Reviews (9)

Phenomenon book
So far i have found all the little details i needed to know about the game. Easy to follow presentation too, two thumbs way up.

pretty book, but...
lots of nice colour pictures, but a little basic for all but the absolute beginner.

great introduction for beginners
I play Rugby and this is a good book for someone ne to the game. It explains quite clearly the different tactics for different positions and has good photographs to show you It's really helpful for beginners of any age. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Reference    2. Rugby    3. Rugby football    4. Sports    5. Sports & Recreation    6. Sports & Recreation / Rugby   

Reviews (39)

Runners
This is a book primarily for competitive runners. It's well written and interesting. It will also help anyone involved in a serious exercise program which relies on exercising at a certain percentage of heart rate--but not as much. And if you're neither,then it's not for you at all.

A Primer on the Use of Heart Rate Monitors for Sports Performance Improvements and general fitness - I Lost 200 lbs with it !!

Senior Runners, Read this Book
Senior runners can add years to their running lives with the training schedules in Parkers book. I am 61 and have been a moderately serious recreational runner for about 30 years. In my late 50's I had some abdominal surgery and was ordered to stop running for six months. After my recovery, I found that I just could not train the way I had before. I simply was not recovering from my training runs. I would do a nice comfortable 6 miler, and be exhausted for days. I went from mid a 40's 10K to being embarrassed to enter a race. I moped around for about a year, and somebody recommended training with a heart rate monitor. I bought a Polar S120 and Heart Monitor Training for the Compleat Idiot. I struggled with some of the counter intuitive ideas in the book, but figured I did not have much to lose. I am now back up to 30 miles a week and feeling pretty good. I don't know yet if this stuff is going to help me set new PRs, but it has gotten me back out on the road. If you other old geezers are starting to cut back your mileage, or getting injured more, spend the 10 bucks and give this a try. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Health/Fitness    2. Human Exercise Physiology    3. Life Sciences - Human Anatomy & Physiology    4. Running & Jogging    5. Sports & Recreation    6. Track & Field    7. Training    8. Family & Health    9. Swimming    10. Heart Rate Monitoring   

Reviews (7)

The marketeer's yoga book ?
Do not get fool by the title. There is absolutely nothing new on this book except the title which is aiming to take advantage of runners who may think this book can give us that extra edge in improving our skill. A Complete Introduction to Yoga Poses
an excellent introduction to yoga asanas... i always find myself going back to this book when i am trying a new pose and want to learn the basics of the pose... a must for anyone who has a yoga library...

athletic awareness through yoga
This book gave me the pragmatic and necessary anatomical reasoning behind yoga and its uses in training for; not only running, but other sports as well. As a yoga instructor, this is a great resource. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Diet / Health / Fitness    2. Hatha yoga    3. Running & Jogging    4. Sports    5. Sports & Recreation    6. Yoga    7. Track & field sports, athletics    8. Yoga for exercise   

Subjects:  1. Acupressure & Acupuncture    2. Consumer Health    3. Health & Fitness    4. Health/Fitness    5. Massage & Reflexotherapy    6. Health & Fitness / Massage & Reflexotherapy    7. Specific disorders & therapies    8. Track & field sports, athletics   

Subjects:  1. Athletic Training And Conditioning    2. Sports    3. Sports & Recreation    4. Swimming    5. Swimming And Diving    6. Track & Field    7. Training    8. Triathlon   

Reviews (16)

Skip this one...
I was not impressed.Even as a newcomer to triathlons, the book helped very little.It had some motivation, but there are far better books for that out there, and very little useful training advice.
Some useful information, but not a complete reference
I noticed that many reviewers commented that this book was too geared towards beginners however, as a beginner myself, I found the book lacking.There is a lot of useful information and advice in general, but I was not able to read the book and start a practical training program.Most of the training advice is very generalized, and after reading it I still had no clue where to start.I was recently at a beginner women's triathlon clinic and I found that several participants agreed with me, and they recommended the book Slow Fat Triathlete which I have yet to read.I have referred to Edwards' chapters on techniques in all three sports and race day preparation, but beginners will need more than just this book to get started. I have recommended Eric Harr's Triathlon Training In Four Hours a Week to my friends and I am anxiously awaiting the publication of Joe Friel's Your First Triathlon.So overall, not a bad book, but just not enough information to really jumpstart your triathlon training.

Great!
I am doing my first triathlon and would HIGHLY RECOMMEND this book. It has great training tips, including diagrams for all events and how to improve your fitness level. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Handbooks, manuals, etc    2. Sports    3. Sports & Recreation    4. Track & Field    5. Training    6. Triathlon    7. Multidiscipline sports    8. Women's health   

Reviews (2)

Cook serves up some great advice.
This should be required reading for athletes as well as coaches.The author does an excellent job in defining the "weakest link" as a cause of injury or tissue failure, and distinguishing between the too-often blamed "over-training" and the real culprit, improper training.Stability is emphasized, as it should be, as the basis for effective movement.(As my Burmese boxing coach once told me, it does no good to launch a rocket from a bamboo pad.)Other good points of emphasis, among many, are the need to relax to maintain fluidity with speed, and to "be quick but don't forget to stick."Again, in boxing we were always told to stick and move, but too often the person advising this had no idea of how to go about it, let alone teach someone else to do it.Gray Cook does.Throughout the book, his prose is effective, his explanations are clear and concise, and his recommended goals are accompanied by explicit step-by-step instructions to achieve them.For poviding the reader an understanding of athletic movement and training and actual how-to for practice and execution, this book tops my list.

Excellent conditioning guide
Very thorough, almost tactical approach. The author in his preface states that "efficiency and effectiveness" are his central themes. As the title suggests, the book focuses on balance, stability, agility, and strength of "the core" to build up a non-sport specific conditioning guide. The thrust of the book is really towards improving overall athletism. Read more

Subjects:  1. Athletic Training And Conditioning    2. Exercise    3. Health/Fitness    4. Physical education and trainin    5. Physical education and training    6. Sports & Recreation    7. Sports Medicine    8. Training    9. Fitness training    10. Track & field sports, athletics   

Reviews (5)

The Ultimate History of Lacrosse
There are a few good books out there on lacrosse, but this one should be regarded as the Bible of the sport. If you have a serious passion for lax, you have to read this book from cover to cover. It's thoroughly researched, well-written, thought-provoking and enlightening. The book talks about both field lacrosse in the US and the indoor box game in Canada. It covers lacrosse on Indian reservations and even in the Olympics!! It's a very rich and complex history that really makes you think. It's hard to summarize 150+ years of lacrosse history in this review, so you have to read it for yourself. The book also includes a bunch of neat photos.

What was I thinking?
I love lacrosse and was thrilled as I perused this book the first time, but on a recent trip I re-read it and realized I needed to change my review.After a very thorough examination of the book, I came to realize that most of what the author says is merely repetition of the same points he makes in the first chapter.His book takes the view that modern lacrosse exploited native people, and this may be true in his area, but it is not true everywhere else.Lacrosse is played throughout England, Australia and ALL of Canada, not just in the few places Mr. Fisher describes.He fails to note the game's merits and paints it as little more than a muscle-headed goonfest in Canada and an elistist boys club in the Eastern US. I can't believe I missed it the first time around, but Mr. Fisher seems to almost dislike the game whose history he has set out to chronical.He is overly cerebral about a pastime whose greatest assets are merely the fun and camaraderie it involves.His perspective reminds me of the detached and cold hyperbole used by George Will in his book about baseball.Neither Will nor Fisher seem to have considered it important to play the game they describe.Given that Fisher's audience will chiefly be players, coaches and lovers of the game, this seems to me to be a huge error.This book reads like the university thesis it is.I can't believe I lugged it all over Europe! Excellent
A great work that provides a phenominal amount of historical content. A good book about a great game. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. History    2. Lacrosse    3. North America    4. Sports    5. Sports & Recreation    6. United States - General    7. Literary Criticism & Collections / Theory    8. Social history   

Reviews (1)

Running:Getting Started
This is the best book for beginning runners I have ever read.
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Subjects:  1. Running & Jogging    2. Sports    3. Sports & Recreation    4. Training    5. Track & field sports, athletics   

Reviews (1)

Wow! Now I want to run a marathon :)
I didn't know what to expect, but was pleasantly surprised at the readability of this travel guide. There are inspirational stories in each chapter that make lies out of every excuse I've ever given for not running a marathon. As a cheering section member, this guide helps me show support while having a good time. I especially love the section 'Forget Sightseeing, Get me to a Spa'. Next time you want to run - I'll be at the spa waiting to hear your stories. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Running    2. Running & Jogging    3. Special Interest - General    4. Sports    5. Sports & Recreation    6. Travel Guides - U.S.    7. United States - General    8. Sports & Recreation / Running & Jogging    9. Track & field sports, athletics    10. Travel & holiday guides    11. USA   

Reviews (6)

Great Training Schedules
I've been looking for charts to help me with mileage and training for various races and this one has a ton to choose from.I'm training for my first marathon using his Novice marathon guide and it has been great.Finally, some concrete schedules to use for any distance!

An excellent compendium of training ideas
I am quite surprised by the negative reviews of this book.I have found it helpful for training for races ranging in length from 10 to 50 kilometers.Skim it, read it, study it, but at the least you'll never have to buy another series of training charts.

Not worth it, try again
I have purchased many of Hal's books and this is the only one I have ever been disappointed in. Not at all worth owning, the contents of this book is mainly training charts. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Diet / Health / Fitness    2. General    3. Health/Fitness    4. Marathon running    5. Physical fitness    6. Running    7. Running & Jogging    8. Sports & Recreation    9. Track & Field    10. Training    11. Fitness training    12. Track & field sports, athletics   

Reviews (19)

This book saved my life....
I originally read this book about John Baker's life and impact on young people when I was in grade school.I still had it on my bookshelf when I was in college in 1988.I felt a lump on my testicle and immediately saw a doctor.The diagnosis was malignant testicular cancer, but thanks to God and the fact that I had re-read John Baker's story so many times, I caught it early and am completely cured.John's life continues to have an impact on many people long after his tragic death.

A Shining Season: The True Story of John Baker
I was 8 years old when John Baker passed away but, I do remember when they changed the name of the school to honor this hero.This book is chicken soup for the human soul.This book belongs in everyone's personal library and it should be read at least once a year to remind us that every little thing counts.

A Definite Must Read!
I first read this book when it was passed on to me in high school by a friend.The story of John's life and battle with cancer is something that really makes you put your life in perspective and is truly inspirational.I don't know anyone that has made it through the book without some tears...just reading through the reviews here, I found myself with tears streaming down my cheeks.If each of us could do 1/2 the good in our lifetimes that John Baker did in his that ended much too soon, imagine how much better the world would be.
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Subjects:  1. Specific Groups - Special Needs    2. Diseases - Cancer    3. United States    4. Biography / Autobiography    5. Running    6. Runners (Sports)    7. General    8. Sports - General    9. Track & field sports, athletics    10. Biography & Autobiography    11. Baker, John,    12. Patients    13. Biography/Autobiography    14. d. 1970    15. Biography    16. Cancer   

Subjects:  1. Allied Health Services - General    2. Athletic Training And Conditioning    3. Medical    4. Methodology    5. Physical education and trainin    6. Physical education and training    7. Research    8. Sports    9. Sports & Recreation    10. Sports Medicine    11. education    12. Research methods: general    13. Track & field sports, athletics   

Reviews (3)

It's not the size of the dog in the fight ...
..but rather the size of the fight in the dog.McGillavray has a lot of FIGHT in him.This is a motivating and inspiring story or true grit by an unpretentious guy.He is so disciplined, it almost comes off as being obsessiove/compulsive but there is no questioning the gu's work ethic and goal orientation.A blueprint for success!

Challenge yourself to think big!
This book was just what the doctor ordered as an antidote to a humdrum winter and a pudgy middle!I found the writing style endearing and Dave McGillivray's achievements to be inspiring.We may not all run across the country, but we can all have goals that challenge us.It's one of those books that you don't want to end...there's a magic to it that makes you feel ageless.I look at my aches and pains in a new way, and when I feel exhausted during a run I think "Well, at least I can stop before the next state...."

Inspiring and motivating
If you are in a mid-life funk, this is the book to read.Dave writes about many of his accompishments as if he were having a conversation with you and in all of his stories there is an important message:MOVE, BELIEVE, and SET GOALS no matter how lofty.I managed to finish one 5k race my entire life and I am just now realizing how important that race was. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Biography    2. Motivation (Psychology)    3. Runners (Sports)    4. Running & Jogging    5. Sports    6. Sports & Recreation    7. Success    8. United States    9. Biography: sport    10. Sports & Recreation / Running & Jogging    11. Track & field sports, athletics    12. True stories of endurance & survival   

Reviews (1)

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

Subjects:  1. Coaching    2. General    3. Lacrosse    4. Lacrosse for girls    5. Sports    6. Sports & Recreation    7. Training    8. Sports & Recreation / Lacrosse    9. Sports coaching   

Reviews (2)

Obstacles and Perspectives
One can never truly understand a piece of literature, much less an autobiography, without actually becoming that person. In this case, one may "understand" that Ms. Runyan had a painful and frustrating past, but since we are not that ones that experienced it, we do not truly understand. Being blind takes away from you just as much as it gives. You take on a completely unique perspective on life; you take nothing for granted, and take great pleasure in the small things that make life worth living. Ms. Runyan, you will win a gold medal in the Olympics.

Witty, insightful, humorous inspiration.
I'm not legally blind, but I could really understand it and identify with the struggles she endured in being different throughout most of her life.The writing style is so engaging and easy to read that it feels almost like conversation.Just when you have a question, the answer appears.Marla's dry wit is refreshing and intelligent. There is no pity party here!Read more

Subjects:  1. Biography    2. Biography & Autobiography    3. Biography / Autobiography    4. Biography/Autobiography    5. Blind athletes    6. Runners (Sports)    7. Sports - General    8. Track & Field    9. United States    10. Women    11. Women runners    12. Biography & Autobiography / General   

Reviews (7)

Suberb training programs and running tips
Great tips on the physiology of training for beginners and running technigue and numerous tips for experienced runners. The programs are concise and easy to follow and allow runners to select the length of program by staying at each level until they are ready to move to the next type of training. Very Basic
This is a very bland book with little new to offer.The book is broken down into the most basic systems of training.If you like to keep things very simple you might like the book. Great advice
David helped me with everything from running form to the many types of training needed for running, let alone racing 5K and 10Ks. Included several things I'd never tried before such as bounding and downhill striders for relaxed speed running and stronger quods, butt muscles, hip flexors and calves. This book can take time off of your personal record. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Health/Fitness    2. Running & Jogging    3. Sports & Recreation    4. Track & Field    5. Aerobics    6. Conditioning    7. Physical Fitness    8. Physical education    9. Physiological Aspects    10. Running    11. Training   

Reviews (2)

Amazing
The true story of the incomparable Glenn Cunningham is one full of extraordinary perserverance and determination. Dr. Keill does a remarkably adept job of creating the world in which Mr. Cunningham grew up. This is the story of a boy so severely burned in a school house fire that doctors feared he would never walk again (his older brother died as a result of his burns in the same fire). He regains his ability to walk and run. His family suffers through depression era Kansas farm life and Glenn never gives up his dream of an education. His quest to become a world class runner is truly inspiring. The life he carves for himself after his running career ends is even more remarkable. GLENN CUNNINGHAM IS A TRUE AMERICAN HERO. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!!

We need heroes.
This book is well written and interesting. As a high school teacher I will use it to encourage students to make/reach goals. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Biography / Autobiography    2. General    3. Sports    4. Sports & Recreation    5. Sports - General    6. Track & Field    7. Sports & Recreation / General   

Reviews (7)

Change the way you raise your children
Reading this book was probably one of the best things that I did. In fact, I did eventually by another one as a gift to my friend. I could see lot of things which I have been doing wrong with my son. I learned to put less pressure on him to perform on the tennis court and get him to enjoy the sport more. In fact, it has improved his love for the sport and improve his mental strength as well. It is a must read for all parents.

A must read for all tennis parents and Coaches!
I just have to comment on the review written by R.D.H. It is obvious that this person is envious and jealous of Wayne Bryan's success with raising his sons to be great champions.I also personally know Wayne Bryan and he practices what he preaches.He and his wife Kathy, have raised two incredible sons to be great people and gracious champions!As a tennis parent and tennis enthusiest this book has helped me to be a positive force in my kids lives.I would recommend this book to ALL parents and coaches so they could be a positive force in their kids lives.

A very good guide for concerned parents
This is a very good book, and I have been recommending it to other parents, especially with children in competitive tennis.We tennis parents are rather all alone, and we need help.This books is comforting and is a great source of help.However, a reader should take care not take the book too seriously.For example, it is impossible to be positive and praise your child all the time w/o criticizing... there is a limit.Also, I wish Wayne gave more examples of "side door" to inspire.No book is perfect, but this is a great book for parents who want their children to be successful in life and become a champion! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Child Care/Parenting    2. Child rearing    3. Education    4. Family & Relationships    5. Family / Parenting / Childbirth    6. Parent and child    7. Parenting    8. Parenting - General    9. Child care & upbringing    10. Track & field sports, athletics   

Reviews (2)

A very highly recommended manual
Jim Bertoli draws upon a highly successful and extensive volleyball coaching career to write Volleyball Skills & Drills, a comprehensive instruction manual for developing all of the skills of volleyball as a competitive sport. The drills provided will help other coaches handle specific situations that will inevitable occur with the teams. Showcasing some one hundred specific drills, Volleyball Skills & Drills also addresses the relevant issues of defensive systems, conditioning, and game strategies. A very highly recommended manual for anyone charged with the responsibility of coaching a volleyball team, Volleyball Skills & Drills is enhanced with definitions of terminology, key phrases, and more than eighty illustrative diagrams.

Wow, what a helpful book!
I picked up this book because a friend told me it was great.And let me tell you if you want to become a professional vollyball coach like Jim Bertoli you had better buy this book.It has tons of helpful tips and skills for getting you team in tip top shape.It's a great buy.Five stars! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Reference    2. Sports    3. Sports & Recreation    4. Volleyball