Offside: Soccer and American Exceptionalism.

Book Description

Soccer is the world's favorite pastime, a passion for billions around the globe. In the United States, however, the sport is a distant also-ran behind football, baseball, basketball, and hockey. Why is America an exception? And why, despite America's leading role in popular culture, does most of the world ignore American sports in return? Offside is the first book to explain these peculiarities, taking us on a thoughtful and engaging tour of America's sports culture and connecting it with other fundamental American exceptionalisms. In so doing, it offers a comparative analysis of sports cultures in the industrial societies of North America and Europe.

The authors argue that when sports culture developed in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, nativism and nationalism were shaping a distinctly American self-image that clashed with the non-American sport of soccer. Baseball and football crowded out the game. Then poor leadership, among other factors, prevented soccer from competing with basketball and hockey as they grew. By the 1920s, the United States was contentedly isolated from what was fast becoming an international obsession.

The book compares soccer's American history to that of the major sports that did catch on. It covers recent developments, including the hoopla surrounding the 1994 soccer World Cup in America, the creation of yet another professional soccer league, and American women's global preeminence in the sport. It concludes by considering the impact of soccer's growing popularity as a recreation, and what the future of sports culture in the country might say about U.S. exceptionalism in general.

Customer Reviews:

Interesting, though not captivating, reading.......2007-05-10

In addition to being a fan of most pro sports, I also happen to volunteer in my local youth soccer league. I have seen the sport grow and, in a way, start to decline. I say decline because the recreational youth leagues that promote fun over winning are seeing a decrease in registration while the "select" or "club" leagues that focus on individual performance and dreams of college scholarships are gaining in popularity. No matter the level, soccer still remains a game for children to play more than an adult game to watch. And that is the point of this book-Why is soccer still not a marquee sport in the United States? What keeps people from embracing and devoting themselves to soccer the way they do the "big three and a half," as baseball, football, basketball and hockey (the 1/2) are referred to by the author?

"Offside" reads like a history textbook. First, the authors outline the history of baseball, football, basketball, and hockey. They point out how nationalism, marketing, and competent, though controversial, management all contributed to the flourishing of those sports in the United States. I will say it is more interesting reading than exciting reading since only sports "junkies" may enjoy knowing how the MLB, NFL, NBA, and NHL came to be what they are today. Then we get a history of soccer and learn all the factors working for and against its growth in the United States. Finally, we are brought up to modern day when the U.S. hosted the 1994 World Cup and soccer took center stage here. The authors review both the good and bad ideas that had the sport on the brink of rising to perhaps number four. Alas, we also get an analysis of how that momentum was lost when the American team did not do so well at the 1998 World Cup. The success of the women's game is mentioned but the women's professional league folded shortly after the book was written.

I enjoyed this book kind of like a magazine in a doctor's office; it is a nice time-filler and you may learn something you didn't know before. If you are involved with soccer at any level and enjoy sports history or biographies, you may like this book. Otherwise, think twice before "kicking" back with this one.

Its less boring to read about it than to watch it .......2005-05-11

This is a sociological study aimed to explain why ' soccer'(
To the rest of the world 'football') has not become one of the major American sports. The authors speak about American exceptionalism what differentiates its culture from Europe. Among the elements are America's freedom from a feudal heritage, freedom from concentration on class war, emphasis thanks to cheap land and great space on individual economic development. The more crowded Europeans look to collective entitlements while the Americans rely on the individual to achieve his own wealth and happiness.
This American exceptionalism helps explain why baseball, football and basketball are the sports of what they call ' cultural hegemony' in America. More people may fish and play billiards but the big three are the ones talked about, written about , endlessly pre-gamed and post- gamed, the ones at the heart of the common culture.
In the course of telling why ' soccer' is left out in America the authors present a serious analysis of ' sports' in industrial nations. This alone would make the book highly worthwhile.

The Issue and the Explanation.......2005-03-13

I learned a lot about sports (not just soccer) and how culture works in general from this excellent and enjoyable book. Even though certain parts (especially the first chapter) are written in an academic style with that sort of jargon, it is not a difficult book to read, nor are the concepts overly complicated.

Even psuedo-intellectual anti-American "multi-culturalists" like the so-called "International Sportsman" (posted on this page) could learn something from this book and enjoy it. Too bad our "Sportsman" couldn't be bothered to attain some knowledge.

A Must Read.......2005-03-09

This work sheds new light on a very fascinating question. In fact, this book is the basis for some of my own research within the field. I highly reccommend this book from both an academic and sports fan's viewpoint!

Excusing greed and commercialism.......2005-02-26

Perhaps this book is simply the self-indulgence of the authors, but in reality it shouldn't take more than half a page to explain the two reasons why soccer is a failure in this country:-
1) Money. Soccer is a game, not a collection of commercials with some chest-beating in between - a pure sport, an actual contest.
2) Americans become fanatical during play-off season for all of the purely American "sports". After the finals, the victors are constantly referred to by public and media alike as "World Champions", well I guess a couple of sports may offer the outside chance of a Canadian team emerging victorious. If one were to follow soccer, there is the chance that the victor would not be an American team, and that is simply not acceptable.

So instead of reading a book searching for palatable excuses for the failure of Soccer to rise to its deserved popularity in the U.S., simply accept the truth - greed and flag waving are more important facets of democracy than peoples choice ever will be.

By the way - it's not soccer - it's FOOTBALL

Average customer rating:

Kept the kids focused

Game Time! (MathStart 3)
Stuart J. Murphy
Manufacturer: HarperTrophy
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0064467325

Book Description

Game Time!

Keep an eye on the clock as the Huskies and the Falcons gear up for their championship soccer match. Weeks, days, hours, minutes, and seconds--it's all game time!

Customer Reviews:

Kept the kids focused.......2007-01-04

This book has a very cute story line and my students really got into. It served as an additional learning aid for time.

Pixie Tricks #06: The Sporty Sprite (Pixie Tricks)

Average customer rating:

Wonderful Series!
Wonderful Series!
Horribly written
I loved the book

Pixie Tricks #06: The Sporty Sprite (Pixie Tricks)
Tracey West
Manufacturer: Scholastic Paperbacks
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0439179823

Book Description

Fourteen fairies have escaped from their world. Now they're causing trouble in out world! It's up to a girl named Violet and a fairy named Sprite to trick them all and send them back home. Who will they trick next?
Sport thinks her team should always win, but she doesn't always play by the rules. Violet and Sprite don't know how to beat Sport's magic. Have the Pixie Trickers finally met their match?

Customer Reviews:

Wonderful Series!.......2001-10-19

I am writing this review to express how these wonderful, delightful books have inspired my daughter, a reluctant reader, to read. She read the first book in one night, she could not put it down. She could not wait until each new book in the series came out, and those too, were all read in one night. The books are imaginative, with a strong, smart girl character as the hero. I have to tell you I bumped into a stranger at the book store who was also looking at the Pixie Tricks series and she told me how much her daughter, another reluctant reader, enjoyed them. I highly recommend these books for both boys and girls. They are exciting, fast-paced, and fun!

Wonderful Series!.......2001-10-19

Horribly written.......2001-08-14

I work in a children's library, and I read parts of this book and it's counterparts when they first arrived there. The writing is terrible, so bad that it's laughable. The sentence structures are choppy and the book reads like a list. People have no respect for children's intelligence, and they should realize that these books are insults. Just because a book is written for kids doesn't mean you don't have to edit it, and just because you want to write for kids doesn't mean you can write a book without knowing how to structure a sentence. I wish people would try especially hard to write well for kids, because they're learning from reading these books.

I loved the book.......2001-05-01

Here is the book report I wrote on Sporty Sprite:

Book Description

"Renny and Bryce play on opposite soccer teams battling for the championship.Until recently, the soft-spoken but talented Renny warmed the bench while another player took the field.But now that player's out with an injury and Renny's been given the chance to show what he can do.And no one is more surprised at Renny's playing ability than his opponent, the hot-dogging, one-man team, Bryce.Bryce was sure Renny would be a pushover, but Renny, who had admired Bryce's showmanship, proves that solid teamwork is often hard to beat.And in the end, both boys come off the field a little wiser."

Customer Reviews:

Soccer Enemies Together.......2007-04-04

The book I read for my homework is "Soccer Duel". Soccer Duel is a great sports story about this boy named Renny and another boy named Bryce. Bryce is the best in the leuge.When Renny and Bryce first played each other Renny won.They won every game even aginst the Ornge Crush. The Ornge Crush has a player named Turk Walters. He checked Renny twice. Finaly Turk was called out of the game. Rennys team won. At a restraunt Renny told Bryce what happend. Turk heard it and yelled at Bryce. At the last game Rennys team won and Renny took home the MVP. Bryce was sad but proud of Renny.

Soccer Duel.......2006-11-21

11-15-2006

Soccer Duel
Matt christopher
Little ,Brown, and Company

Do you like sports?Well I sure do, and if you do too, you definitely want to read Soccer Duel which is a sports fiction book and just one out of the many books in the sports series by Matt Christopher. In this book a boy named Renny just moved in to town. In his old town he was the star of his team but in this new town the coach doesn't give Renny a chance to show off how good he is because he is always sitting on the bench. But, in one of his games against the best team in the league, the Yellow Jackets who are undefeated the Blue Hornet's, "Renny's team," star center striker breaks his ankle. Renny has to go in to the game and even, though they were down by three when Renny entered, Renny showed his coach how good he was by scoring four goals and winning the game for his team. Then, the very upset Bryce, the best player on the Yellow Jackets, pretends to be nice to Renny, until the final game when the Blue Hornets are playing the Orange Crush to see who goes to the championship. The Yellow Jackets were already in. Bryce tells the very large defensemen on the Orange Crush to foul Renny behind the ref's back so he will get hurt and not be able to play and the Orange Crush will make it to the championship, instead of the Blue Hornets because Bryce was scared to play Renny. But then the plan backfired and the ref saw the big kid fouling Renny and he got ejected from the game. The Blue Hornets won. Read the book to find out who will win the three game championship.
I would probably say that the main character is Renny. He is very athletic and fast, he is also confident, respectful, and nice. His parents are divorced which makes Renny sad because he only gets to see his dad every once and a while. This character, I think, was very important to the story. The secondary character in the book is a boy named Bryce who is really mean and is very strong and good at soccer. He has a powerful kick and is pretty fast, but not as fast as Renny. His parents are also divorced just like Renny's parents are. And the third most important character is Norm. You could pretty much call him a nerd, he is very smart, he has red hair and freckles, and he is not athletic at all. When Renny first moved there Norm was his first and only friend. Some of the other characters in the book include Isaac, Eric, Coach Harrison, Jack, Convoy , Coach Mcmaster, Jordan, and Charlie but all of those characters were not important enough to describe in this paragraph.
I would say that the character that I connected the most to would be Renny because I am pretty fast and good at soccer,I am also confident. This book is part of as series of 64 books all about sports and there are probably more to come. Whatever sport you like you could find a book about it if you look for the Matt Cristopher series. The age group that might enjoy this book the most are people ages 8-13. It is a pretty easy read that you could get through pretty fast if you need A.R. points or something like that. There were a couple of twists in the book but I would say the biggest twist would be Renny's team was not expected to win the game that led up to the championship. Actually, they were not even expected to make it that far, they hadn't even won a game before Renny started to play. And that is why I think that you should read this book.

Next in the Series.......2006-09-16

SOCCER DUEL continues the Matt Christoper soccer series.
The exciting SOCCER HALFBACK is the first book.

Plenty of soccer action!

the soccer cool.......2004-05-04

this book is kind of like my live because, in my soccer games i always play left striker but there is one thing that is different that my parent's aren't diborsed so i am cool with that
this book shows a lot of pation with people that like soccer and that's why i rated as a five star book.
i really recoment this book to everybody

Soccer Duel Masterpiece!.......2001-05-09

This book helps me really relate to my life. I am the left striker, my parents are divorced, but unlike the story it's my mom who usually can't make it to the games because she is blind so she can't drive. It's hard because when I move from house-to-house I have to move equipment too. This situation makes me feel bad because at my dad's house I have two stepsisters and a stepmom and my dad has to drive them everywhere and it sometimes make him feel like a taxi driver! This book is a real situation story and it is probably my favorite book in the series, though I also suggest Soccer Scoop! Ned Donovan.

Congratulations, You Have Just Met the I. C. F.

Average customer rating:

OK but not first hand.
interesting read
ALL ONE WAY TRAFFIC
Interesting Insight
Stop Havin' A Larf!

Congratulations, You Have Just Met the I. C. F.
Cass Pennant
Manufacturer: John Blake Publishing, Limited
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 1904034853

Customer Reviews:

OK but not first hand........2007-07-28

Cass wasn't there a lot of the time.
Too much 'secondhand' knowledge, to keep me gripped for long. But an easy read and entertaining all the same.
I'd like to read more of what these people are thinking and feeling, than just related events.
Cass, Gardner, Swallow, Leach and co, write your stuff 'first hand' - it would be facinating.
No doubt these books are the life breath of DVDs like 'Green Street' or 'Football Factory'; both of which bear no resemblence to what really went (goes) on.
Buy 'Good Afternoon, Gentlemen, the Name's Bill Gardner' by Bill Gardner and Cass Pennant - good read. Gardner is a diamond. Totally loyal to WHU and all it stands for. He certainly has my resect.
West Ham usually win in their battles. A tough bunch indeed.
They are definitely the second hardest firm since the Great War.
The hardest being Millwall of course. Always outnumbered, never outdone. Sounds like a good title for a MFC book.
If you REALLY want to know about WHU, buy Bobby Moore: By the Person Who Knew Him Best by Tina Moore. A GREAT read. He is WHU.
Lord Moore of Dagenham, I refer to him as.

interesting read .......2007-01-27

the book was a interesting read a little one sided i have years of experience in these sort of things and felt we only heard one side of the story. Otherwise very entertaining.

ALL ONE WAY TRAFFIC.......2007-01-03

FOUND THIS BOOK VERY INTERESTING BUT IT WAS ALL ONE WAY TRAFFIC.. I REALY GOT INTO ALL THE STORIES AND IMAGINED AT TIMES I WAS ACTUALLY THEIR INVOLVED WITH EVERYTHING THAT WAS GOING ON.. THE ONLY DISAPPOINTING THING WAS THE FACT THEY NEVER SEEMED TO GET DONE. THEY ALSO SEEMED TO BELITTLE THEIR CLOSEST RIVALS AT TIMES BUT I MUST ADMIT THEY WERE AT THE TIME AWESOME BUT NOT INDESTRUCTABLE AS THIS BOOK LEADS YOU TO BELEIVE.

Interesting Insight.......2005-11-28

I have been very interested in the 'hooligan' culture that pervaded English football not long ago. As all of the former brawlers are now out of the fight scene, many of them have turned to writing about their exploits. After reading about how notoriously tough the West Ham firm were, it was time to hear about them from the source.

Cass Pennant, the author of the book, would almost be better considered the editor. Much of this book is actually a collection of recollections from other members of the famous I.C.F., so you'll see the book dominated by pages in italics. Whether these were transcribed in-person interviews or if the members wrote them out and submitted them I can't tell, but this constant shuffling between different 'speakers' did get a bit distracting.

It is also worth mentioning that it does indeed feel when you're reading it that these guys were unstoppable, that nowhere do they ever say they were beaten. Now, not being there myself, I can't say whether they ever were or weren't but I did get to wondering occassionally towards the end of the book when every battle went their way.

Despite this, it was a very interesting read, and the way that the interviews are included actually use the language of the subjects ("He looked 'a nice feller") so you do feel immersed. The print also is a bit larger so despite the size, it is also a very quick read. Course, being as interested in the subject matter as I was makes it go even quicker.

All in all, a recommended read on the subject of hooliganism.

Stop Havin' A Larf!.......2005-02-05

If Cass Pennant came up against 500 people with just him and his mate the 500 people would come off worse,well that's if your to believe this book.It's a good read but he does exagerate and it should be in the fiction section.Those Cockney's do like to bend the truth.

Average customer rating:

Science and Football III
T. Reilly
Manufacturer: Taylor & Francis
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0419221603

Book Description

The Third World Congress of Science and Football was held in Cardiff, Wales in April 1995. The aim of the conference was to continue to bridge the gap between the theory and practice of the various branches of football and increase the awareness of the value of a scientific approach to these games. These aims and the outcomes of the conference are reflected in this third volume of Science and Football. The volume is divided into eight parts, each part containing a group of papers that are related by theme or disciplinary approach. Metabolism and nutrition, football training, match analysis, medical aspects of football and psychology and football behaviour are just a few of the areas covered in this comprehensive, in-depth volume that has been fully edited and revised. The conclusions drawn during the congress represent an invaluable practical reference for coaches, scientists, players, managers, and all those involved in the many football codes.

Soccer Madness: Brazil's Passion for the World's Most Popular Sport

Average customer rating:

Best book available on Brazil

Soccer Madness: Brazil's Passion for the World's Most Popular Sport
Janet Lever
Manufacturer: Waveland Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Soccer | Sports | Subjects | Books

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ASIN: 0881338435

Book Description

Lever's interest in Brazilian soccer and her friendship with Pel led to this thoughtful, well-written account of Brazilians' madness for spectator sports. Drawing on interviews with soccer club directors, coaches, players, officials, sportswriters, fan club leaders, and 200 fans, Lever gives readers a fascinating study of people, culture, and politics. She reaches beyond soccer in Brazil to analyze both the appeal and the cultural achievement of spectator sports in all modern societies. Sports, she finds, provide an arena for dramatizing conflicting loyalties while emphasizing the shared interests that make us all alike.

Customer Reviews:

Best book available on Brazil.......2000-01-12

This book is worth reading, mostly because there simply aren't many books about Brazilian football, & you have to know about Brazil if you really want to know about football.
Anyway, as a book about sociology of football, it is not bad. At least, there was quite a large amount of research and it showed. It just feels a bit awkward, because, despite the many years the author spent in Brazil, she wasn't born in a country which likes football. So, sometimes what she wrote sounds a bit funny.

Average customer rating:

Ramblings of an Egomaniac (Mien Kampf for kids)
The courage to try something new
How do you help a disappointed child?
Excellent spirit lifter!

The Blue Ribbon Day
Katie Couric
Manufacturer: Doubleday
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0385501420
Release Date: 2004-10-19

Amazon.com

Lively and inspirational, Katie Couric's sophomore picture book, reunites Ellie McSnelly and Carriet O'Toole, friends from her successful first book, The Brand New Kid. Once again, Couric's tale deals with the aches and pains of growing up, and in The Blue Ribbon Day, she encourages kids to deal positively with disappointment. Carrie doesn't make the soccer team with Ellie, but with some reassuring words from mom, "We're all good at something, you'll have your time to shine," she makes a new start, and ends up placing first in the school science fair.

Told in fun, jazzy rhymes that help mitigate Carrie's disappointment and foretell a happy ending, Couric's snappy, upbeat text is perfectly matched by Caldecott winner Marjorie Priceman's vibrant illustrations. Charming, engaging, and brimming with positivity, parents and kids alike will enjoy this reassuring tale. Daphne Durham

Amazon.com's The Significant Seven
Katie Couric answers the seven questions we ask every author.

Q: What book has had the most significant impact on your life?

A: The Heart is a Lonely Hunter by Carson McCullers.

Q: You are stranded on a desert island with only one book, one CD, and one DVD--what are they?

A: Encyclopedia Britannica
Any Motown compilation
To Kill a Mockingbird

Q: What is the worst lie you've ever told?

A: I told my mom that I didn't break one of the bedposts of her four-post bed during a pillow fight with my brother, but I eventually fessed up because the guilt was killing me!!!.

Q: Describe the perfect writing environment.

A: In the morning, on a patio with lots of flowers and birds chirping. A comfortable wicker chair. Sunshine, low humidity and a great cup of coffee.

Q: If you could write your own epitaph, what would it say?

A: "Perky no more."

Q: Who is the one person living or dead that you would like to have dinner with?

A: Thomas Jefferson or Eleanor Roosevelt

Q: If you could have one superpower what would it be?

A: The power to cure serious illnesses.

Book Description

Everybody’s a star, a brilliant creation.
The trouble is finding the right constellation!

Ellie McSnelly and Carrie O’Toole, the winning pair of friends from The Brand New Kid, are back in a new adventure. Ellie and Carrie decide to try out for the school team in their favorite sport, soccer. But when only one of the girls is selected, the inseparable pair faces a challenge(what do you say when your best friend is terribly disappointed?

But while some disappointments can’t be avoided, Carrie learns (with some help from her mother and her old friend Lazlo) that while she may not be good at everything, she has undiscovered talents waiting to bloom, if she has the courage to try something new.

For every reader who has ever set his or her heart on joining a sports team, getting a part in the school play, or winning a class election, and been let down, Katie Couric’s reassuring and inspiring story gives a charming lesson in confidence.

Customer Reviews:

Ramblings of an Egomaniac (Mien Kampf for kids).......2004-12-16

I wouldn't waste any amount of money buying this book for a child unless I wanted them to grow up to become a Paris Hilton wannabe, who's probably an idol to the author of ths book. The author is one of the biggest egomaniacs on television today. I'm sure she'll be wasting the airtime of the 'Today' show to promote the pile of garbage to the viewing public as much as she likes to tout her 'Exclusive' interviews she manages to obtain. Why the network insists on keeping her as an anchor is beyond me. Her journalism skills are a joke. She needs to get a job with 'Entertainment Tonight' or 'Extra' because she's all about 'shock value' journalism. Just listening to her speak is like listening to a pack of hyenas or wolverines mate.

The courage to try something new.......2004-12-05

With a granddaughter in primary school, I am always on the lookout for books that will encourage a love of reading and spark her curiosity about the wonderful adventures that await in the world of books. To this end, I have found that rhyming stories add more fun to early reading.

Couric uses this technique to tell of the latest adventures of Ellie McSnelly and Carrie O'Toole, as the two friends try out for soccer together. Unfortunately, only one of the girls excels in the sport and is chosen for the team. Not to worry; Couric has plans for Carrie and an important life lesson as well. With a little help from her friend Lazlo and her mother, Carrie learns to appreciate her own special talents, in this case a successful effort at an academic school competition.

There is much to be learned in this lighthearted romp through the joys of girlhood; mostly, that each child is blessed with her own special gifts. The girls share in each other's endeavors and realize that different talents make life more interesting for both.

The illustrations are bright and full of energy, the perfect complement to the optimistic rhymes that propel the story. Little girls are constantly beset with choices while making a place in the society of young girls. This enthusiastic approach to problem solving is a delightful read, with subtle lessons of acceptance for differences. Ellie McSnelly and Carrie O'Toole are perfect role models who take on the world hand in hand. Luan Gaines/2004.

How do you help a disappointed child? .......2004-10-21

How do you help a disappointed child? How would you restore his self-confidence?
Katie Couric deals with this topic in a very entertaining, straightforward way with her "Blue Ribbon Day" that is enhanced with the illustrations provided by Marjorie Priceman.

"The Blue Ribbon Day" could have been a moralistic lesson in life were it not for Katie Couric's wit and "cool" verse as well as her understanding of pre-teen lingo.
This is the second children's book by Newswoman NBC-TV's Katie Couric. Her writing reflects her bubbly, warm, no-nonsense TV personae.

Best friends Ellie and Carrie try out for the school soccer team. The two girls are very disappointed when Carrie is not selected along with Ellie. With Carrie's mom, and her friend Lazlo's help, Carrie overcomes her disappointment, discovers what she excels at, enabling her to win The Blue Ribbon!
Boosting Carrie's self-esteem and perception is the loving help of her mom and friends! What better example to set for an insecure child!

Marjorie Priceman has succeeded in matching Katie Couric's words to perfection.
Her illustrations are fresh and tender, somewhat "cartoonish." Her use of primary colors on a white background conveys the importance of the characters. They make you smile at some of the innocent pranks that children pull in a group setting (Science Fair pages!).
The book jacket is also very attractive with its bright yellows and reds.

"The Blue Ribbon Day" is for every reader, young or old, who has to cope with disappointment or rejection. You never know what you're good at until you try!

Lily Azerad Goldman, Artist and Author Reviewer for Bookpleasures.com

Excellent spirit lifter!.......2004-10-20

Very nicely done and the lesson it teaches is an excellent spirit lifter. Fail at one thing, win at another. This is something all our children should learn as competition becomes increasingly tough. Even if you fail at something, remember "You couldn't feel good if you never felt bad".

A very good lesson -- even for adults.

Average customer rating:

Oh I Say! (Sports Comedy)
E. Roe
Manufacturer: Andre Deutsch
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0233991824

Book Description

This book is a hilarious look at streakers over the years.

Arnsparger's Coaching Defensive Football

Average customer rating:

A must read for all
A good book for any defensive coach
Arnsparger Makes It Happen
Great book... but needs study.
Too scheme specific

Arnsparger's Coaching Defensive Football
Bill Arnsparger
Manufacturer: CRC
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 1574441620

Book Description

Experience the thoughts and strategies of a highly successful former professional athletic coach and college athletic administrator with this excellent new source for defensive football strategies. In Arnsparger's Coaching Defensive Football, Bill Arnsparger shares his know-how, personal philosophies, and the essential details that make up a winning team, including: o Basic information o Run defense o Pass coverage, including zone, man, and blitz o Short yardage o Goal line o The substitution package of five, six, and seven defensive backs o And much more! Special situations are covered as well-two minutes, offensive group formations, last play call, and unbalanced line adjustments. In addition to the technical aspects of the defense strategy, the mental aspects-the attitude, discipline, and motivation behind a winning defense-are presented. This is a complete defensive football coaching course packed into a single, hands-on reference. Students and athletes will learn from a master-and fans will find out what's behind the moves.

Customer Reviews:

A must read for all.......2007-08-01

This book is very informative and very well written for the coaches at the high school, collegiate, and to the professional leagues. Coach Bill Arnsparger is very gracious for allowing us into his life. He is a defensive wizard. This book is very detailed and a must read for coaches who want to get a competitive edge. Five Star!!!!

A good book for any defensive coach.......2007-05-06

I bought this book when I was just starting my coaching career. As a new coach who was football literate but not extremely well versed in the finer points of the game, it was a very frustrating read. Also, if you coach a team that does not run the 3-4 scheme, it is difficult to apply many of the concepts in the book. However, as I advanced in my career, I found this book invaluable as a resource. If there was a concept I was not familiar with, more often than not it is at least touched upon somewhere in the book. The aspect of the book that most coaches (offensive or defensive) will find helpful are the chapters that deal with pass coverage. The book is very thorough in all aspects of zone, man, and substituted pass coverages (nickle and dime). Since every defense incorporates some or all of these principles, this alone makes the book worth buying.

Arnsparger Makes It Happen.......2002-06-04

Without a doubt, Coach Arns is one of the greatest defensive coordinators ever lived. He opens up his "almost" whole system in this book and explains his specific schemes really well and how and where to run them. This book is a MUST for any defensive coach from any level.

Coach Arns also included his views, comments and memories of his successful years from 1A to NFL. I recommend this book to everyone, who plays or coaches defense. If you have never been involved into these "nuts and guts" of football, I'd say; forget it, it would be too much. But if you did, do not think and BUY IT. You won't regret.

Great book... but needs study........2001-05-05

I consider myself to be a student of the game of football. This belief was put to the test when I purchased this book last year. I consider it a mark of achievement that after a year of study, I finally understand MOST of the concepts within the book.

Unfortunately, that's also a mark of the complexity of those concepts.

The book has incalculable worth to any defensive coach, or any coach interested in developing or improving his current defense. From position-specific techniques and drills to schemes for confusing and attacking the offense, the book covers all aspects of defensive football in exhaustive detail. Unfortunately, much of the knowledge is buried under jargon incomprehensible to the average coach. This is the sole reason I give the book a four of five possible stars.

For the youth coach, this book is going to be a difficult and laborious read. Its value will also be lessened because most of your players just won't be ready for the concepts in it. High school coaches will fare better, but the book is really designed for the junior college to college level, and it is on that level that the principles discussed in it can best be taken advantage of. It goes without saying that the professional coach will also glean much from this text.

I am glad I purchased it, and I do recommend it for all levels of coaches, but be prepared to do some hard thinking as you study the book.

Good luck,

"Coach" Wade

Too scheme specific.......2001-04-05

I found this book to be way too specific to Coach Arnsbarger's scheme. That is great if you are starting a defense from scratch or want to revamp your system. We already have an effective scheme and a successful defense. I was looking for something that would just make us better. I did not find it in this book. Just my two cents.

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