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Archive for July, 2008
July 31, 2008 at 9:58 pm · Filed under Basketball Books

This book is a must-have for every coach and player!
- Covers the fundamentals and style of team play, emphasizing the delicate balance between the simplistic reality and incredibly demanding effort of the game
- Includes a new introduction by Bill Walton
- Includes new, updated photos
Coach Wooden, more than anything else, is a teacher. Basketball just happens to be his subject. This book outlines a pattern, a theory, a strategy, and a course for how to develop as a basketball player and as a person. It organizes and dispenses the knowledge that Coach Wooden has accumulated over a lifetime in the game of basketball. It gives the reader an understanding of the delicate balance of the simple reality of the game and the incredibly demanding effort and dedication needed to master basketball. This timeless book will help everyone who is interested in improving their life and their basketball game. This book is so well thought out, well planned, well organized, and well written that it is perfectly applicable thirty-two years after its first publication. Reading it will make you feel like a member of the team.
John Wooden was a teacher and coach at UCLA for 27 years.
Customer Review: Could use an update
I have a ton of books on various aspects of coaching basketball, and this is by far the most comprehensive resource I own. I particularly appreciate Coach Wooden's attention to detail and his down-to-earth, methodical approach.
I'd give it 4.5 stars if that were possible, just because this edition looks like it was run off on a photocopy machine, particularly the photos, but in terms of content, it's almost certain to be the most valuable book in a basketball coach's library.
Customer Review: Basketball Book
I found this book to be very informative. This was purchased for my grandson who is a basketball fan and player (age 14) and I am sure that he will be delighted with the book (a Christmas present for him)
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July 30, 2008 at 1:38 pm · Filed under Basketball Books
Basketball clinics, a revolving door of coaches, incensed parents, and the importance of the right sneakers—is that what the game is about? Told from the perspective of four unlikely friends, Nora Raleigh Baskin's poignant novel focuses on the action, drama, and fun of playing ball and explores what it takes to be a winner of the game—both on the court and off.
Customer Review: great book for any young sports fan and then some
Both my boys loved the book- they are 12 and 10 years old- neither plays basketball- one is a soccer player and the other fences- but they certainly found they could relate to the characters and the dilemmas they faced- any parent who has sat on the sidelines watching their child play a sport can relate as well- has a nice message- we often give copies of this book as a bday gift-
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July 29, 2008 at 3:35 pm · Filed under Basketball Books
From a 40-year veteran, the only book available devoted to coaching high school basketball
In Coaching High School Basketball, Hall of Famer Bill Kuchar presents an indispensable instruction manual for experienced and rookie coaches alike. A combination of classic tactics and new, cutting-edge strategies, this one-of-a-kind handbook provides easyto- read diagrams and instructions, plus dozens of practice drills to reinforce fundamentals and teach innovative moves. Readers will learn how to:
- Master Kuchar's "double motion offense"
- Locate, protect, and infiltrate zones
- Defend against the fast break
- Use last-second plays for when the game is on the line
- Make the most of out-of-bounds plays
- Scout and evaluate junior high school talent
- Get college coaches to scout their games
Customer Review: Needs more careful editing.
This book has a lot that would be useful to a new HS coach, but unfortunately it seems that there was a lack of communication/checking between the author and the person who DTP'ed the diagrams. The diagrams contain many errors and inconsistencies which sometimes make it difficult to understand the plays and drills. Some arrows are missing or pointing in the opposite direction from what the descriptions indicate, offensive players are sometimes marked with an "X", diagrams occasionally show the ball going to one player while the description indicates a pass to a different player, etc.
Furthermore, the descriptions themselves could have been a little more detailed in places. It's clear that Coach Kuchar knows his basketball, but it's surprisingly difficult to explain basketball plays on paper, and I think this book would have benefited from a careful check by somebody who represents the target audience: a new coach with some understanding of the game but who doesn't already know what the author is trying to say.
My advice is to wait for the second edition.
Customer Review: Coaching High School Basketball : A Complete Guide to Building a Championship Team
This has everything a high school coach needs to run a sucessful program. It does not go into great depth as other books do, it is more concise and assumes you know the fundamentals. It has a great drill section and practice itinerary. You do not need your own practice plan-If you follow Bills plan your on the road to success.
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July 28, 2008 at 9:30 pm · Filed under Basketball Books
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.
Customer Review: 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.
Customer Review: This book teaches many fundamentals.
This book tought me a lot of fundamentals. It has many illustrations
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July 27, 2008 at 8:12 pm · Filed under Basketball Books
Wes Miller grew up in the shadow of the Atlantic Coast Conference, college basketball's most powerful league. But as a high school senior, none of those elite programs offered him a scholarship-they thought he was too small and too slow.
After a year at a mid-major program, he chose to attend North Carolina without a basketball scholarship. Over the next four years, Miller's hard work resulted in a major role on the Carolina team. He earned a starting spot as a junior, displacing more highly touted players.
He began his senior year with a mission-to chronicle all aspects of his final season in Chapel Hill. Off the court, it is a glimpse of a life few will ever enjoy. At a basketball-crazy school like the University of North Carolina, basketball players are the Beatles. On the court, Miller had to find his place in one of the most talented Carolina teams in history. This is the story of his senior year in his own words, as he takes you inside the locker room, on the court, and behind the scenes in the most unique book ever written about one of the most famous college sports dynasties of all time-Carolina basketball.
Wes Miller is a senior on the men's basketball team at North Carolina, one of the nation's most elite programs.
Adam Lucas is the author of three books on North Carolina basketball: Going Home Again, Led By Their Dreams, and The Best Game Ever. He lives in Chapel Hill.
Customer Review: A Must for Carolina Fans
"The Road to Blue Heaven" provides a great insider's look at the ins and outs of North Carolina men's basketball. Wes Miller does a great job of covering all aspects of being on the team and Adam Lucas' articles provide a good complement to Miller's thoughts. While Miller does mention his limited playing time, it is refreshing to see his constantly positive attitude and willingness to play whatever part he can and, also, his determination to be a leader for his younger teammates. If you're a fan, this book is a fascinating read.
Customer Review: Very well written book by a first time author.
Who better to tell the story of the 2006-2007 North Carolina Tar Heels men's basketball team than someone who was actually on the team. There were many interesting points made about different games, players, and more insight into Wes Miller himself. The one thing I wasn't too fond of, but didn't change my liking for the book, was Miller constantly bringing up the fact that he wasn't too thrilled about his limited role on the team. That seemed to be too common a theme. However, this is a great read for any North Carolina fan out there looking for some insight on the team, coach Roy Williams, and Wes Miller.
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July 26, 2008 at 7:23 pm · Filed under Basketball Books
So you’re thinking about volunteering to coach youth basketball? Great! You’re in for a fun, rewarding experience. Whether you’re new to the sport and looking for some guidance or you’re a seasoned coach hunting for some fresh tips, Coaching Basketball For Dummies will help you command the court with confidence.
Each friendly chapter is packed with expert advice on teaching the basics of basketball—from dribbling and shooting to rebounding and defending—and guiding your kids to a fun-filled, stress-free season. You get a crash course in the rules and regulations of the game, as well as clear explanations of what all those lines, circles, and half-circle markings mean on the court. You’ll assign team positions, run great practices, and work with both beginning and intermediate players of different age groups. You’ll also see how to ramp up your players’ skills and lead your team effectively during a game. This book will also help you discover how to:
- Develop your coaching philosophy
- Understand your league’s rules
- Conduct a preseason parents’ meeting—crucial for opening the lines of communication
- Teach offensive and defensive strategies
- Keep your kids healthy and injury-free
- Encourage good sportsmanship
- Make critical half-time adjustments during a game
- Help struggling players
- Address discipline problems and handle difficult parents
- Coach an All-Star or Travel team
Complete with numerous offensive and defensive drills and tips for helping your kids relax before a game, Coaching Basketball For Dummies is the fun and easy way to get the score on this worthwhile endeavor!
Customer Review: Great Drills & Sound Advise
I have been coaching younger children for 4 years, and I wanted to get some new drills that I could use during practices. This book has a really good outline of offense, defense, rebounding and practice drills. There are also some very good points at the begining of the book on how to deal with parents and other coaches, etc... Overall this book is very good to design a practice plan for coaches who are either new to coaching basketball, or are looking for additional or different drills to run.
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July 26, 2008 at 1:54 am · Filed under Basketball Books
Five-Star Basketball Camps have long been synonymous with quality basketball instruction -- some of the best players in the world have been Five-Star campers: including Michael, Patrick, Isaiah, Moses, Christian, Alonzo, Grant, Stephon, The Rainman, Elton, Allan, Jayson and Vince! In 1999 eight former Five-Star Campers were selected as NBA first round draft picks: Elton Brand, Steve Francis, Richard Hamilton, Ron Artest, Trajan Langdon, Dion Glover, Corey Maggette and Jumaine Jones! As a longtime leader in basketball instruction, Five-Star feels it must continue in its quest to educate young players about their sport. About 20 years ago, Five-Star published a book based on the drills and teachings of their boys' camps Five-Star Basketball Drills, that has become an essential part of every coach's library. In 2000, Five-Star compiled and produced the most comprehensive, state-of-the-art collection of drills by girls' and women's coaches ever assembled. Ten thousand copies were sold in the first two years of its publication. In 2003, we are pleased to announce the publication of an updated version of Five-Star Girls' Basketball Drills with more of what was loved in the first edition: more great drills, more great coaches, more information on how to make the most of your playing time as a player and how to get the most out of your team if you are a coach!
Customer Review: good practice material
There are a great variety of drills from all over the country and different programs, and they encompass every skill development need and many possible numbers of players I could be working with at any one time. It is a great boost to my normal practice plan and drills.
Customer Review: A Five-Star in Your Basketball Coaching Library
Join some of the nation's finest womens' coaches as they share the drills they use at the most premiere women's camp in the country. The book contains ten chapters (over 100 Drills) that examines everything from nutrition to skill development. Coaches sharing drills include Tara Van Derveer, Joe Ciampi, Matt Brzycki, Kristie Curry, and more.
If you truly understand basketball this book is even better than the First Edition. Although in-depth, this book is not complicated or hard to understand. It is a user friendly resource, that any coach or player, should possess. This book is a must for the beginner, intermediate and/or advanced player/coach.
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July 24, 2008 at 9:34 pm · Filed under Basketball Books
The ultimate drill collection from basketball's best!
Two of the game's winningest coaches - Tennessee's Pat Summitt and Texas' Jody Conradt - share their favorite drills that have helped produce over 1,800 victories! Fellow NCAA National Championship head coaches Nancy Fahey, Brenda Frese, Wendy Larry, Muffet McGraw, Amy Ruley, and Tara VanDerveer combine with over 40 more of the game's legendary minds to bring you their game-winning drills and strategies to create The Women's Basketball Drill Book, the most comprehensive basketball drill book ever published.
Whether you're a coach or player, aspiring young hopeful or experienced team leader, this resource will provide you with 186 drills covering all aspects of the game:
- Warming up
- Conditioning
- Footwork
- Ballhandling
- Passing
- Screening
- Shooting
- Rebounding
- Defense
- Perimeter play
- Post play
- Transition play
Whether you wish to develop new skills or fine-tune your game, rely on the drills that have produced a combined 21 NCAA National Championships. The Women's Basketball Drill Book is the one and only drill book you'll ever need!
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July 23, 2008 at 1:15 pm · Filed under Basketball Books
"That camp changed how I felt about basketball and my future. It was the turning point in my life.""--Michael Jordan Before there was a Nike or Adidas camp for the nation's elite high-school players, there was Five-Star. Now in its37th year, Howard Garfinkel's Five-Star camp has produced hundreds of NBA and Division 1-A college players, including such superstars as Michael Jordan, Isaiah Thomas, and Vince Carter. In More Five-Star Basketball Drills, the author offers readers his one-of-a-kind, exclusive guide to the superstar camp's most successful drills, straight from the personal notepads of some of the nation's most successful professional and college coaches. Coaches and players looking for a proven hoop drill program will find: More than 100 fundamentally sound and easy-to-execute drills An inside look at Five-Star's sure-fire plan for improving one's game Exclusive photos from the camp's illustrious history "
Customer Review: A Must Have For Your Coaching Library
Fantastic Follow-up to the legendary Five-Star Drill Book. A must have for any coaches or aspiring coaches. Drills from the best coaches and players.
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July 22, 2008 at 4:10 pm · Filed under Basketball Books
From the opening tip to the last-second buzzer-beater, there's no letting up for the basketball referee. Before you step out on the hardwood, Officiating Basketball will help you ensure you're in the right place at the right time to make the right call.
Based on officiating mechanics devised and endorsed by the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS), Officiating Basketball is the definitive guide for new and experienced high school referees. Included are guidelines for what's expected of you as a basketball official, officiating procedures and responsibilities, and pre- and postgame duties.
More than 100 photos and illustrations of positioning, court movement, and signals support officiating mechanics for two- and three-person crews. Real-life cases demonstrate correct rulings, point out common officiating errors and how to avoid them, and challenge you to make the right call in game situations. A glossary of key basketball terms is also included. Officiating Basketball is not only a rules book--it's a practical resource for implementing correct mechanics as developed and approved by the NFHS.
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