greatest figure ever in the sport. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (9)

Not an effective resource for new coaches.
Although I have coached other sports for years, and in fact have published two books on coaching football, this year is my first as a wrestling coach.

I ordered Coach Gable's book hoping to find a comprehensive collegiate wrestling manual. Unfortunately, what I got is a 'jack of all trades, master of none' book that discusses Greco-Roman, Folkstyle, and Freestyle techniques without emphasis on any of them. Technique descriptions are incredibly vague, (usually limited to three pictures and a few sentences of descriptive matter) and some complex moves are difficult (nigh impossible) to decipher.

Additionally, as an amateur athletic historian I am fascinated by Coach Gable's lengthy sidebars and stories about the athletes of which he is justifiably proud. However, as a new wrestling coach trying to improve his team I find these sidebars simply get in the way and make it impossible to locate the information I need. Additionally, the lack of an index of any kind makes the book close to useless for rapid research-- you cannot, for example, thumb quickly to the back of the book and look for "Double Leg Takedown" in the index.

The organization leaves a great deal to be desired. Wrestling is commonly divided into takedowns (from neutral position), breakdowns (from top position), escapes (from bottom), reversals (from bottom) and pinning combinations (from top). If I were to write a book on this subject it would be divided in such a way. However, Coach Gable instead chose to limit his technique descriptions to "skills and drills" with no real distinction between what is a SKILL (such as a specific takedown) and what is a DRILL (such as a high-hip drill for executing takedowns). This lack of organization makes it further antagonizing to try to locate information quickly. These drills ARE divided into "Drills for when you are on top" and "Drills for when you are on bottom" but all styles of wrestling are lumped together and it is extremely difficult to locate style-specific information.

Furthermore, the techniques described are all highly technical variants ofeach throw, hold, or pinning combination. Instead of the simple double leg takedown in four steps (shoot, grasp, lift, and spin), the vastly more complex (and difficult to execute) ankle trip is described.

Because of the lack of organization and the overwhelming and irrelevant anecdotal presentation, I find I cannot recommend this book as an effective resource for new wrestling coaches.

~D.
Derek A. "Coach" Wade

More philosophical than practical.
Dan Gable is the man, there can be no doubt.But I was a little disappointed with this book.I was expecting more of an instruction manual, but this is more about the philosophies of coaching.It's not a bad book and I don't regret getting it, but it wasn't what I was expecting.It is about coaching from a mostly theoretical standpoint.I think I was expecting a book more like the book "Winning Wrestling Moves" and this led to my slight disappointment.

Wrestling Review
This is a great book for any coach or wrestler,It is a must for anyone involved in the sport.

Dan Gable proves why he is the best
A good mix of stories, technique, and coaching philosopy.Not everyone will be able to get away with having the coaching style Dan Gable does but he shows how he has made it successful.I would recommend this book to anycoach interested in learning and touching the souls of thier athletes.

The most important points of coaching are here.
Many wrestlers and coaches may base their reviews of a coaching book on the quantity or quality of moves found within. I do believe that the book does well in this area. However, its true success is in its discussion andadvice on communication, motivation, planning and developing a philosophy.It is what separates it from other "how to wrestle" books. It isa book for coaches. The basics are the most important part of wrestling,not any special tricks or throws. The edge over other teams is found in thelittle extras a coach can do to make sure his wrestlers are motivated tolearn and to win. This book is exactly what I was looking for. Ipurchased this book just after the 1998-99 season, my fourth as a head highschool coach. My credentials include winning Conference Titles in each ofthose years, coaching the first Team State qualifier from the conference in'98 and '99 and earning various state coaching awards. I am pleased I havedone some of the things Gable suggests, but I believe this book can makethings even better next season. Also, I haven't ever been any kind of DanGable die-hard, although now I understand why people are. ... Read more

Product Description
Whether you’re a parent new to coaching or an experienced youth coach, Coaching Youth Football is your handbook for a successful season. Through the expertise of coach Tom Bass and USA Football, you’ll gain field-tested tips on how to run your team, communicate with and handle players, provide basic first aid, plan and conduct practices, draw up plays, and keep it all fun.

Fundamentals of offense, defense, and special teams are covered in depth, supported by 30 new drills and more than 140 photos and illustrations. Ideal for coaches of players aged 14 and under, this book is also a valuable component of the Coaching Youth Football course, the official course of USA Football, offered by the American Sport Education Program. With this book, you will create an environment that promotes learning, enjoyment, and motivation for players to come out for the team year after year. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

Quick intro
This is good quick primer but if you have already purchased a few other books, there's no need for this one.

Great book
I'm new to coaching PeeWee Football and have a pedestrian knowledge of the sport. This will definitely help you with drills and practice to develop fundementals that the kids will need as they progress to their next level.

Fantastic resource for new coaches
When the role of acting as head football coach unexpectedly fell in my lap this season, I bought ASEP's Coaching Youth Football and I can't speak highly enough about it. The misgivings cited by previous reviewers predate this book's 2005 release date and don't seem at all warranted for the 4th Edition.

This book provided me with the nuts and bolts needed to get things rolling from Day One - from plans on how best to structure the first two weeks of practice to promoting teamwork and encouraging fun. The drills and tactics addressed apply well to the youth game - I'm coaching 10 & 11 year olds - but the book also provides background on communicating with parents and planning for safety.

I've found it to be a very complete reference that's worth picking up throughout the season. Very good. ... Read more

Product Description

Customer Reviews (2)

I highly recommend NLP Coaching
I highly recommend NLP Coaching. I found it to be a tour-de-force and it will retain a well-prized position on my bookshelf. I imagine it will become an essential resource for anyone interested in the coaching world; its current publication serves as a well-earned and timely statement of the richness and maturity of the NLP field. Dr. Linder-Pelz reveals mastery of both her subject and the art of writing. From the opening passages of the book, she offers the reader an open and inquiring space to journey with her as she explores, discusses and raises questions about the field of NLP: its origins, development, similarities and differences to other coaching approaches, and its linkages to related fields of psychology, neurobiology, and neurolinguistics. As a transpersonal counsellor, I found these aspects of the book particularly useful as it helps contextualise common roots within the Humanistic tradition. The book is well referenced and includes ample quotations and contributions from key practitioners in the field. It is a rich reference source which offers practical tools for coaches, for coaching trainers, for practitioners and researchers to access information sources and, to incorporate within professional and personal practice, strategies and processes for self-discernment, balance, self-reflection and critical evaluation.

An excellent reference book for coaches
This book provides an excellent context for understanding NLP from a coaching perspective. A 'must read' for coaches, HR professionals, organisations who use coaching as a people development tool, and any individual who wants to understand coaching from an evidence based perspective.
The book evaluates NLP from an enquirer perspective, addressing three fundamental areas: what is NLP based coaching and how does it relate to wider industry standards for coaching; evidence based NLP and best practice and how it relates to other applied psychologies; the researcher practitioner and recent developments.

Susie's writing is enjoyable and is balanced between providing the evidence base with practical examples and a thorough knowledge of NLP and Coaching. ... Read more

Product Description
Coaching Training focuses on helping coaches properly define their coaching roles and provides the skills needed for success. A wide range of activities fall under the label of coaching-guiding, teaching motivating, and mentoring-and this book is designed to train for one-on-one coaching situations. Find the best advice for choosing session content, sample workshop agendas, and step-by-step preparation and presentation delivery instructions.*also includes accompanying digital materials available for download. ... Read more