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Click here to see our 2015 Books of the Year
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Additional Recommended Reading for Parents and Coaches:
[four_columns_1]Mindset: Famed Stanford researcher Dr Carol Dweck has created an essential guide for all parents and coaches in Mindset. I have recommended this book more than any other, and it will give you incredible insight into what makes your kids tick. GET THIS BOOK![/four_columns_1] [four_columns_2][/four_columns_2] [four_columns_3]The Sports Gene is required reading for anyone who wants to understand the role of genetics in performance. It is well written, and full of fascinating stories and insight into innate talent and ability. Want to know why some atheltes improve faster than others, why some kids are more likely to excel at a certain sport than others? Then read this international bestseller. [/four_columns_3] [four_columns_4]
[/four_columns_4] [four_columns_1]The Talent Code is a fantastic synopsis of what goes into elite athletic performance. Dan Coyle delves into the necessity of deliberate training, the components of master coaching, and the environment that leads to elite performance. I loved this book![/four_columns_1] [four_columns_2]
[/four_columns_2] [four_columns_3]The Messiah Method: If you want to know how to build a top notch culture of excellence in your program, then read The Messiah Method. This book examines Messiah College Men’s and Women’s Soccer, and the seven disciplines they instill year after year to win national championships and produce not only successful athletes, but better people. Every AD should buy this book for his/her coaches. [/four_columns_3] [four_columns_4]
[/four_columns_4] [four_columns_1]Raising Your Game: Sometimes it is best to simply hear straight from the horses mouth what it takes to achieve elite performance. In this great book, the authors interview over 100 professional athletes, and tell their stories. You will learn the important role of enjoyment, ownership, and multi-sport participation in eventually high-performance. A great read.[/four_columns_1] [four_columns_2]
[/four_columns_2] [four_columns_3]Practice Perfect: This is a book for those who want to become master coaches. Doug Lemov is one of the world’s leading teacher educators, and in this book he teaches coaches (whom are all teachers of course) 42 secrets of getting your message across so actual learning takes place. This changed the way I thought about coaching.[/four_columns_3] [four_columns_4]
[/four_columns_4] [four_columns_1]The Goldmine Effect: This is a great book that examines “talent goldmines” throughout the sporting world, such as African distance runners, Jamaican sprinters, Brazilian soccer players, and more. My big takeaway from this book: the problems we cause ourselves when we try to identify talent at very young ages. A very enjoyable read. [/four_columns_1] [four_columns_2]
[/four_columns_2] [four_columns_3]Leaders Eat Last is an essential read for coaches, parents and leaders of any organization or business. It examines the qualities that make successful teams and organizations function, work together, and create a culture of excellence. I love Simon Sinek, and I loved this book. [/four_columns_3] [four_columns_4]
[/four_columns_4] [four_columns_1]The Champions Mind is a great guide for athletes trying to develop the proper state of mind for high-achievement. Afremow has spent decades as a sports psychologist working with players from the NBA, NFL, NHL, PGA and numerous Olympians. This book will teach you how to get into the zone! [/four_columns_1] [four_columns_2]
[/four_columns_2] [four_columns_3]Wooden is the most recent, thorough examination of a man widely considered to be the greatest coach and teacher in any sport. What I loved? The fact that we remember Wooden far more for whom he became as a coach, than how he started out. It made me feel much better about my coaching journey.[/four_columns_3] [four_columns_4]
[/four_columns_4] [four_columns_1]Bruce Brown has been the most influential author and speaker I have seen on the topic of raising confident and high-performing athletes, as well as the role of parents in making that happen. He has given the talk in this DVD to over 250,000 parents, and it is a game changer. Click Here for more info on all of Coach Brown’s products. [/four_columns_1] [four_columns_2][/four_columns_2] [four_columns_3]Another great resource from Bruce Brown, Teaching Character Through Sports is a great resource for both coaches and parents about making sure that you are keeping perspective, and teaching the correct lessons through sports. Click Here for more.[/four_columns_3] [four_columns_4][/four_columns_4] [four_columns_1]How Children Succeed: This book, which is focused upon education and poverty, nevertheless reinforces that while IQ is a good indicator on whether children will be successful in school, things like grit, self-control and determination are better indicators of whether kids will succeed in life. Sports is the perfect training ground to learn these incredibly important character traits that Paul Tough analyzes.[/four_columns_1] [four_columns_2]
[/four_columns_2][four_columns_3]Boys Adrift: This book is a must read for any parent of boys. It will help you understand the many obstacles that boys face in today’s educational system, including lack of competition and physical education, a feminization of the classroom, video games, ADHD, and more. Sports have never been a more important outlet for our young children, especially our boys.[/four_columns_3] [four_columns_4][/four_columns_4] [four_columns_1]Coaching with Heart is by renowned sport psychologist Dr Jerry Lynch, and really emphasizes who important it is to create an environment of love and respect for your athletes. Learn to derive maximum performance through creating a special bond with your players.[/four_columns_1] [four_columns_2]
[/four_columns_2][four_columns_3]101 Ways to be a Terrific Sports Parent: Widely regarded as one of the best books out there on sports parenting, these 101 tips make for easy reference and can be a daily reminder of things you can do for your young athletes.[/four_columns_3] [four_columns_4][/four_columns_4] [four_columns_1]Sports Parenting Edge: One of the first books on Sports Parenting. Rick Wolfe is a nationally known writer for Sports Illustrated and founder of The Center for Sports Parenting. This book is a great overview of the myriad of issues a parent might face. Some of the material is a bit outdated when it comes to things like HGH and sports supplements, but overall this is a well written book that is easy to follow and refer back to.[/four_columns_1][four_columns_2]
[/four_columns_2][four_columns_3]The Encyclopedia of Sports Parenting: The newest book out there on parenting for young athletes. It is long, but very comprehensive, and covers almost every conceivable scenario.[/four_columns_3] [four_columns_4] [/four_columns_4] [two_columns_1]Positive Pushing: This is an excellent book by Dr. Jim Taylor, an expert on sports parenting and a man with extensive experience working with elite athletes and their families. Dr. Taylor says we have a ‘moral imperative’ to push our children toward their goals, and in this book he tells you how.[/two_columns_1] [two_columns_2]
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Great Books on the Problems with Youth Sports:
[four_columns_1]Until it Hurts: The first of Mark Hyman’s two excellent books about American youth sports, this details how parents have pushed their kids to the point that overuse injuries and burnout are rampant in our sports culture. it is kind of scary, and made me think “Am I doing that to my kids?”[/four_columns_1] [four_columns_2][/four_columns_2] [four_columns_3]The Most Expensive Game in Town: Hyman’s second book about the rising costs of youth sports, and the adult takeover of our kids games. This book details the enormous amount of money being made off of youth sports, mainly by perpetuating the myth of numerous scholarships and an easy path to elite performance. It is quite an eye opener for parents just getting started, as well as for those who have invested thousands of dollars already, and don’t know when it will end.[/four_columns_3] [four_columns_4][/four_columns_4]
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