Product Description
Master all the important skills of basketball and take your game to the next level. Basketball: Steps to Success provides in-depth, progressive instruction in techniques and tactics, including detailed tutoring on shooting and 111 drills featuring a scoring system to gauge your progress.

As you build your skill base, you’ll learn how to make all the right moves in game situations, whether it’s executing the correct footwork when defending screens or making the right pass for a winning basket. Highly regarded coach, teacher, and clinician Hal Wissel will help you execute each technique proficiently and consistently on the court.

Improve your game. Basketball: Steps to Success will help you develop the total package of tools to achieve your goals on the court. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (7)

GREAT BOOK FOR STARTING OUT.
THIS BOOK IS EXCELLENT FOR COACHING AT ALL LEVELS. I HAVE OTHER GREAT COACHING BOOKS AND I'M COMPARING THIS BOOK TO MY OTHERS. THIS CONTAINED THE BEST SHOOTING CHAPTER SINCE BILL KUTCHARS BOOK ON HIGH SCHOOL BASKETBALL.

This book teaches many fundamentals.
This book tought me a lot of fundamentals. It has many illustrations

From NBA to Youth Level, Coaches and Players Will Gain
"Hal Wissel shares the personalized techniques he has mastered teaching players from NBA to youth level. Coaches and players will gain from his steps to success." Chuck Daly, Coach, 1992 Olympic BasketballTeam

Innovative instruction and drills to improve your game
"Basketball: Steps to Success has the innovative instruction and drills you need to master the fundamentals that will improve your total game."

Help players improve and enable coaches to teach better.
"Hal Wissel is an astute basketball architect. This book will help players improve and enable coaches to teach the game better." Jack Ramsay, PHD Television Analyst for ESPN and Miami Heat ... Read more

Product Description

“A must-read for anybody who considers themselves a basketball fan.”—Michael Wilbon, The Washington Post

On March 26, 1979, basketball as we know it was born. The NCAA championship game played that day launched an epic rivalry between two exceptional players: Earvin “Magic” Johnson and Larry Bird. Though they played each other only once as college athletes, that game transformed the NCAA tournament into a multibillion-dollar enterprise and laid the foundation for the resurgence of the NBA. To this day it remains the highest-rated basketball game, college or pro, in the history of television.

In the national bestseller When March Went Mad, Seth Davis recounts the dramatic story of the season leading up to that game, as Johnson’s Michigan State Spartans and Bird’s Indiana State Sycamores overcame long odds and great doubts to reach the game’s grandest stage. Davis also tells the stories of their remarkable coaches, Jud Heathcote and Bill Hodges, and he shows how tensions over race and class heightened the drama of the competition.

Davis combed through several years’ worth of newspaper and magazine coverage, interviewed nearly one hundred people, and watched dozens of games to reconstruct the colorful, historic, and improbable narrative of how Larry Bird and Magic Johnson burst on the scene—a coming-of-age story that continues to resonate. The Final Four, the NBA, and the game of basketball have never been the same.

Customer Reviews (63)

Fun trip down memory lane
I was in high school when Magic Johnson and Larry Bird burst on the national scene.I was a sports nut in those days (not so much today), and I played playground ball with my friends every day.I wasn't good enough to make my high school team, but basketball was a big part of my life regardless.

Magic and Bird, especially Magic, utterly transformed the games that we played.I remember vividly how everyone started trying to pass the ball with Magic's flair.All of a sudden, scoring wasn't as big a deal as delivering a perfect pass.We tried going behind the back, between our legs, bounce passes from half-court, and even lobbing to each other (which had to be exquisitely timed for kids who had vertical jumps of maybe 15 inches).We all dribbled less and passed more; we wanted to be Magic or Bird.

"When March Went Mad" does a decent job of chronicling what it was like to be a basketball fan in those days -- when the greatness of Magic or Bird was more a rumor than something that was visible on your TV, computer or handheld device all the time.We would read the articles about these guys, but it wasn't until we saw them that we understood -- really understood -- that they were different.And because we saw so little of them, it made those early glimpses even more memorable.

It was fun to relive those days, as well as to get the more raw inside stuff that the author has unearthed.He gives full coverage to the remarkable stories behind Magic, Bird (who quit Univ. Indiana and worked on a maintenance crew for a year before going to Indiana State), and their coaches (the volatile, mean Jud Heathcote and the rookie Bill Hodges).

Less successful is the author's repeated efforts to remind us how "small" big-time basketball was in the late 1970s.A few observations would have been enough, instead of the repetition used to pad the size of the book.Also, the idea that the NCAA championship game between the Magic's Michigan State Spartans and Bird's Indiana State Sycamores "changed" the game of basketball is an exaggeration.Bird's and Magic's sustained excellence in the NBA really did the trick, because that's where they took the top level of the game and made it better, more creative than it had been in a decade.College basketball was not transformed by Magic and Bird but by other factors that swept Magic and Bird along for a short period of time.

A Lansingite's perspective
I was a sixth-grader in Lansing when this game was played. It was the biggest thing that's ever happened in my hometown. Before Magic Johnson came along, we were just a state capital. I totally agree that local pride pushed Magic Johnson toward Michigan State. My dad took me to see him play when he was still a high schooler at Everett. (I ended up going to the school Magic really wanted to attend: Sexton High.) With its profiles of other local heroes like Dr. Charles Tucker, Jay Vincent and George Fox, this book brought back those days. It also reminded me of how lucky Jud Heathcote got that year. If Magic had grown up in Flint, he would have attended Michigan. No one wanted to play for that crusty coach.

Although Davis did a great job of describing my hometown -- even better than Magic in his own autobiography -- as a Lansingite, I do have to point out a few errors. "Grand Ridge" should be Grand Ledge, "Troll Bridge Road" is Trowbridge Road, and Dwight Rich was a junior high school in those days, not a middle school.

I love this book.
I didn't see the game - heard about it of course.This book lets you in on so much more than just the one game at the end of the season.It tells you how Magic ended up at MSU and how Bird came to be at Indiana State - it wasn't where he started college.It also gives you details about all of the teammates - some of whom, while mostly forgotten by history, were also pretty darned good basketball players.Neither Michigan State nor Indiana State, it turns out, were one man teams.This book takes you through all the important events leading up to the 1978-79 season and it takes you through the entire season.Some of the events and some of the games that occured before the final were as interesting, or more so, than the final game, so that information isn't just filler - not just stuff to take up space until you get to the main event - it's riveting reading.This book isn't a literary masterpiece, but it's a great read about a not-so-long-ago time when things were... different (I'd say better) in college basketball.These days, Bird and Magic would never meet in the championship because they both would already be in the NBA by this point in their careers - and that's a shame.

When Two Giants Collide
Seth Davis does an excellent job of building up to one of sport's most defining moments-- Indiana State's Larry Bird, the shycountry boy and Michigan State's Earvin "Magic" Johnson, the charismatic big city phenom met in the 1979 NCAA finals.Seth Davis did excellent research into the backgrounds of these two superstars. As well as the rocky road both their schools followed to get to the big game.
Bird and Johnson went on to become part of arguably the most storied rivalry in professional sports.

Great insights on Bird and Magic and Other Characters
As Diehard Spartan I thought I knew all there was to know about The Game.
Seth Davis did a great job making this more than just a sports book getting into the lives and character of not just Bird and Magic but many of the other characters that contributed to The Game That Made March Madness ... Read more

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Customer Reviews (3)

ok book
Used this book for a class. Kind of stale but might be interesting to the basketball fan.

A book telling the story of basketball
It was in Bennie's Corners(a nickname for a place where Naismith played as a youngster)that Naismith first observed recreational games being played.Next, during his time as a physical educator, he observed more games except this time being played at a higher level.Naismith and others realized that there was an actual need for a new game.He knew he was going to encorporate a few things; the game was going to be mainly made from other previously existing games, the game was going to be a team sport, it was going to use a large circular ball, and finally, it was going to be an indoor game.These were the few things that Naismith and others created the game upon.However most of the main construction of the game such as rules and regulations was left up to Naismith.

After a short while, Naismith came up with rules.They were soon printed in a newspaper called the Triangle.This is where some of the foundations of spreading of the game took place.People looked at the rules found anything they could to use as hoops and used the rules and regulations.

As time progressed the game started to become more popular and issues were brought up and rules.Naismith did change/add rules over time.The game began to spread both foreign and domesticaly, in places like Japan, China, Mexico, Canada, etc.Naismith was amazed that his game was able to spread so far and become so successful.

Naismith observed a number of games through the years and wondered how the game could go from at first having such bad players, to having players that can dribble good, shoot good, and play defense good.

The book also stressed that Naismith and the others did not the game for Recreation.They said that the game of basketball was strictly a problem that had been pressing on the physical educators for some time.This is why Naismith was puzzled when his newfangled game was such a success to the public.

In my opinion this book was great.I have always wondered the real story of how the game of basketball came to be.Also how the rules of the game can change and change as time progresses.The book told me about how the game spread from one place to all the corners of the globe.Also the original rules and how they were printed in the triangle newspaper.People from every race played the game.Both men and woman started playing the game.And finally how the game just started as solution to a problem, and ended up as a changing phenomenon.Even today the game is still changing, however the game has not strayed very far from the original rules Naismith published in the Triangle.
Overall I enjoyed this book, I also think others should read it and learn the original history of the game of basketball.

The only first person account of basketball's start
A Canadian by birth, Naismith, a physician and minister with additional degrees in education and psychology, also invented the football helmet and taught sex education. Naismith never made any money from the game he invented.In fact, he refused fees when he spoke about basketball inpublic, and he once turned down a substantial sum to endorse cigarettes.Amos Alonzo Stagg, a YMCA facility member and a player in the firstbasketball games, recommended Naismith to start a basketball program at theUniversity of Kansas.He took the job, which he held from 1898 until hisdeath in 1939, though he coached basketball for only nine years.Theinventor of the game is the only coach in University of Kansas history witha losing record: 53 wins and 55 losses.An amazing man and a wonderfullook at his YMCA invention: basketball ... Read more

Product Description
Game Strategy and Tactics for Basketball: Preparing to Win the Sideline Battles is both a how-tobook and a guide for how to plan strategy and tactics for basketball for an entire season or anindividual game. Coaches often focus on X's and O's and overlook how and when a particularoffense or defense should be applied and used during a game. Game Strategy and Tactics forBasketball: Preparing to Win the Sideline Battles serves as a planning guide and a master checklistfor all the possible situations that a coach will face during a season. The book includes bothtraditional and some "out-of-the-box" strategies to the common situations that coaches face andprovides both the pros and the cons of the approaches described. It is not the author's intention totell each coach exactly what to do, but to serve as a guide in the decision making process.

About the author:
A 24 year veteran of the coaching profession, with twenty-two of those years spent as a varsityhead coach, Coach Kevin Sivils amassed 464 wins and his teams earned berths in the state playoffs19 out of 22 seasons with his teams advancing to the state semi-finals three times. An eighttime Coach of the Year Award winner, Coach Sivils has traveled as far as the Central AfricanRepublic to conduct coaching clinics. Coach Sivils first coaching stint was as an assistant coachfor his college alma mater, Greenville College, located in Greenville, Illinois. His teams werealways known for their discipline, intense effort, execution of fundamentals, and team play.
Coach Sivils is also the owner of KCS Basketball Enterprises, LLC, an enterprise focused onproviding coaches with information to improve their knowledge of the game of basketball andtheir ability to coach.

"If you have been looking for a rigorously thorough handbook on basketball tactics and strategy,you have found it!"
Coach Doug Porter - Head Women's Coach, Olivet Nazarene University
National Scoring leaders: 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008
Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference Champions: 2000, 2005, 2007

"His thought provoking approach makes for an easy read and will definitely stimulate thoughtand, most likely, change the way you go about coaching!"
Rusty Rogers - Two time NAIA Division II Women's National Championship Coach and Two time NAIA National Coach of the Year

"Coach Sivils clearly brings his experience in the game of basketball to his writing. He is a greatteacher who acquired great gifts over the years and it's great he wants to share those gifts withother coaches."
Bill Reidy - Long time successful high school and AAU coach ... Read more

Customer Reviews (7)

A Guide for Basketball and Life
Not since John Wooden have I seen a book about basketball that deals with not just the X's and O's of the game but also the people involved.Coach Sivils gives a clear guide for thinking about the game in terms of winning on the court of course.But many of the strategies he presents for dealing with officials and players, especially the players are useful for success other than on the court.It is rare to find a book that outlines for a coach how to win on the court and also achieve the objective that many coaches overlook - how to develop their players into winners off the court in the game of life.
A must read.

Must for every coach's library - fans will like it as well!
Game Strategy and Tactics for Basketball is a must for every coach's library.This is not an X's and O's book. It is about how to use X's and O's.I have never come across another book like it. Fans who want to have a better understanding of why coaches do certain things in terms of strategy or tactics will enjoy this book as well.The book covers topics like how to slow up the game or slow it down, what defense to use, planning for timeouts and a lot more, there is just too
much to list here.

Blueprint for a winning basketball program!
I had the opportunity to read "Game Strategies and Tactics for Basketball" by Kevin Sivils a couple of weeks ago on a plane flight.I honestly was shocked with the amount of information in the 106 page book.I have read books on coaching basketball for the last twenty years and this is one of the best I have come across. It is concise and makes you think about how you handle every situation.

It isn't just basketball coaching, but administration of your basketball program and that is what I am impressed with.I would recommend it to any basketball coach on the high school level, especially the younger guys.It would have saved me from making some "young and dumb" mistakes early in my coaching career.

It is a blueprint on how you should run a basketball program.I really liked his management ideas on how to prepare at home and on the road.He hit on the mark with his view on special situations and how to plan for them.What things you have "control" over before, during, and after a basketball game.

You are going to want to check out this "information packed" book on basketball coaching/management ideas that will make you think.

Coach Peterman

Insightful and Informative
This book is so well thought out and presented, i am very impressed with it's clarity and focus on team preparation. This book really will help coaches in teaching their players how to be prepared for various situations and how to handle them. Everything from bench decorum and how to control the speed of the game is covered in this book - really brilliant.

Outstanding Book for Coaches!
Kevin Sivils has done a great job in explaining coaching tactics and strategies. I found the book to be well written and very informative. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Excellent description of how the game evolved at WVU
This book is a real gem and a must-read for any WVU basketball fan. The pictures are excellent, and are littered throughout the book, which help the reader get more of a visual understanding of the players. It's fun to see how the WVU uniforms changed over time. The writing is good, and it's a pretty exhaustive description of past WVU coaches and players, as well as some funny anecdotes about what was going on at the games. It's a great learning tool for any WVU sports nut who wants to learn more about men's hoops at the university. ... Read more

Product Description
When in 1969 the NBA sought an emblem for the league, one man was chosen above all as the icon of his sport: Jerry West. Silhouetted in white against a red-and-blue backdrop, West’s signature gait and left-handed dribble are still the NBA logo, seen on merchandise around the world.

    In this marvelous book—the first biography of the basketball legend—award-winning reporter and author Roland Lazenby traces Jerry West’s brilliant career from the coalfields near Cabin Creek, West Virginia, to the bare-knuckled pre-expansion era of the NBA, from the Lakers’ Riley-Magic-Kareem Showtime era to Jackson–Kobe–Shaq teams of the early twenty-first century, and beyond.

But fame was not all glory.

Called “Mr. Clutch,” West was an incomparable talent—flawless on defense, possessing unmatched court vision, and the perfect jumper, unstoppable when the game was on the line. Beloved and respected by fans and fellow players alike, West was the centerpiece of Lakers teams that starred such players as Elgin Baylor and Wilt Chamberlain, and he went on to nine NBA Finals. Yet in losing eight of those series, including six in a row to the detested Boston Celtics, West became as famous for his failures as for his triumphs. And that notoriety cast long shadows over West’s life on and off the court. 
 
Yet as the author discovered through scores of exclusive interviews with West’s teammates, colleagues, and family members, West channeled the frustration of his darkest moments into a driving force that propelled his years as an executive. And in this capacity, the success that often eluded West on the court has enabled him to reach out to successive generations of players to enrich and shape the sport in immeasurable ways.

Though sometimes overshadowed by flashier peers on the court, Jerry West nevertheless stands out as the heart and soul of a league that, in fifty years, has metamorphosed from a regional sideshow into a global phenomenon. And in Jerry West, Roland Lazenby provides the ultimate story of a man who has done more to shape basketball than anyone on the planet. 
  ... Read more

Customer Reviews (9)

A Different Kind of Book
This book is different than the average sports book you'll read - some reviewers have commented on the excess coverage on West's beginnings and yes, while it is a tad extensive - almost half the book covers his life thru college - it is refreshing, too.Far too many sports books have too many game summaries but you don't learn much about the person - if you're reading this, you know who Jerry West is and don't want to bother with trivial game descriptions - a few game summaries are okay but a book with too many is tiresome reading.And speaking about you know who Jerry West is, why do so many reviewers try to give you his life story, like we don't know who he is?? - if you're reading all these reviews, then you obviously know who Jerry West is and it's tiresome reading to slog thru those kinds of reviews - I mean, we know who Jerry West is, just tell us about the book.

A Disappointment
I too was a huge West fan who wore his number through high school and practiced in the mud on my dirt court just like he did. I was eager to read the book after reading the rave review from Tim Rutten in the LA Times.

I was disappointed. The nearly 80 pages at the outset, covering the plight of West's relatives going back several generations, seem endless, and are told at the snail's pace of a West Virginian's dialect. If only Lazenby had directed his considerable research hours into more interesting and pertinent topics, such as West's career after retiring as a player -- which gets a shallow and perfunctory 30 pages at the end of the book. What comes in between, West's playing career, will be no news to anyone who has read Bill Libby's excellent bio of thirty years ago and followed West's career with even moderate interest in newspapers and periodicals.

I felt the author got lost in the West Virginia roots he shares with his subject (and, tellingly, with Tim Rutten), then ran out of time, steam or both before his deadline.After the slow opening, the whole book feels rushed: as another reviewer noted, it is sloppily edited, with typos, errors, narrative confusion, and inconsistencies in abundance.

Clearly, judging by the overwhelmingly positive reviews here, your mileage may vary.

Should be on every basketball fan's "must read" list
Biographer Roland Lazenby describes Los Angeles Lakers great Jerry West as "the most influential figure in the history of American basketball."Lazenby takes on the task of trying to explain the "mystery that is Jerry West."

Lazenby was told that to understand West, he needed to understand West Virginia, where West was born and raised and played for the University of West Virginia.Lazenby spends the first 75 pages, detailing the history of West Virginia, exploring West's ancestry and interviewing many of his family members, relatives and boyhood friends.While this does help to explain West, I'm afraid it's about 50 pages too long for many readers.

But, by the time you finish this nearly 400-page biography, you'll have completely forgotten about the book's slow start.

Lazenby achieves his goal of explaining the mystery of Jerry West.Jerry's mother was a perfectionist, who was a loner and shy.Jerry, who had little relationship with his abusive father, took after his mother.He was also deeply affected by the death of his older brother in the Korean War.

West was never able to enjoy his accomplishments.Nothing he ever did was good enough.Instead, he settled for disappointment, harsh criticism or perceived slights by others. He would go through long periods of depression when he wasn't playing well.He was extremely competitive, had more heart than any other player, obsessed with winning and driven to greatness.He was humble, shy and reserved.

Lazenby says West's rise to the top of basketball was "absolutely improbable."West was physically frail through high school, college and much of his NBA career.As an NBA rookie he was 6-foot-3 and 172 pounds.Coach Bill Sharman called West, known as Mr. Clutch, "the tallest 6-foot-3 player ever." Sharman also felt West was "probably the greatest defensive guard ever."

Lazenby gives a good account of West's high school and college basketball careers, particularly the rivalry between West and Oscar Robertson of the University of Cincinnati to be considered the best college player in the nation. The book is equally divided between West's pre-NBA years and NBA career.

West's heroics and heartbreaks in the NBA, losing year after year to the Boston Celtics for the championship, are well chronicled.West and the Lakers finally won a championship in 1972, beating the New York Knicks.Lazenby points out that if West had scored a total of 10 more points in five games, he would have had an NCAA title and four NBA titles.

After his playing days, West served three unhappy years as the Lakers coach and then became their successful general manager.

This is an insightful biography about one of the NBA's greatest players ever.It should be on every basketball fan's "must-read" list.

A "Clutch" writing
The best sports biography I ever read from the historical periods leading up to Jerrys birth to the present day. I could almost hear Chick Hearn describing the activities of the court action moving from "left to right on your radio dial".

Jerry Lee (age 72)

OBNOXIOUS EDITING/WRITING HABIT RESURFACES
This is the second book I've bought by Mr Lazenby.I'll have to look again who his editors are, but in both books there are several instances wheresentences, paragraphs, even a series of pages are repeated VERBATIMfrom another section in the book.This is not an instance of an author telling an anecdote two different ways, in two different places in the book.It is an instanceof someone copying and pasting the same text and inserting it later in the book as filler to make the book appear larger.This gets obnoxious because you find yourself stumbling across the same 3-5 pages you read 60 pages ago, and having to flip through the next 3-5 pages wondering where the narrative picks back up with new material.I don't know why an author and publisher would allow this to occur.It was something that happened frequently in Lazenby's book on Kobe, and I just came across the first few instances of it in the West book, butlike a sucker, it's the topic of his books that reel me in--not the writing or editing.Most of us who consider books like this are so interested in the Lakers that we don't really care how well written the books are...... Anyways, just thought you should know. ... Read more

Product Description
The best basketball players and coaches are known not only for their success in the sport but for the manner in which they manifest their knowledge and abilities in playing, coaching, and teaching the game.

Oscar Robertson, Larry Bird, Magic Johnson, Michael Jordan, Steve Nash, Diana Taurasi, and other great players past and present share a special grasp of what is needed in every situation on the court and how to maximize their own effectiveness as well as that of their team. Teams coached by John Wooden, Phil Jackson, Pat Summitt, and Mike Krzyzewski won many championships because of their coaches' amazing ability to teach, motivate, discipline, and unite players to perform to their potential individually and as a group.

Court Sense highlights all those qualities that make players and teams great, and it provides practical ways to improve any intangibles that might be lacking. The first half of the book covers all the basics a player must have in place, on and off the court, in order to excel. The second half features the six Cs that are crucial to on-court performance: coachability, communication, cohesion, capacity to lead, competitiveness, and concentration.

Author John Giannini brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to the subject as a former collegiate player and veteran coach who has earned a PhD in sport psychology. His insights and advice are combined with real-life examples and supported by stories shared by these top coaches:
John Beilein, Tony Bennett, Tom Crean, Jamie Dixon, Steve Donahue, Joanne P. McCallie, Sean Miller, Oliver Purnell, Bo Ryan, Tubby Smith, Sharon Versyp, and Jay Wright.

Playing like a winner first requires preparing like one. Use Court Sense to your advantage and you'll be one step closer to cutting down the nets. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

READ THIS BOOK!!!
John Giannini's book is a must read for coaches and athletes of all sports at all levels.COURT SENSE (as its name implies) gives practical advice that can be applied to help provide a structured system for individual and team success.Specific goal setting techniques and methods for measuring progress are particularly helpful.

As a young coach, this book was exceptional in helping provide strategies for building more than just an effective team, but a program that can achieve success year after year -- the type of success that reaches far beyond the court or playing field.

Athletes who read this book will be challenged with anecdotes and ideas designed to increase understanding of how to approach maximizing one's abilities.I plan on making this book required reading for my team.

Giannini collaborates with some of the best coaching minds in college basketball to provide insights into various principles and values that come up again and again in our efforts to get the most out of our competitive experiences.Reading this book is certain to help you on your journey to learn through sports and life.Any sports library is incomplete without it.

A Must Read for Everyone!!
Court Sense teaches you all the different aspects of basketball.It is a great and easy read and I enjoyed learning from John Giannini's teachings, along with the excerpts from all the other coaches throughout the book.I would highly recommend this book to both men and women of all ages who want to learn more about the game of basketball. ... Read more

Product Description
Melody is certain that her new basketball coach, Mr. O'Grady, is a leprechaun, and soon she and the other children are keeping an eye on him and observing his growing relationship with third grade teacher Mrs. Jeepers. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (9)

Leprechauns Don't Play Basketball
ISBN 0590448226 - I really, really wanted to like this book, if only because the BSK series is popular with kids and anything that makes them want to read has to be worth looking into.Unfortunately, it's not that good.

It's St Patrick's Day in Bailey City and Eddie is enjoying pinching everyone not wearing green.He also enjoys tripping people and otherwise getting up to mischief, even in Mrs. Jeepers' class.Mrs. Jeeper is from Transylvania and if that doesn't make her unusual enough, she's got a burning, irrational-seeming hatred of leprechauns.When time for gym class rolls around, the kids meet a visitor from Ireland, Mr. O'Grady, who's going to teach them Irish dances.The kids quickly become suspicious of the little man, certain he's a leprechaun.Of course, they're also certain that Mrs. Jeepers is a vampire, so they must just be crazy... right?Wrong!

The story is fun and lighthearted, despite the looming possibility of a leprechaun-vampire war in the hallway.The book, however, is really too short to be more than slightly amusing.By the time the tale picks up, it's already heading into the big finale which was itself a bit of a letdown.I give it three stars, consider it average, but end with a high note: I'll be reading more BSK books whenever they come my way - they're not bad, it's just this one isn't all that great.RL3, ages 7-10.

- AnnaLovesBooks

A story that plays on a common prejudice among elementary school children
Children always fantasize about their teachers; according to them every school has the teacher that is evil and others who are delightful and cheery. The children at Bailey Elementary have a problem. Mrs. Jeepers is from the Transylvanian Alps in Rumania and speaks with a Dracula-like accent. The students in her third grade class are convinced that she is a vampire.
Things change when Mr. O' Grady arrives to teach them Irish dances during gym class. He has a sprightly demeanor and behaves like an Irishman who enjoys a good time. Eddie is the class mischief maker yet he meets his match in both Mrs. Jeepers and Mr. O-Grady. The class becomes convinced that Mr. O'Grady is a leprechaun.
Suddenly there is tension between Mrs. Jeepers and Mr. O'Grady when Mrs. Jeepers learns that Mr. O'Grady is there. The children are puzzled so they go to Howie's grandmother, who tells the tale of the ancient battle between the vampires and the leprechauns. Suddenly, it all becomes clear to the children and they must decide whose side they are to come down on. When the struggle between Mrs. Jeepers and Mr. O'Grady reaches the decision point, they intervene, leading one to victory.
This is a simple adventure tale that plays on one of the universal prejudices of elementary school children, that one or more of their teachers are not human. That makes it a fun tale and of course there is a happy ending.

He is REALLY short! But a leperchaun!?
Yea the guy's short, but do you think it is more important to focus on that or that he is trying to steal the gem around Mrs. Jeepers neck. It's your opinion, but just think about it.

I gave it 5 stars because it was fun to read and, hey what if there are leperchauns teaching B-Ball! :)

Great Story
This is a really good Bailey School Kids story. The fact that the leprechaun can do more basketball tricks than all the other kids is hilarious. Overall it was good. But please be aware that when you read this story it triggers your mind into thinking leprechauns are real but they really aren't. If that happens to you my suggestion is to read one chapter of the story each day then you won't think that leprechauns are real.

Great fun!
This book was purchased as a gift for an eleven-year old girl who loves both basketball and the Bailey School Kids. As I hoped, she absolutely loved it! ... Read more

Product Description

It’s fun to watch a high-flying slam dunk, a perfect spiral thrown for a touchdown, or a batter fooled by a hard-breaking curveball. But how are athletes able to perform these moves? From the laws of physics on a skateboard to the effects of weather on a ball, the Science of Sports books explore all the science behind these amazing plays.

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Product Description
From the first jump ball and its humble beginnings at a YMCA with a couple of peach baskets, to the final buzzer and the glam of an NBA slam, basketball bounces onto your bookshelves with J is For Jump Shot. As with the other Sleeping Bear sports titles (7 titles and over 400,000 in print) it is the perfect introduction to the game. Whether reluctant or voracious, readers will be entertained as they learn the rules, fundamentals, famous players and plays.Young fans and old will find nothing but net with Mark Braught+s dynamic illustrations as their many questions are answered - What was the role of Dr. James Naismith in developing the game? Why do referees sometimes place their palm on their head? And who scored more points than any other NBA player? ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Christmas presents
My daughter is going to be a elementary teacher and she is collecting these books for her classroom.She loved it!
I bought it for Christmas for her.I bought a couple others as well.They were a big hit Christmas morning.She likes the fact that the book has both a version for older and a version for younger children right within the book.
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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
Butler University in Indianapolis became the smallest school in 40 years to reach the NCAA championship game. Prior to the tournament, a statistician calculated the Bulldogs as a 200-to-1 shot to win. But as fascinating as what Butler accomplished was how they did it. Underdawgs tells the incredible and uplifting story.

Butler’s coach, 33-year-old Brad Stevens, looked so young he was often mistaken for one of the players, but he had quickly become one of the best coaches in the nation by employing the “Butler Way.” This philosophy of basketball and life, adopted by former coach Barry Collier, is based on five principles: humility, passion, unity, servanthood, and thankfulness. Even the most casual observer could see this in every player, on the court and off, from NBA first-round draft pick Gordon Hayward to the last guy on the bench.

Butler was coming off a great 2009–10 regular season, but its longtime existence on the periphery of major college basketball fostered doubt as March Madness set in. But after two historic upsets, one of top-seeded Syracuse and another of second-seeded Kansas State, and making it to the Final Four, the Bulldogs came within the diameter of a shoelace of beating the perennial leaders of college basketball: the Duke Blue Devils. Much more than a sports story, Underdawgs is the consummate David versus Goliath tale. Despite Duke’s winning the championship, the Bulldogs proved they belonged in the game and, in the process, won the respect of people who were not even sports fans. ... Read more

Product Description

Michael Jordan is the greatest basketball player of all time. But hispre-eminence is more than just extraordinary athletic ability: the lessons ofhis life-such as focus, passion, hard work, perseverance andaccountability-have shaped him into one of the most revered celebrities of the20th century.

In this inspiring book Pat Williams, motivational speaker and senior vicepresident of the NBA's Orlando Magic, reveals Jordan's method for living alife of greatness that we can all incorporate into our lives. Fascinatinganecdotes and quotes from those who know Michael best provide a glimpse into apersona as sweeping and immense as any generation has ever witnessed. Pepperedwith examples from Williams's life and those of other star athletes andcelebrities, this uplifting book shows that we are, indeed, all capable offulfilling our full potential. Readers from all walks of life can appreciate andaspire to living life like a champion.

Customer Reviews (13)

mike
The micheal jordan book that i read was good. It talks alot about how to be a better student an basketball player. Its a good book if your intrested in basketball.

MJ book
The book came safe and sound and is a great book- but I had all kinds of problems with posters I ordered- One damaged so you sent 2 to replace- not right ones- finally I got one good one but not in time for Christmas for my son by the time all the hassle was over-Probably will not order any more posters on line

Excellent Book
Great book on MJ. This book really goes in depth about the personal character of MJ. Also a very motivating book, especially how it describes the work ethic of MJ. I refer to it here and there when I need to pick myself up in life. Fun read.

Greatest Book Ever
I am 39 years old. I have read literally thousands and thousands of books in my life. This is the BEST book I have ever read. After you read this you will wan to go out and ACCOMPLISH something. Just the quotes in the book alone are worth the price. If you have a teenager who plays basketball, buy him or her this book. But you dont have to be an athlete to love it. THE BEST BOOK I HAVE EVER READ.

How To be Like Mike
This book was totally awesome. The author showed what a true leader Mike really is. There were so many examples of how his leadership helped so many people. Not only in sports, but in everything, leadership is extremely important. ... Read more

Product Description
America is blessed with the best athletes in the world, yet as anyone who watched the 2004 Olympics can tell you, our basketball development system hardly creates the most successful team. Why? Because from ridiculously young ages like 10 and 11, they are overplayed and undertaught by a system that values short term success over long-term development. Coach McCormick has done his homework--and he has extremely specific, hands-on ideas from all over the world about exactly how American basketball development can work better. From learning good defensive positioning, to overhauling an offensive and corrupt system--it's all in here. --Henry Abbott of TrueHoop ... Read more

Customer Reviews (14)

Specific drills and great guidance
The book is well layed out and will improve the knowledge of any basketball coach at any level.

I coach club and rec 11U boys.

Crossover movement
Brian McCormick's books have completely changed the way I coach Basketball. The systematic way he builds through age groups, providing detailed research to back himself up, is great. He is also not afraid to take established Basketball concepts and ask "Why do we do it this way, would it not make more sense to do it another way"?, and actually backs it up with some logical concepts of his own is inspirational.
I have this book, plus most of Brian's other books, and use them at every training I do, from 4 year olds to men's teams, and have had great success so far. No other author has changed my opinions as much, I am definately part of the "Crossover Movement".

Breakthrough thinking about youth basketball
Cross Over was one of the first books I read as I aimed to learn more about coaching youth basketball... Little did I know that it is one of the few that is based on desired outcomes rather than just scripted drills and plays... refreshing... I pick it up before each season and always find a nugget or two that helps me be a better teacher.

Develop the whole player...
Cross Over is a great manual for youth basketball coaches who want to develop the complete player from the ground up.I've been reading Brian's articles and blogs for several years and he has captured all of that accumulated knowledge in this book.I especially like the focus on cognitive development and how the mental aspect of the game is so important.Its worth adding to your coaching library!

Great resource for youth coaches
This book is an unbelievable resource for youth basketball coaches.I have read many youth coaching books and none even rival the vast amount of information regarding the philosophy of developing young basketball players.If you are interested in simply locating a few trick out of bounds plays or offensive sets that will help you win a youth league basketball game this book is NOT for you.However, if you take your position as a youth basketball coach seriously and are interested in developing young 8, 9 or 10 year old kids into solid high school basketball players this book is for you.

Brian McCormick is very well read and has a vast amount of experience teaching and coaching girls and boys of various ages the game of basketball.His research and vast teaching/coaching experince come out in this book that provides a thoughtful and creative road map for developing young basketball players.

In addition to any youth basketball coaches I would also recommend this book to any varsity high school basketball coaches that are in the process of developing a youth program or evaluating their current youth program.Any parent that takes seriously the development of their son or daughter as basketball player should spend some time with this book so they can gain a better understanding of how that development should occur.

While in college and graduate school I spent several seasons coaching Freshman and Junior Varsity boys basketball.While I certainly draw on that experience today coaching my 3rd grade son and 5th grade daughter's teams, this book has been an invaluable resource and guide to help these kids enjoy the game and improve their basketball skills



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Product Description
Pat Williams has drawn on his basketball industry connections to compile great stories from on and off the court.  Fans will be inspired, surprised, and even amused, by inside stories from well-known coaches and players, fascinating looks behind the scenes, and anecdotes from the people who make it all possible – the fans.  Includes first person stories from 21 basketball celebrities, plus Pat Williams:

Caron Butler – current NBA all-star for the Washington Wizards

Dolph Schayes – former NBA great; one of the top 50 players in NBA history

Jim Les – former NBA player and current college coach (Bradley University)

Matt Doherty – former UNC player and head coach; current head coach at SMU

Ron Hunter – head coach at IUPUI

Sam Smith – well-known sports writer/basketball columnist

Gregg Popovich – head coach of the San Antonio Spurs

Donn Nelson – general manager of the Dallas Mavericks

Bob Love – former NBA all-star

Ed O’Bannon – collegiate basketball player of the year in 1995 for UCLA

Ann Meyers-Drysdale – first woman to play in the NBA; current GM of the Phoenix Mercury (WNBA)

Grant Hill – current NBA all-star with the Phoenix Suns

Sheila Johnson – president of the Washington Mystics (WNBA) and former wife of Bob Johnson (BET)

Adonal Foyle – current NBA player

Charlie Villanueva – current NBA player

Chuck Daly – Basketball Hall of Fame coach; won two championships with the Detroit Pistons; coached the 1992 Dream Team

Chris Paul – current NBA all-star and USA Basketball Olympian

Greg Kite – former NBA player

Skip Caray – former well-known sports broadcaster

Pat Riley – Miami Heat president; former coach of the Los Angeles Lakers and Miami Heat

John Gabriel – NBA scout and former Orlando Magic general manager ... Read more

Customer Reviews (5)

Substantial, highly relevant, moving
To only a minor degree do I agree with another reviewer, who regretted a certain light tone and self-serving characteristics in some of the chapters. However, overall I found this book to be excellent and WELL worth reading. Honestly, I wasn't expecting to be blown away like I was - Marc Balara is my 'oldest' friend, and I was mostly interested in his chapter. Dare I say that Marc's chapter also happens to be THE most substantial. Prepare yourself for a few tears as well when you get there, because I predict you WILL get there. Any human being who tries to remain conscious on this planet can relate to Marc and some of the other writers in this book - it is ALWAYS the so-called 'little' things that make all the difference. And I get it - youngsters will especially be shaped by the moments of kindness, the attention that so-called adults take for granted, that can alter the entire course of one's life or experiences. Thanks, folks, and thanks for no tawdry "slam dunk" analogies.

Chicken Soup Inside Basketball
The book was disappointingly light. I hadn't read a chicken soup for the soul book for some years so expected it to match the quality of the original books. I expected stories that had a message or a quirkiness, but found this to be more self promotion of athletes and their lifestyle choices. Good choices and worth promoting, but not unusual enough to justify being under the chicken soup name I felt. I was looking for stories that were more...? Perhaps more realinsight inside basketball, not about "I did this", "won this" and am a good guy etc...

Chicken soup
Chicken Soup for the Soul: Inside Basketball: 101:...was "okay."I bought it for my husband because I thought it had more information about Philadelphia teams.However, it was informative and can be read at one sitting.As with all books, there are many things that can be discovered.

Thrilled Contributor and Reader
As a contributor to this wonderful book, I cannot recommend it enough.As a reader of this wonderful book, I cannot recommend it enough.My contribution to this book is "The Coach from Iona," (my story of a brief encounter with Jim Valvano at a basketball camp when I was a kid) and I am thrilled that Pat Williams included it in a book filled with so many inspirational, captivating and heart-warming stories.Each gifted writer weaves a gift in the form of words, wrapping your emotions in a world of hope, dreams and possibilities.Even if basketball is not a past time for you, the message of this book is a past time for everyone. If you love basketball (as I do), then this book is a powerhouse of passionate richness, that I will read again and again, cherish always, and share energetically with all who are dear to me.I am honored to be part of a team that is so much bigger than myself...and I hope you read these stories with all your heart, your mind and your soul.

Unbelievable Book!!!
All I can say is, "Wow!What a terrific book!"I'm not much of a reader, but I love sports.I thought that this book would be okay because I could read one or two stories at a time and not have to read all day.Well, I couldn't put the book down.

I loved the story about Chris Paul honoring his grandfather by scoring 61 points in a game.I loved the story about Barack Obama playing hoops with the UNC Tarheels.I couldn't believe the story about Jim Jones Jr. I'm not a very emotional person, but this book got to me.I was fired up, I laughed, I even teared up because of a few stories.

I've received a few "Chicken Soup" books before, but never one like this.I am absolutely amazed at how many unbelievable stories are in the book.You won't be disappointed with this purchase. ... Read more

Product Description
Outside the Limelight is the first book to look inside Ivy League basketball.Kathy Orton weaves together the stories of coaches and players as they move from fall practice through an entire season and ahead to the NCAA tournament. Vividly capturing the internal fervor of the personalities who champion their gameÂ--all the triumphs and disappointments of an Ivy hoop season. ... Read more

Product Description
Playing the Post presents the principles and practice drills that will improve your inside game. Highlights include

• 12 drills for high- and low-post scoring,

• 8 drills for rebounding,

• 7 drills for post passing,

• 24 techniques for defending the post, and

• 10 advanced high- and low-post moves. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Playing the Post : Basketball Skills and Drills
I think first I ought to say something about myself.I live in England, so although I'm 24 and have been playing basketball for twelve years, I don't have the coaching/fundamentals a person my age in many other countries would have.

I found the book to be very informative, though it is probably aimed at people younger than myself and/or coaches of younger people.

As a player I found that the most useful sections were those devoted to individual offense and defense. Specifically when introducing a new move, the description is accompanied by clear diagrams describing where your feet should be and where they should be moving to.

I also enjoy coaching, and it is in this respect that I found the book most useful. Every section is accompanied by suggestions of drills which can be used to focus on particular weaknesses.From a coaches point of view, the section on strong and weak side rebounding, and the percentages with which shots taken from a certain area will fall into was of most use to me. This information I haven't found anywhere else.

The book also contains a very basic section on exercise and weight training. The depth in which it discusses this area supports my view that the book is aimed at 11-16 year olds (or even younger!). I would suggest that people older than this should look elsewhere for a more detailed training program

This is not a flaw and though I believe that I was rather older than the intended reader, I found the book to be very useful. ... Read more

Product Description

Product Description

Whether it’s smashing a home run, heaving a touchdown pass, or scoring the game-winning goal, fans love watching their favorite stars. With incredible photos and lists of stats, fans will love seeing the world’s best athletes and their amazing achievements up close.

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Product Description
Being a spectator is much more fun when a person fully understands the game. With the help of Basketball Made Simple: A Spectator's Guide new fans will comprehend all the action in this fast-moving and exciting sport.

This book introduces the reader to the basics of the game including:

*The latest rules at pro and college levels, for both men and women
*Tips for watching games
*Strategies simplified
*A way to decipher basketball statistics
*Basketball personalities of the past and present

It also familiarizes the fan with the National Basketball Association (NBA) and the newly formed women's leagues, covering the teams and star athletes of the WNBA and ABL (American Basketball League). The book also maps out the road college teams must follow to get to the NCAA Final Four. Even the existing fan can use its up-to-date presentation of the most important statistics.

A complete glossary and index makes finding information a snap
Makes a great gift
Pocket-sized - take it to the game
Latest rules for pro leagues and college presented in easy-to-read tables ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

basketball made simple
Very easy to read and understand. I enjoyed the stats. on the major stars. Highly recomend!

Short but helpful guide
I bought this book as a gift but learned alot from it myself. I found it quite helpful.

Some things in the book were hard to find, such as the explanation of different zone defenses for NCAA. Once found, I did learnsomething! The explanations were short and to-the-point.

There were somepictures and diagrams, but mostly the book is text. I was hoping for morepictures.

The book covers both NBA and NCAA basketball.

Overall, not abad place to get started with basketball! ... Read more