Product Description
Lead your squad to be the most prepared, organized, enthusiastic, and cohesive group possible. Coaching Cheerleading Successfully covers all the key elements to building and maintaining a top supportive and competitive cheerleading program.

This guide presents all the essentials you need to teach techniques, choreograph specific cheer components, plan and conduct practice sessions, and evaluate performances. You’ll also find helpful suggestions and examples for fund-raising, building school spirit, and making your cheerleaders more likely to receive special awards and college tryouts.

Author Linda Rae Chappell shares the wisdom she’s gained from more than 30 years of experience in coaching cheerleaders at the youth, high school, college, and professional levels. Tap into her expertise and make your next practice and next season the best yet. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (17)

Outstanding Reference for all coaches
I haven't coached in 20 years and this book brings back the basics of cheerleading.From team spirit, good sportsmanship and the sheer athletics of the sport. This is an excellent book for both inexperienced and experienced coach.

A Cheer Coaches Bible!!!!!!
Believe it or not I used this book to build an entire cheer team from the ground up. I carried this book around, highlighted, and flagged pages and used the pre-printed handouts for everything. I would have falled flat on my face without it. There are chapters about every possible obstacle, what to expect, and how to run your squad. My squad went from being a "joke" at half-time with 10 people watching to being a "crowd pleaser" by the end of the year with over 100 people coming just to watch my girls. I was very proud and thank God for this book!

for american coaches only
I couldn't find much help from this book. However, I'm Swedish and how to start a program here is really different from in the USA. The stunting section was very short. The illustrations to the dancemovements were adequate but sometimes not enough descriptive. There are other books out that will tell you the same things, and more. I recommend "the ultimate guide to cheerleading" by leslie something.

Great for a first-time coach, but
A must-have for all coaches. There are a fair variety of motions and jumps depicted, but they are drawings rather than photographs.Also, there is no visual depiction of how to prep for a jump, and this book starts you off with a thigh stand instead of stag stunts but there are stunt variations here not shown in "The Offical Cheerleaders Handbook" or "The Ultimate Guide to Cheerleading" and the photographs lead you pretty much through the whole sequence.

Also in its favor it does have great tips on:

*forming a team

*keeping on top of your legal responsibilities

*developing a practice plan

*reaching out to parents and the community

*building up your members' self-esteem

*evaluating and tweaking your program

My advice is to buy this book in conjunction with the other two mentioned above to get the most knowledge of cheerleading basics.

Coach ~Jen

Coaching Cheerleading Successfully
I recommend this book to anyone interested in coaching or advising cheer. One of the best purchases I have ever made, and I bought one for my entire coaching staff. I also run a training website and discussion group and constantly urge my visitors and participants to buy this great resource for coaches of today. A true cheerleading must-have! ... Read more

Product Description
A volleyball coaching book like none other. Not a list of drills. Not a "How To" of offense or defense. Just practical advice for coaches at all levels of volleyball.EXPERTS ENDORSE THE LITTLE BLACK BOOK:"Building a strong coaching philosophy that complements our unique, lifetime sport is vital to a coach's success. John Betcher's book will help you along the journey to become the best coach you can be."John Kessel USA Volleyball Director Membership Development & Disabled Programs "If you are trying to decide whether or not you should coach a volleyball team, this book can help you make that decision. The insights and anecdotes that John shares in his Little Black Book can help all coaches keep coaching in a proper perspective." Professor G. Thomas (Tom) TaitUSA Volleyball "All-time Great Coach")Founding Father of Penn State Men's and Women's Volleyball Programs ... Read more

Customer Reviews (9)

not for experienced players/coaches
I have played volleyball at the college level. I have also done some coaching as a student assistant in college and an assistant coach for high school. I have been around volleyball for awhile and this book just told me everything I already knew. Some ideas were interesting, but it was just different ways of saying things I already knew. More catchy phrases. Overall I'm looking to return it, it was a waste of money for anyone who knows anything about volleyball. If you haven't played in awhile and are about to start coaching, it would be a good read. However, I graduated college a year ago and it was uninformative to me.

"Little" descibes this book in more than one way.
I would strongly discourage purchasing this book.The actual book itself is approximately 5.5 inches by 8.5 inches and the standard page is full of awkward spacing, double spaced, and large font.Not to mention the book only has 102 pages... I'd be very curious as the overall word count.The book doesn't cover anything new or "insightful".It discusses the fundamentals of volleyball, a volleyball rally, and tosses in a quote here and there.

My background is I've played volleyball through college and have been an assistant at the high school and collegiate level, as well as being a head varsity coach for 4 years at the high school level.

must read for beginning coaches
Mr. Betcher's book should be required reading for beginning coaches of all sports.It is well written, concise and has a vast store of information that would help coaches who are just beginning their journey.

volleyball insights
Very readable and insightful book about the game of volleyball.We gave this to our high-school aged niece and she feels it has improved her game!
A must read for those you play and follow the game of volleyball.You will learn alot.

Great little book!
This book is a "must read" for every new coach, regardless of the sport.It's a small book, but addresses crucial issues every coach needs to learn, or remember.Highly recommended. ... Read more

Product Description
The first complete summary of information on undergraduate and graduate athletic coaching majors and minors including contact details and essential references.

There is a tremendous need for quality coaching education programs. These needs are being recognized and more states are beginning to require that interscholastic coaches complete coaching education programs. The primary goal of this directory is to provide a list of colleges and universities in the United States that offer coaching education programs. It should serve as a guide to students interested in the coaching profession; high school guidance counselors and parents advising perspective students; faculty involved in researching and developing coaching education programs; and individuals and organizations involved in coaching education.

Each entry includes the available program descriptions course offerings practica and internships websites and key contact people for 158 undergraduate programs and 21 graduate programs in the field. The appendices offer the reader the opportunity to review programs by state or by program requirements such as field experience and important information about accreditation and certification. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Coaching as a Major
Physical Education Major with a Coaching Minor is the norm.
Coaching as a Major is welcome, esp. if you are unaware that it is available.

First ever catalog of college-based coaching ed programs
Professor McMillin, a tireless advocate for formal sports coaching education, has created the first ever database of the sport coaching education programs offered at colleges and universities throughout the U.S.Now young men and women who aspire to become quality sports coaches for their profession can use this directory to find schools that offer undergraduate and graduate level sport coaching education programs. If this directory had existed in 1981, my life would have been different!

The directory is easy to use and is cross referenced.Also, his introduction plainly states the case for the need for such educational programs.With the ongoing obesity crisis in the US, the need for quality trained sport coaches is high. ... Read more

Product Description
Coaching kids is a whole different ball game, and this comprehensive guide supplies all the right moves. It's loaded with information, tools, and techniques to help children excel in sports, from helping them choose the right sport to making sure they're having fun.

Foolproof techniques for teaching good sportsmanship include:

Your guide is a Sports Illustrated columnist and nationally recognized expert who knows how to show parents and coaches how to unleash kids' athletic potential. " ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Good for first-timers
I have appreciated the Dummies series as the publisher has some fun with topics that we might not have a clue. Having coached both Little League and softball (ASA), I saw this book on the shelf and decided to buy it to see if there are any hints that I might have been missing. Overall, this book is excellent for those who are just starting out in the coaching world. Handling kids and knowing the sport can be quite tricky, especially when parents are part of the equation. I think looking this over before stepping onto the field (and looking like a "dummy") is a very wise investment of money and time. I pretty much experienced most of what he explained, but Wolff was very straightforward and to the point. I appreciated his insights and will consider using several of the tips that I had not thought of before. Parents, get out of your lawn chairs, quit complaining behind our backs, and help us other parents coach!

How to coach or just be a supportive parent!
I bought this book when I heard the author was going to be on Oprah. I wasn't sure I was ready to let my child participate in organized sports ata young age, but this has helped me figure out what my child should expectfrom her coach and how I can be a supportive parents too, without puttingpressure on anyone. ... Read more

Product Description
The fourth edition of Coaching Youth Basketball stresses fun, safety, and effective instruction, helping you create an environment that promotes learning, helps your kids enjoy their basketball experiences, and motivates your athletes to come out year after year.

Numerous coaching books present the skills and drills of basketball. But here's a book that teaches you how to convey these skills to your athletes in an engaging and positive manner. Coaching Youth Basketball's focus on teaching offensive and defensive skills through gamelike activities sets it apart from the current lineup of basketball coaching books. And, it's the only one written with the expertise of USA Basketball's Don Showalter.

The fourth edition includes new activities and age-specific coaching tips that are sure to jump-start your practices, all in a reorganized format geared for sequential learning and quick reference.

The expertise of USA Basketball combined with essential coaching skills like communicating with parents and officials, motivating players, and preparing for games and practices make this book a must-read as you prepare to meet the challenges and enjoy the rewards of coaching young athletes. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Youth Basketball Coach's Primer...Fundamental and Flexible
I picked up this book last night at a local library, hoping to find one or two new drills for my 6th Grade Girls basketball team. From the look of its cover, I expected that the focus would be on "beginner level" coaching and player development, such as how to dribble, shoot, and defend. Although the book started slowly, with explanations of coaching philosophies and how to work with children (valuable information,of course), I was pleased to find a series of drills and skill development tools that I could use at the 6th Grade level. The drills were coded as appropriate for "Beginner", "Intermediate", and Advanced" levels of play, with several of them building on the prior in such a way that when you, as a coach, have different skill levels on your team, you could use whichever level was appropriate for the player(s) working on the skill/drill. There are also a number of practical sections on "Error Detection and Correction" that can help coaches identify when skills need some "fine tuning" with recommendations as to how to go about it within the framework of the skill/drill being taught.

I would recommend this book to other coaches looking for simple, yet effective methods of instructing basketball fundamentals for players at different levels of skill and understanding of the game. ... Read more

Product Description
This new updated and revised edition of Coaching Basketball--the National Association of Basketball Coaches official coaching handbook--features more than 130 articles by basketball's leading coaches, covering every aspect of the game. Dozens of current and former coaches from high school through the collegiate and professional levels, such as John Wooden, Rick Majerus, and Rick Pitino, share their ideas and tips on fundamentals, strategy, and conditioning, as well as coaching foundations, including coaching philosophy, running a program, and recruiting. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (6)

Great information from lots of great coaches!
Jerry Krause and Ralph Pim have done basketball coaches a great service by collecting and editing all of the articles assembled into this single edition.The list of authors reads like a who's who of basketball coaches.

The articles are arranged by topic and cover just about every area of coaching basketball imaginable. The diagrams used to depict the concepts are well done and easy, for me at least, to understand.

The only complaint I have with the book is that the coaches whose articles are included are never really able to show how that one aspect of their system completely fits into the bigger picture or to go into a really in depth, detailed explanation of the topic. Given the nature of the book, I am not sure how to get around this limitation.

Still, a valuable tool for any basketball coach and worth buying.

Kevin Sivils - author of Game Strategy and Tactics for Basketball

Some great articles that skim the Surface
This book has great articles from some of the best coaches ever such as Wooden, Dean Smith, Henry Iba, and Morgan Wooten, but never gets too in depth.Great book for a coach looking for ideas here and there, but not great if look for real specifics.

Another masterpiece by Jerry Krause.
I love teaching and coaching basketball. I also love reading and learning more about the game. Most of my reviews are 5 star and thats because I do my homework when purchaseing a new book. This book would be a 5 star plus if possible.A good book for reading but always a great source of reference. Contains every aspect of basketball.

Coaching Basketball by Jerry Krause
Jerry Krause has put together a great coaching book with articlescontributed by the greatest coaches in the game, covering all aspects ofthe game.A "must have" for any coach or player seeking a higherlevel of knowledge of the game.

This is the best coaches book
This book covers it all. From developing your coaching philosophy to Junk Defenses. I have used it to teach 15 year olds a full court press to 9 year olds the basics of footwork. I have over 15 books on basketball, yet thisone never seems to make it back onto the shelf.

This and the 5-starbasketball drill book are the only two books you will ever need as a coach! ... Read more

Product Description
If you are involved in developing young golf teams, this book is for you. Specifically designed to help you build winning golf programs, Coaching Golf Successfully is the ideal teaching tool for coaches and golf instructors. After reading this book you will be able to conduct effective practice sessions, identify technical flaws, and teach course management.

More than just stroke instruction, Coaching Golf Successfully provides a complete system for building and maintaining a successful golf program. And you also get stories and examples of what has actually worked for other coaches and instructors across the country. The methods covered in this book are so straightforward and practical that you will be able to apply them to your own team immediately.

Author Bill Madonna has been a PGA teaching professional for 30 years and has conducted more than 40,000 golf lessons. He is also the founder and head of the National Association of Golf Coach Educators (NAGCE), the organization responsible for supplying general information, teaching materials, and certification for high school golf coaches. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Coaching Golf Successfully
Great book for the new coach. Emphasizes the basics of the game and gives a foundation to coaching golf.

good Book
This book has a lot of good ideas.Some are more for coaching at a higher level.I am a high school coach at a school that gets mostly beginners and was still able to get some good ideas from it. ... Read more

Product Description
Coaching Tennis Technical and Tactical Skills is a practical resource that will help you become a better high school, club, or college tennis coach. With the expert guidance of Kirk Anderson, director of recreational coaches and programs for the United States Tennis Association (USTA), you'll learn coaching and evaluating skills and then focus on technical and tactical skills of tennis, including quick tips on detecting and correcting errors in your athletes, cues athletes need to be aware of in various tactical situations, and key information your athletes need to know in order to make the appropriate decisions on the court. Skills are cross-referenced so you can see how they relate to each other and quickly determine how to use them in practice situations. Whether you are a veteran coach or just a beginner, this book will help you take your coaching to the next level by providing you with the tools you need to teach athletes the game of tennis.

The American Sport Education Program (ASEP) is the leading provider of youth, high school, and elite-level sport education programs in the United States. Through its high-quality and easy-to-use programs, ASEP has educated more than 1.5 million coaches, officials, sport administrators, parents, and athletes. For more than 25 years, local, state, and national sport organizations have partnered with ASEP to lead the way in making sport a safe, successful, and enjoyable experience for all involved. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Just an Average Joe
Good material, not just for coaching, I've chosen this book for its informative guideline to correct and adjust my game on the court. I chose this book expected that it would be like most of the tennis titles, but it rendered more knowledge and improves my play than any other tennis book I have so far.I'm just a moderate tennis player. ... Read more

Product Description
Lacrosse is one of the nation's fastest-growing youth sports, and the girls' game is overtaking the boys'. Played with different rules and tactics, girls' lacrosse requires its own specialized guidebook. Friendly and encouraging, Coaching Girls' Lacrosse is the first book to provide the fundamentals every unprepared parent needs to teach and motivate a team of 6- to 12-year-olds. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

Women's Lacrosse Training Book
This is an excellent tool for getting a better understanding on how to support and help my daughter improve in lacrosse. I wanted to play an active role by getting the book as well as equipment for both of us.Now we toss the ball to each other and practice what we've read in the book. She's definitely getting better.

Learn Lacrosse
Whether you're a lacrosse player, parent of a player, or a coach, this guide will teach you some important concepts.Games and drills to improve ability are included.

A GREAT book for anyone interested in Girl's Lacrosse
Don't let the title fool you, anyone with an interest in girl's lacrosse will benefit from reading this. Players, Parents, Coaches, etc. It does a really nice job of going over the basics and emphasizing what is important for a female lacrosse player. She offers some fun games and drills that can be used at any level.

Bringing Girls' Lacrosse into the Modern Era
This book is perfect for coaches and players who are new to the game of girls'/women's Lacrosse.Several years ago, when I was recruited to coach my daughter's youth league team, I searched high and low for a book, such as this one, covering the girls' game. I found plenty of books for boy's Lacrosse and a few that had a chapter or two covering girls' Lacrosse.Often, these books covered very outdated techniques and methods.Bottom line, there was no comprehensive guide for teaching and developing young girls into well-rounded Lacrosse players.Coach Tucker's book is a great guide for dad's like me who have men's Lacrosse experience, beginning coaches, new players, and, of course, baffled parents.My favorite section covers the suggested drills.Each drill is clearly defined and well diagramed. She also provides great advice for managing practice and keeping the girls involved and excited about playing lacrosse.I plan to implement many of her suggestions into my practices.A must read for coaches and parents who are interested in developing technically sound players who love the game of girls' Lacrosse. ... Read more

Product Description
If you are a baseball fan, then coaching youth baseball is one the most enjoyable and rewarding activities you’ll experience. But what if you’ve never coached before? Or you haven’t played the game in a while and have forgot some key points to the sport?

No worries! Coaching Baseball for Dummies guides you through the rules of the game, explaining all the essential skills and the best ways to teach them to your players. Covering different age groups and great practice routines, this guide is all you need to have a fun-filled season. You’ll discover how to:

• Fulfill the role of being a coach and parent
• Develop a coaching philosophy
• Understand how your league works
• Evaluate your team
• Teach your players fundamentals
• Understand all kinds of children
• Create your practice plan
• Prepare for game day
• Overcome challenges and problems

This plain-English guide also shows you how to run all kinds of drills, from hitting and pitching to fielding and base running. And when your team is tense or low on morale, it shows you how to relax your players and keep them focused on the game. There are also suggestions for making your season, and theirs, a memorable one. Coaching Baseball for Dummies shows you how much fun it can be to train kids to be athletes, have good sportsmanship, and work together as a team. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Too Simple
If you've never coached a team before, this book is for you.But if you have coached and are hoping for some advanced tips or great practice drills, forget it -- this book is too simple! ... Read more

Product Description

All You Need to Become an Successful Coaching Supervisor

This book provides you with the theory and practice onhow to succeed in the rapidly growing fields of coaching, mentoring,and consultancy by thoroughly explaining the fundamentalprinciples, formal standards, and skills necessary to become aneffective supervisor.

Product Description
Trusted advice on finding a coach and getting more out of life

Life coaching is a popular, though unregulated, personal development tool. This no-nonsense guide debunks the myths behind life coaching and gives expert advice on incorporating it into daily life. Whether readers want to self-coach or work with a professional, this savvy resource provides essential tips on getting priorities straight, being more productive, and achieving goals.

Jeni Mumford (London, UK) is a qualified personal life coach and an accredited NLP practitioner. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (5)

In My Top Five of Coaching Training Books
Jen Mumford does a beautiful job of explaining the tools and processes of life coaching.I would have used it as the text for the coach training I do but the title was rejected as not a good representation of a graduate level text.i include it on my reading list anyway.The tools are well explained, the examples are easily accessible, and its just plain well written.

great questions
This book answers your basic questions from "What iscoaching?" to "Would a coach be beneficail to me?" Easy to read and each chapter answers a specfic set of questions so you can skip around the book to get your individual questions answered without reading the whole book.

Awesome!!!!
This is a gret read, especially if you want to become a life coach, I have read this book numerous times, taken it out from the library & decided to own a copy, it helps in every aspect of your life.

If you are considering becoming a life coach, get this book.
If you want to really improve different aspects of your life, get this book.

You will not regret it, I will tell you, I cannot put it down.

Helping people 1 day at a time...

Kathieyes~

It works for me
I really think this is a great book for the rest of us. (Mean me the dummie) I am a new coach and it really makes it a lot easier to do my work with this book. I think that it was super. The Art of Graceful Change: Taming the Gremlin That Holds You Back

Useful for self-coaching
I purchased Life coaching for dummies about two weeks ago. I was looking for an introduction to becoming a life coach. This book is more geared for helping you to coach yourself. That being said, coaching yourself is a good way to understanding how to do it. At the end, there is a small section for would-be life coaches.

The book has a reasonable number of exercises to help you find balance or direction in your life, but I found the text describing the philosophy of life-coaching was wordy and vague-the exercises, however were clearly written.

The main lack in this book is it has only a tiny resource section. I would have liked to see a list of other books and websites, and also a section on avoiding charlatan's in this business.

Overall, a useful but rather limited book. ... Read more

Product Description

"Coach Hatchell's book is a must-read for every girls' basketball coach. She is fantastic in every phase of the game, and I love watching her teams play."—Roy Williams, head men's basketball coach, University of North Carolina, and Associated Press Coach of the Year, 2006

What does it take to turn a good coach into a great one? You need to be a teacher, a motivator, a guru of X's and O's. Coach Sylvia Hatchell shows you how she manages all these roles and gives you her winning advice to creating a team of champions.

Head coach of the University of North Carolina's women's team, Coach Hathcell combines the Tar Heels' longstanding tradition of basketball greatness with her personal dedication to guiding young women as she teaches you how to:

• Communicate effectively to get peak performances from 11- to 18-year-old girls
• Teach all the fundamentals of the game and run a productive, high-energy practice
• Develop a formidable offense and tenacious defense
• Master 75 of her favorite drills, ranging in difficulty from beginner to advanced

Customer Reviews (5)

Excellent Resource
I have been coaching both rec and travel teams for the last five years.I wish I had picked this book up five years ago.It is perfect for all ages including down to 3rd grade rec up to AAU level.The nice part is the explanations and the drills provided.If you are a new coach or even a experienced coach this is worth the buy.

Excellent Resource
I have never coached before and this book saved me!I got drills and tips that I used on a weekly basis.Highly recommend

Very Helpful
I've been a player for years, but never a coach.This is a great book for the basics in coaching skills as well as everything else that comes with coaching - team dynamics, setting up try-outs, dealing with parents - you name it, it's in there!

The Ideal tool for girls' coaching
The only coaching book you may ever need! Coach Hatchell hasn't left anything aside. From the psychology of young women and how to deal with it, to the most subtle nuances of coaching, it is all in there. Well illustrated, the explanations are easy to understand and the chapters are arranged in a logical way. I wish the photos would have been in full color instead of black & white but it would have made the book more expensive. I highly recommend it to anyone, whether you are a senior coach or just stepping in the field.

Definite Must-Have!
If you coach girl's basketball -- at any level -- this book will help you immensely.Coach Hatchell goes beyond discussing the simple fundamentals of coaching and X's and O's; she delves deeper into the mentality of a coach and the various nuances that can occur (though the fundamentals are important and they are covered in great detail).The Complete Guide To Coaching Girls' Basketball: Building a Great Team the Carolina Way is loaded with discussions and drills regarding fundamentals, offense and defense.The basics are here if you are just starting out as a coach or if you coach younger girl's.If you coach high school age girls and are more experienced, there is also a wealth of information.There are numerous drills, plays, and sets that will benefit the most experienced of coaches and teams.Coach Hatchell also talks at length about team and game management; a couple of areas that are often overlooked and sometimes difficult to learn.She does a masterful job discussing these areas and giving helpful ideas and tips.

The one aspect of this book that really sets it apart are the 'Ask the Coach' boxes throughout.In these, Coach Hatchell gives her answer to questions such as "What's a good drill to teach the behind-the-back dribble?" and "How do I get my kids to make good cuts in our press break?".The 'Ask the Coach' boxes are loaded throughout the book and the answers are very insightful and interesting.

The Complete Guide To Coaching Girls' Basketball: Building a Great Team the Carolina Way is a must-have addition to your coaching library.It is a well-written book that is very easy to understand and easy to follow.This is one of those coaching books you will want with you at all times -- any information you may be searching for is right in the book. ... Read more

Product Description
This booklet is about a football coaching system that can be used to help one become a succesful coach. This booklet is written with the assumption that the reader has some knowledge of football. This directive is very much needed by colleges and universities throughout the country. Strategy, safety, practice, scouting, offense, defense and kicking are all disscussed, as well as the philosophy of coaching. ... Read more

Product Description
The author who has successfully coached both men's and women's teams spent three years writing this practical action book so that anyone can coach.

Part I discusses and graphically defines the fundamentals.

Part II explains how to plan the key to coaching and teach at practice.

Part III, the largest part, systematically presents over 200 lessons in 19 sections.

Twenty-three pages of Appendices supply other useful coaching information such as: strategies; a practice warm down; game statistics and more. Amazon.com Review
The Basketball Coach's Bible claims to be essentialreading for basketball coaches, whether they're coaching yourdaughter's fourth-grade team or a Division I collegeteam. Endorsements are included from both youth coaches and well-knownprofessional and college coaches such as Phil Jackson and JimCalhoun. Can any book really cover a topic that broadly and do a goodjob? The resounding answer in this case is yes. Mr. Goldstein startsfrom the premise that if you learn the fundamentals well, the rest ofthe game comes along naturally. The first seven short chapters of thebook lay out his philosophy of the game and coaching, providing ablueprint to follow.

The remainder of the book has two parts,multipart lessons that focus on individual skills such as dribblingand passing, and another series of lessons on team offense anddefense. Each lesson begins with a simple concept and then adds morecomplex features as your players' skills progress. Charts accompanyeach lesson and detail the prerequisite skills, time needed, andeffort that is required.

This book is one of those rare breedsthat live up to its hype. One drawback is that younger players may nothave enough practice time to complete all of the drills you wouldlike, but those you do choose will be winners. --Rob Frankland ... Read more

Customer Reviews (9)

The best basketball book sold
I have read many 'how to' basketball books, all disappointing.I finally found this one and find it 100% effective.I wish my high school coaches had read this book and taught the techniques when I played.Today I play Senior Basketball and find I still have much to learn.This book covers it all.I read a little at a time and try to make its principles habit.This book is for players and coaches of all ages.Study it well.

Good enough for beginners...
It describes the basics of basketball but with few exercises for each subject...

It's a good book for beginner coaches; want to have a very good knowledge of basketball fundamentals. But this is not a book of basketball drills.

The Basketball Coaches Bible
A gift for my son who is a high school basketball coach. He has found the book very helpful.Good choice.

Good Stuff!
The book has a tremendous amount of positive basketball knowledge. Many coaches get away from fundamentals and this book goes into detail on the benefits of breaking everything down to the bear essentials.A great compliment to this book is the video "48 Championship Basketball Drills" which has some outstanding creative shooting drills.Sid Goldstein should be hailed as "El Sid" on a good effort and worthy teaching tool.

One of the best of its' kind
As a coach of a 5th and 6th grade boys basketball team I found this book a tremendous teaching tool this season. Most of the children I coach have had little or no formal teaching in basketball previous to me. This books true value comes from being geared towards all skill levels. A coach at my level, straight through coaches of High school varsity teams, can find drills to introduce to their players.

Every year I've bought a new book on drills because I've never been completly happy with the previous years' purchase. I'm happy to say that next year, and for many more to come, I won't have to buy another. ... Read more

Product Description
One of the most complete books on coaching volleyball ever printed — includes advice, tips, and cues that take the experienced coach years to accumulate.This comprehensive book covers every aspect of coaching volleyball — from the beginning basic skills to information on aiding the talented college-bound athlete. It guides the coach through the decision-making processes of tryouts, practice schedules, setting up the team's offense and defense, coaching a game, and dealing with parents and administrators. Here are the keys to creating a winning volleyball class or entire volleyball program from the elementary to collegiate level, based on the solid knowledge that comes with years of experience.Volleyball coaches and physical education teachers. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (5)

Its ok
I thought this book was OK.It is a large bookbut doesn't contain many specifics to volleyball.There are a lot of good general sports principles but when it come to actual drills and plays this book is slightly lacking.

Love it. Love it! Love it!!
I played high school volleyball for one of these authors, so I grew up playing all of the drills and games in this book.I am now a college coach myself & I STILL use this book as a reference guide when I go to plan out a practice.Your athletes will love the different games included in the book that put a different spin on the regular game of volleyball.

Good resource...
As the subtitle "Building a Winning Team" implies, the book touches on the various aspects required to building a team. The authors do an admirable job of providing a wealth of information across a broad spectrum of topics. If you're interested in a general guide with the basics this is the book for you.

The absolute bible of volleyball coaching
McGowan is a master teacher. When you implement his ideas and theories you can't help but become an awesome coach and your athletes will improve their physical and mental skills at an incredible rate.

Outstanding!
If you buy ONE book on how to coach volleyball, make it this one.Carl McGown is the "guru" of volleyball and if you read this book, implement what it says, your team will be better RIGHT NOW!

A book which goes beyond the x and o's to provide the coach with the correct skills and attitudes necessary to compete at a high level. ... Read more

Product Description
In Coaching Baseball Successfully, Coach Andy Lopez shows you how to build your own championship baseball team. He includes nuts-and-bolts information about how to

• plan for the season and prepare for practices,
• teach both offensive and defensive techniques and tactics to players,
• prepare for games and handle various game situations,
• evaluate your players and your program, and
• use 36 drills to develop players’ bunting, baserunning, hitting, and defensive skills.

Lopez also explains how to develop a baseball coaching philosophy, communicate on and off the field, and motivate players to be their best. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (8)

Don't Buy This Book
I played for Coach Lopez at the University of Florida and don't have many positive things to say about the experience. I found him to be very media savvy and personable when necessary with administration, but he was a poor leader, a below average coach, was well below average with his interpersonal skills with players and is unecessarily cruel and vindictive to a fault.Coach Lopez also alludes to his faith frequently, but acts very contrary to the bible and its teachings on the field from what I have seen.I strongly question his ability to coach anyone effectively or to write a book as a purported authority on the subject.

Don't buy this book, don't believe what he says...It's an act.

Get it and learn how to manage "a coach's life"
Coaching is like creating its own jigsaw : a lot of books will only showyou how to shape a certain kind of pieces. This book will help you todefine the entire picture and then refine it in many different pieces.Itwill provide you with datas that should be applied and confronted in reallife, not only read and understood. Other coaching books usually giveskills and drills. This fields are fast-covered here. Even if Andy Lopezhas chosen to emphasize the development of a good pitching staff, hischapter gives insufficient direction, poor skills advices, no tools toevaluate pitchers progression... I don't recommend this book to players whoare searching for new drills and new techniques. I recommend it to youngcoaches who doesn't know where they should be headed, and where they shouldbring their players.

Coaches, get this book!
I have been a coach on the college and high school level for 6 years now. I have also been a college player and had many pro tryouts. This book hasgiven me a different outlook on how to go about my business in a morestructured and professional manner. After reading it, you will see whyAndy's teams have always been top notch.

This book is an excellent guide to teaching baseball.
The approach that Coach Lopez has to baseball is unique and could benefit experienced or young coaches at any level. I recommend this book to all players and coaches who love to learn and teach baseball.

This book covers fully the building of a baseball program
Lopez, an extremely successful highschool and college coach, touches all the bases on how to build a successful upper calibre baseball program.Though basic enough for the laymen coach to benifit from, Lopez shares withthe reader his personal insight on how he created a winning program at boththe high school and college levels. ... Read more

Product Description
Ultimate is one of the fastest-growing sports in schools, intramurals, rec centers, and clubs throughout the United States and the world. It is also a sport that has been sorely lacking in current resources for teachers, coaches, and players--until now. Essential Ultimate: Teaching, Coaching, Playing contains all you need to know about teaching and coaching players to learn and achieve in the sport.Teachers, coaches, and players from all levels will benefit from this comprehensive guide, which includes over 200 illustrations and photographs and provides in-depth information on these elements:

• Throwing and catching techniques
• Individual offensive and defensive skills
• Team tactics
• Preparing mentally as well as physically for competition
• Starting and administering Ultimate programs

In part II the authors guide you in developing team unity and strength. They detail how to start an Ultimate program in schools, recreation centers, clubs, and intramural programs. They offer expert advice on developing championship teams, including the psychological preparation necessary for competing at your best. They also provide information on developing a fitness and conditioning program.As a fun, cost-effective recreational sport, one of Ultimate's appeals is in being self-officiated. This requires players to participate in fair play, teamwork, and good sportsmanship, helping them develop responsibility and character. With its thorough coverage of the sport, Essential Ultimate will also help players improve their skills--and aid coaches and teachers in applying the information in a variety of settings, thus making it an important resource for anyone interested in the world of Ultimate. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (6)

Great Book
I was very pleased with this book.The descriptions of the various skills are very detailed and well-explained.I am a captain of a college Ultimate club and we have implemented a number of drills from this book into our practices.I would recommend this book to anyone who is interested in captaining a team.

Comprehensive
Great book.I liked that it addressed lots of apsects of the game, especially how to get notoriety of the game in the reader's community.

Most comprehensive coaching guide available
As a player-coach for several years, I was very impressed by the supplemental information provided in this book. The text has helped me articulate the mechanics involved in fundamental ultimate techniques such as throwing, catching, etc. as well as supplying important information about defensive and offensive strategy.

I heartily recommend Jim Parinella's book as well, and have found it particularly useful for my own individual development. However, in terms of coaching and teaching your team and the players on it, I think this is the best ultimate book on the market today.
-Ben
PS
In my opinion, the three most useful sections: throwing, offensive strategy, and fitness for ultimate players.

Essential Reading
"Wow" was my first reaction when Essential Ultimate arrived in the mail. With the rapid growth of juniors, high school, college, and club ultimate, finally, there is a textbook to teach skills correctly. For those who learn through pictures, this book rocks.

--Erik Sebesta
The Ultimate Showcase Series (USS)

The new standard in resources for coaching ultimate
Essential Ultimate is written by 2 of the best coaches in the Junior scene. It is targeted at beginner and intermediate coaches of high school and college/university clubs, yet is very applicable to most senior clubs.

I compared Essential Ultimate to Parinella and Zazslow's "Ultimate Techniques and Tactics" as they have a similar audience, and you may know that text.

Essential Ultimate:
- has a better format as a teaching resource (examples of drills with diagrams, trouble shooting tips, as opposed to large chunks of prose, though it could improve even more)
- includes a better introduction for those new to ultimate: 10 simple rules, the field dimensions, and notes on self-refereeing
- has more on non-ultimate coaching elements such as warm ups, cool downs, the mental game and starting a team.

The difference between the 2 texts is encapsulated by the section on throwing. Baccarini and Booth talk about the key mechanics and how to coach them: correct grip (photos shown), wrist snap and follow through, troubleshooting tips for backhand, forehand and the hammer, how to throw in the wind, and a simple drill for teaching beginners to throw. In comparison, Parinella and Zazslow start with 4 principles of throwing that assume decent throwing skills, then discuss handling tactics, how to break the mark and more.

Essential Ultimate is aimed at coaches, while Ultimate Techniques and Tactics is aimed at experienced players (who probably lead and are player-coaches on their team).

My only significant gripe with Essential Ultimate is that it still has a bit of the flaw that Ultimate Techniques and Tactics had: parts of the book are large slabs of text. It is mostly a reference book, but at times tries to be more of an essay.

The text can explain some good general philosophies that may open you to new ideas, such as "Rather than just react, defenders should pre-act... so that an offensive player's explosive movement is preempted by an equally explosive anticipatory action on the part of the defender."

Unfortunately there are a number of self-evident observations that are unlikely to impact on how a coach coaches, if they have played more than a little ultimate, e.g. on man-on-man defense "What you hope will result is that covered receivers are scattered and clogging the passing lanes and thrower's choices are limited throwing into coverage, punting a Hail Mary pass downfield, or being stalled... And no-one ever wants to be stalled". Or the details on how a disc doesn't fly like a ball in the first paragraph. Truisms like these are clear once you have played even a little ultimate, where they are better learnt, and they feel superfluous to the book.

In comparison, pretty much all the diagrams, drill explanations, breakout boxes with tips, and troubleshooting lists are gold. They are very clear and very applicable. If a coach has a need for a certain type or drill, or issues with teaching a specific skill, they can easily refer to these tools. I've played at numerous World Championships, and coached for 8 years, and found quite a few concepts and drills I am now keen to use.

My wishes for the second edition are:
- communicate some ideas and tools through tables, case studies or acronyms as well, with more concise text.
- examples of session plans and season plans
- an index of the drills for quick reference

Lastly the sections on fitness, psychology and starting a program are brilliant. Any quality coach should consider these aspects and they give a good basic coverage of how they apply to an ultimate team. An experienced ultimate player who is a coach, will learn the most from these 3 chapters. A coach or teacher coming in from another sport will likely learn more from the rich chapters on ultimate specific skills.

Essential Ultimate has set the bar for all coaching resources in Ultimate. ... Read more