20 Best Books For Football Coaches (2023 Update)

How football became football traces football's evolution from a version of rugby played before a handful of friends to a spectacle played in packed stadiums before television audiences of 100 million or more. organized by era, how football became football shows how football's rules, tactics, and equipment shifted over time, as did its coaching, officiating, and fan behavior. richly illustrated and written in a fun, engaging manner, readers learn why maul-ins, puntouts and quarterback kicks disappeared from the game, as well as how helmets, end zones, hash marks, and penalty flags became part of football. walter camp, paul brown, and sid gillman receive their due, while revealing the roles played by frank birch, john lockney, and other lesser-known men who impacted the game.

Masterfully blending thought provoking analysis with engrossing storytelling, the art of smart football examines football's most innovative and enduring strategies and ideas, through the lens of the sport's best coaches and players. the art of smart football is an eye-opening, fascinating and accessible contribution to our understanding of america's favorite sport. the art of smart football features analysis of football's top strategists and schemes, including: pete carroll's aggressive defense chip kelly's spread offense and new-school methods the roots of bill belichick's defensive genius gus malzahn's up-tempo offense the strategies peyton manning, tom brady, and aaron rodgers use to shred defenses art briles and baylor's wide open attack nick saban's defensive evolution the book also includes explorations of the newest trends in football, including "packaged plays" that combine runs and passes into one play, "pattern match" defenses that blend man-to-man and zone pass coverages, how defenses are responding to the spread offense, and much more. praise for the art of smart football: "the art of smart football made me a smarter football writer . . . football, as presented by these coaches and by brown, is such an imaginative game.

Coaching for sports performance provides a practical overview of the many disciplines necessary to be an effective coach. using experts from across the sports science fields, this book teaches readers the core concepts in a practical, easy to understand style, separated into four sections. part i explains the fundamentals of effective coaching including the development of coaching philosophies, best practices for coaching effectively, how athletic technique matures, and what coaches can and cannot do in specific health-related situations. part ii provides practical ways to improve athletic performance where readers learn the fundamentals of biomechanics and how to use technology to analyze performance, the physiological functions and adaptations to exercise, how the body can be physically trained and properly fueled, and mental strategies to optimize athletic outcomes. part iii introduces the business side of coaching, the important responsibilities involved in sport management, and practical methods for marketing as well as working with the media. last, part iv offers specific strategies for coaching across age and skill levels. chapters are split into youth and high school, collegiate, and professional athletes, and the nuances of coaching each level are explained. being called "coach" is an honor, but with this title comes the responsibility of being professional, knowledgeable, and effective. coaching for sports performance provides the platform for becoming a successful coach and assisting athletes in achieving their potential. coaching for sports performance provides a practical overview of the many disciplines necessary to be an effective coach.

Fifteen of the game's most renowned coaches offer their ideas and insights of defensive line play.

Coaching the spread offense: by the experts features 20 chapters, presented by 20 of the most respected coaches in the history of the game including: mike bellotti, joe casamento, greg critchett, scott deuschle, larry fedora, bob gaddis, chan gaily, skip holtz, craig howard, paul johnson, mick mccall, urban meyer, chris moore, gary pinkel, rich rodriguez, clint satterfield, philip shadowens, and robert weiner.

Written by lee waddington, a leader in the field of football coaching_learning content creation and delivery_and currently a practicing coach, this book clearly and concisely introduces the academic evidence for how the framework to freedom system can be applied to practice, both on and off the field. the framework to freedom system focuses on the child as a whole rather than playing abilities only. it examines four key areas: coaching, care, connectivity, and consumption. using sport as the cornerstone, the system develops each individual child through a unique coaching program that uses a game-based approach underpinned by the science of learning. outlined in the chapters are current issues within sports coaching_such as blocked practice, individual rather than team development, and the 10,000-hour myth_as well as creative solutions for these issues. these solutions are supported by academic research from several disciplines such as neuroscience, sports science, and psychology. through its clear structure, the book allows coaches and parents the opportunity to gain a genuine understanding of the science of learning that underpins the framework to freedom system and the unique way in which they can deliver practice to support each individual athlete. the book is an essential resource for any sports coach, parent, or student wishing to develop a new way of using evidence-based theory and methodology to create practices that develop strong athletes and outstanding individuals

With 100 pages that are half field and half lined notebook, it can be used as a playbook, scouting notebook, or practice planner. it makes a great gift idea for any serious football coach.

Often football coaches find that to keep their players motivated and engaged, they must create new practices every week. but when there are those particular practices that the players enjoy playing again and again which also provide the ideal environment for them to develop, why not use them more than once? essential practices for player development will provide the reader with 10 core football practice sessions that the players will find both enjoyable and challenging and that the coach will find develops key areas of the game. there are 9 adaptations provided with each core practice, making 100 practices in total. every practice is linked to one key area of the game that is identified as being essential to player development. also included is information on long-term player development, recognizing and supporting individual player needs, interventions, and player challenges. this book is not only a resource for football coaches just starting out on their coaching journey, but it is also for more experienced coaches looking to adapt their practice sessions. all practices provided can be used exclusively to create training curriculum for a full season, meaning there is no need for a coach to create a new session every week. the sessions can also be used to form the foundations of the curriculum, leaving room for a coach to add in those favorite practices. essential practices for player development is a book coaches will refer back to time and again.

This most recent edition of coaching the 4-3 defense by the experts includes four additional chapters. with 12 new chapters by some of americas best coaches, including: mickey andrews, florida state university tom bradley, pennsylvania state university jim leavitt, university of south florida

Since that time, alabama has won three national championships and become the nation's number one destination for recruits and the top source of nfl talent while simultaneously graduating its players. no other program has won more games, captured more awards, or come close to approaching the kind of consistent success as the crimson tide. college football, author christopher walsh not only explains what separates saban from his peers and compares his accomplishments to some of the all-time legends, but tells why, if there were a mount rushmore of college football coaches, saban's face would already be on it. from his upbringing in west virginia to his relationship with legendary coach bill belichick, “the process” has not only led to saban having a statue along alabama's “walk of champions” in front of bryant-denny stadium, but the establishment of a new standard that may be unparalleled in college football history.

Imagine sitting in a room with the greatest football coaches in modern history. the topic: leadership. this book is your own personal clinic with the unprecedented chance to pick the brains of the living legends on how to run a championship level program. part 1 is an interview q & a that covers topics like: – bill parcells on developing a coaching philosophy – jimmy johnson on creating a winning environment – lou holtz on keys to great leadership – urban meyer on turning around a program part 2 is how to run great practices. examples: – pete carroll's days of the week practice focus – prepare your team for sudden change – recover from losses quickly – mental game keys for quarterbacks part 3 is coaching plans on leadership, motivation and team building. examples: – nick saban's 4 most important coaching lessons – locker room motivational methods – bill walsh's ten keys to sustain success after a championship parts 4 and 5 give you practical coaching idea to make an impact on your team immediately and over the course of a season. all 66 concise chapters give you action steps that will get your team more w's.

How did legendary football coach george allen (1918-1990) consistently build winning teams at both the college and professional levels? this first full-length biography examines his applied philosophy of coaching through comprehensive coverage of his tenures at the collegiate level. his stormy relationships with team owners are detailed, along with his historic divorce from the chicago bears. the two most important plays of allen's career are analyzed. appendices provide a list of allen's nfl trades, his key draft picks, a statistical breakdown of his nfl offenses and a comparison with other top coaches of his era.

'superbly insightful' fourfourtwo'hugely enjoyable.' henry winter, chief football writer, the times'a brilliant read.' a great read.' mark lawrenson'one of my favourite football writers and a keen observer of the game who never fails to entertain.' patrick barclay – complex, overlooked and misunderstood, football's centre-halves rarely take centre-stage. leo moynihan's long overdue celebration of this much-maligned position explores the unique mindset and last-ditch, bone-crunching tackles of the traditionally bruising hard man, hell-bent on destroying glory. – football is often romanticised as 'the beautiful game'. if that's true, then the game's centre-half might be considered the unsightly pimple on the end of its otherwise perfectly formed nose. the stopper is the last line of defence, the big man with small ideas, the lump who lumps it. – thou shall not pass (from a command england captain terry butcher shouted before every match) celebrates the football position where brutal characters are loved for their hard-hitting tackles and bruising mentality, and yet laughed at for their apparent lack of skill. – covering the long and illustrious history of the centre-half, thou shall not pass takes the reader into the muddy penalty area frequented by our protagonists, into their domain. the places they head the ball, the places where they tackle, the places in which they will stop at nothing to stop a forward. what makes a defender approach the game the way they do? what makes them different from those whose sole purpose is flair? featuring exclusive interviews – including those with virgil van dijk, jamie carragher, terry butcher, mark lawrenson, darren moore, steph houghton, tony adams, frank leboeuf and dion dublin – and packed with rich and highly entertaining anecdotes, the book explores all aspects of the position and investigates the mentality of those who ply their trade there.

Why is a football field sometimes called a gridiron? who are some of the best left-handed quarterbacks ever? who was the first black quarterback to win a super bowl? why do players form a huddle when plays are called? when did quarterback sacks become an official statistic? what is the record for the most passes thrown by a quarterback in a game? this book provides a slew of questions and in-depth answers concerning the traditions, rules, records, and history of pro football (and more). from the early days of football to the hugely popular game seen today, wayne stewart answers questions even the most knowledgeable fan may have pondered. whether the topic is quarterbacks or coaches, famous "firsts" or memorable moments, if a who, what, when, where, why, or how? question is on your mind, this is the book for you.

From the new york times bestselling author of brady vs. manning and dean of football writers – a book that explores the many interesting facets to nfl quarterbacks and their relationships with their fathers.tom brady's father is an estate planner. jim harbaugh's father had a long career as a college coach. archie manning played fourteen years in the nfl and never made the playoffs, but his sons peyton and eli won a combined four super bowls. joe montana is considered by many to be the greatest quarterback of all time, but his two sons bounced around college football with limited success. jameis winston's father supported his family working overnight highway construction in alabama. derek carr's father moved the family to houston after derek's older brother, david, was drafted by the texans.my first coach goes behind the scenes to explore the unique relationship between these and other quarterbacks and their fathers, as well as investigate various approaches to parenting through their stories. can young athletes overcome helicopter parents? how did the kids with nfl aspirations deal with their fathers who'd already made it? what kind of pressure did they have to overcome? what kind of pressure did the father who succeeded put on his son to be an athlete? would the expectations be lower and the results greater if the father was an attorney or doctor? was it better for the fathers to be overbearing, or borderline disinterested? my first coach tells the compelling, real-life stories of some of the country's most famous quarterbacks and how they took advantage of or overcame their relationships with their fathers.

Lewandowski robert lewandowski is one of the best strikers of his generation – but his journey to the top wasn't always easy. finding himself without a club at the age of 17, robert had no choice but to claw his way up through the ranks of polish football. it led him to the top of one of the world's toughest leagues, the german bundesliga. join robert on his unwavering mission to become one of the greatest players of all time. gnabry at the age of ten, serge gnabry was wanted by some of the biggest football clubs in the world. his route to superstardom looked clear. but after struggling to break into first teams, potentially career-ending injuries and an infamously disastrous loan spell, serge had to fight to become bayern munich's deadliest weapon and germany's brightest light. follow him on his extraordinary journey to the top. sometimes, when that journey isn't smooth, the result only makes it all the more worthwhile. rashford now a lethal striker for his boyhood club – and an international superstar – marcus rashford is living his dream. but from navigating a ruthless academy to playing under one of the fiercest managers in the game, marcus's meteoric rise to the top of manchester united wasn't always easy. this is the story of how a boy from manchester used his passion and his talent to steer himself on a path to greatness. sterling it didn't always look as though raheem sterling would make it as a world-class player. from a difficult start in life to a tough time in the spotlight, raheem has always had to think on his feet. this is the incredible story of how a boy who grew up in the shadow of wembley stadium used his grit and passion to steer himself to the very top. kante coaches always thought that n'golo kanté was too small and too shy to make it in the world of football. but with hard work, natural talent and a true love for the game, n'golo is now the superstar midfielder who brings victory to every team he's a part of. discover his journey – from picking up bottles in the streets of paris to winning trophies on the world stage – proving that no one is ever too small to make it big. mbappe as a teenager, kylian mbappe was one of the best footballers on the planet. now – he just keeps on getting better. kylian's skill, pace and sensational finishing have fired his clubs and his country to incredible victories, whilst he has established himself firmly in the record books. follow the whirlwind journey of this football-mad boy from paris, who never let the weight of the world's expectations slow his journey to becoming a legend. felix with his creativity, acrobatic talent and sheer speed, joão félix can make top-level football look effortless. but joão's journey to the top has not been easy. as a skinny kid he'd already given up on football once, before harnessing his inner strength and determination to win both the portuguese and the spanish leagues. join "the heir to ronaldo" on his mission to become one of the greatest players in the game. sancho as a teenager, jadon sancho walked away from one of the biggest football clubs – and managers – on the planet. the world of football thought he was crazy. but with hard work, natural talent and total self-belief, jadon is now at the top of one of the world's toughest leagues and at the heart of england's national team. this is the incredible story of how a football-mad boy from london trusted his instincts and left his home country to make his dream come true. van dijk quick, composed and physically dominant – virgil van dijk is the defender who has it all. but from washing dishes while he tried to secure his first professional contract to facing rejection and serious illness, it didn't always seem as if virgil was going to make it to the top. this is the inspiring story of how a boy from breda used his determination and self-belief to become one of the greatest defenders in the world. son a year after signing for tottenham hotspur, heung-min son asked to leave. now he's a spurs legend who's showing no signs of slowing down. discover the incredible story of this boy from south korea, who learnt discipline from his dad and german by watching spongebob sometimes, when you've come so far, giving up on yourself is just not an option.

An “excellent sports history” (publishers weekly) in the tradition of michael lewis’s moneyball, award-winning historian s.c. gwynne tells the incredible story of how two unknown coaches revolutionized american football at every level, from high school to the nfl.hal mumme spent fourteen mostly losing seasons coaching football before inventing a potent passing offense that would soon shock players, delight fans, and terrify opposing coaches. it all began at a tiny, overlooked college called iowa wesleyan, where mumme was head coach and mike leach, a lawyer who had never played college football, was hired as his offensive line coach. in the cornfields of iowa these two mad inventors, drawn together by a shared disregard for conventionalism and a love for jimmy buffett, began to engineer the purest, most extreme passing game in the 145-year history of football. implementing their “air raid” offense, their teams—at iowa wesleyan and later at valdosta state and the university of kentucky—played blazingly fast—faster than any team ever had before, and they routinely beat teams with far more talented athletes. and mumme and leach did it all without even a playbook. “a superb treat for all gridiron fans” (kirkus reviews, starred review), the perfect pass s.c. gwynne explores mumme’s leading role in changing football from a run-dominated sport to a pass-dominated one, the game that tens of millions of americans now watch every fall weekend. whether you’re a casual or ravenous football fan, this is “a rousing tale of innovation” (booklist), and “gwynne’s book ably relates the story of that innovation and the successes of the man who devised it” (new york journal of books).

Whether rediscovering the best team moments, or initiating into the histories and traditions of ducks fandom, this book about the university of oregon football team is both a useful resource and cherishable memorabilia. packed with anecdotes of the players, explanations about the beginnings of rivalries and traditions, detailed histories about the greatest players and moments in the school's history, lists of the most successful seasons, recaps of the most exciting games ever played, and year-by-year statistics, this collectible book is the primary source for anyone eager to be an expert regarding anything about the ducks. the book captures the essence of what it means to be a true oregon fan: autzen stadium, the swoosh, crossing the willamette river via the autzen footbridge, all-americans, the uniforms, and the one and only donald duck.

An “excellent sports history” (publishers weekly) in the tradition of michael lewis’s moneyball, award-winning historian s.c. gwynne tells the incredible story of how two unknown coaches revolutionized american football at every level, from high school to the nfl.hal mumme spent fourteen mostly losing seasons coaching football before inventing a potent passing offense that would soon shock players, delight fans, and terrify opposing coaches. it all began at a tiny, overlooked college called iowa wesleyan, where mumme was head coach and mike leach, a lawyer who had never played college football, was hired as his offensive line coach. in the cornfields of iowa these two mad inventors, drawn together by a shared disregard for conventionalism and a love for jimmy buffett, began to engineer the purest, most extreme passing game in the 145-year history of football. implementing their “air raid” offense, their teams—at iowa wesleyan and later at valdosta state and the university of kentucky—played blazingly fast—faster than any team ever had before, and they routinely beat teams with far more talented athletes. and mumme and leach did it all without even a playbook. “a superb treat for all gridiron fans” (kirkus reviews, starred review), the perfect pass s.c. gwynne explores mumme’s leading role in changing football from a run-dominated sport to a pass-dominated one, the game that tens of millions of americans now watch every fall weekend. whether you’re a casual or ravenous football fan, this is “a rousing tale of innovation” (booklist), and “gwynne’s book ably relates the story of that innovation and the successes of the man who devised it” (new york journal of books).

Product type: subjects > sports & outdoors > coaching > football (american)