Coaching Football: From Youth Leagues to the Pros

You know what's a really bad thing to do in terms of ruining team morale? In the middle of a pep-talk, stand up in front of the whole team and accuse your coach of being obsessed with orgsms. Trust me . . . this move will kill a perfectly good season.

If there is any such thing as a Coaching 101 class, this should be the textbook. A great book for youth and JV coaches as well as people who just want to learn more about the game. This text offers a great overview of nearly every aspect of football on and off the field. Not only does it cover the "Xs and Os", but also addresses strategy, game planning, and parental, family and community involvement with the football program. Coaches working at more advanced levels of football (5A high schools, college, pro) might find this book remedial. However, I think fundamentals are important at any level and this text may prove to be a great refresher for coaches and coordinators bogged down in zone blitzes and rhythm passing. My favorite parts of the book were the explanations of the evolution of offensive and deffensive formations. It's one thing to know how a play works, it's another to know WHY. Other books I've read gave me the fish, this book showed me how to fish. BIG difference.