B Is For Books: 5 Books That Made Me A Better Coach

Please join me for a fun series. My mission, and I've chosen to accept it, is to write a post based on each letter of the alphabet. The English major inside of me is very excited about this project...and my inner nerd is even more fired up! Keep checking back as I tackle the intangibles of sport...from A to Z.

I'm a book nerd...I love 'em! So much so that I put a summer reading list together every year to make sure that I get my reading fix in. These are books that have helped me over the years and I'm sure you'll find them helpful as well. I hope this article makes it easier for you to get your learn on!

Here are five books that I return to time and time again...and they never let me down.

Gender and Competition: How Men and Women Approach Work and Play Differently by Kathy DeBoer

I, like many female former athletes of my age, only played for male coaches. So when I decided that I wanted to be a coach, I did it the only way I knew how...like a man. The result? Utter disaster. Sound familiar? Or are you a male coach who wonders why your female team isn't "aggressive" enough? I bet you'll love this book because there are lots of good stories and tips in there.

DeBoer says that culturally, young girls view winning and losing as opposite of the "closeness that females value" and avoid it in play activities. As you read this, your eyes will be opened to the type of environment that you can create to help your female team embrace competition.

The Talent Code by Daniel Coyle

He had me at the tagline for the book: "Greatness isn't born. It's grown. Here's how." I'm sure we've all had those athletes who are pretty good, but we look at them and see who they could be if they just pushed themselves. We challenge them to try new things, but they are perfectionists and hate making mistakes, so they don't reach their potential. They play it safe, they stay comfortable...they're good, not great.

The whole concept of the book is that we are in control of our talent and our greatness...that we can work at it if we work in the correct manner: "struggling in certain targeted ways-operating at the edges of your ability, where you make mistakes-makes you smarter." Reading through the book, we learn how to make this happen for our players.

Quiet Strength by Tony Dungy

Unlike the first two books, this one is more biography than "how to". I think that the title of this book could have been "Quiet Confidence" as well. Think about the inner strength and confidence Dungy must have had in himself and his way of doing things that he was able to buck the tradition and be a football coach on his own terms. What an awesome lesson for us all to learn!

To have confidence in your calling as a coach when the results aren't turning out how you'd like. To have confidence in your coaching style and philosophy when others tell you that you can't be successful using your methods. The book details Dungy's career from player to Super Bowl champion...and all of the ups and downs in between. But the one thing that is a consistent theme throughout the book is his commitment to his coaching style.

7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Franklin Covey

When I first got into the workforce, the company I worked for had a 7 Habits seminar right there in the office. Over the course of three days, I learned how to be a professional and how to work well with others...I'd say that was a pretty impactful three day period!

The first three habits are all about us as individuals, the next three are about interacting with others, the final habit is for all of us to pursue a lifetime of learning...always looking to get better. As you work through the book, the habits work to transform us from dependency to independence to interdependence. Interdependence means mutual reliance upon one another...or a "team"! I've used this book as a captain's training manual and also as a team book with pretty good success.

Wooden: A Lifetime of Observations From On and Off the Court by John Wooden

So often when people talk about team chemistry or leadership or team dynamics, they seem to think, "Well, that's great...if I have time to get to it." I think it's partly because coaches understand the tangibles: setting up a practice plan, putting together drills, making corrections to specific behaviors. I also think it's partly because coaches don't understand the ins and outs of those intangibles (and how to measure if we've been successful), so we tend to stay away from them.

But if we are to believe the Pyramid, then a successful team is built upon intangibles. What Coach Wooden has brilliantly given us with his Pyramid is a way to measure the success of those intangibles. Build these blocks of the Pyramid of Success into your practice plans and you'll be well on your way to achieving your goals! There's more in this book than the Pyramid...but those are the pages of my book that are well worn.

There are so many books out there that will make us better coaches...these are my top five, but certainly not the only ones that have impacted my coaching life.

Dawn Redd is the Head Volleyball Coach at Beloit College. Come visit Coach Dawn's community of coaching nerds and team leaders over at her blog, http://www.coachdawnwrites.com/, where she teaches how to become an excellent coach, motivate individuals, and build successful teams.

Her book, Coach Dawn's Guide To Motivating Female Athletes, is available for purchase on her website.

Books turning in films a positive or negative thing?

Many books that films are ongoing is an option and lately. But with the growing number of films, books, quality is absent? Should we be happy or nervous on the subject to see the books which are films on the big screen?

Usually, it is a case by case basis, but most of the time there are a few different things that make books like the films a good or a bad thing.

The first positive thing is undoubtedly see the history and the world to life. Especially when you talk about a book that is magical and a lot of elements of fantasy to it, sometimes that see the world to come to life can be an amazing experience. But such a wonderful concept also comes with significant risks. Perhaps the budget left much to be desired and the sets and effects are not all that they might be. This can really ruin a history, and unfortunately the visuals that film offer becomes rooted when you read the book once more.

Another thing that is really exciting to see books such as films is learning to see the characters come to life before we have imagined in the reading of our eyes. It can be really cool to see the new and established players to realize our favorite characters. But again, if a player just does not match the role physically and skill level is, and then films the books may be more of a disappointment than a positive experience.

The most wonderful thing books hitting the big screen is that it tends to have that effect on the masses, people read books which are films because they enjoyed drawing film. Many times that these people are not normally drives and this is certainly a good thing any time something gets people reading and exercise their minds. The negative effect only that this has on the whole, it is that the offer and demand for books should be with. Therefore, we tend to see an increase of books which are cranked too quickly and end up by being of low quality and copies of the storylines or other books.

Anything, the beautiful thing to be witness to the books like the films is that it has more exposure for the book, the author and reading in General. If it's a story that we love, it is pleasant when many people know and you can talk to them! But it can also be a little annoying when fans of the ramp of film to fans of the book and asked to be the greatest fans, when in reality, the greatest fans are those that increased exposure of the book itself at this course is option as a film.

If you are a fan of books like the films or not is something we decide on our own. But be that as it may, the incredible world of films, books became more popular each day and I hope that something that will only increase the quality to the satisfaction of the book lovers and for video enthusiasts.

Are you a fan of films, books? Then discover the books like movies blog for the latest news about new films and upcoming based on books!

Stephen King: Books of the master of horror and Suspense

Humans do all they can to avoid being in situations of fear, suspense, and yet humans built a publication several million and the industry of entertainment based entirely on fear and suspense. Each year (and this happens not only at Halloween), Hollywood offers a list of novels thriller suspense, horror, mysteries and other films between the two. Libraries devote entire walls and shelves to the mystique and the C17.

If you would look at carefully, you would always include present among these bars is a book by Stephen King. Just that it is horror, suspense, and "the King" that got people hooked up? Even in video stores, media reserved for horror films contain at least a film of a book by Stephen King adaptation. His writing style is it? His dry humor, sometimes? Witty dialogues and the banters? The characters easily identify and relate, that are placed ordinary people in extraordinary situations Hey? His sincere story, straight to the point? Or is this idea - the crazy way, it transforms ordinary things into something macabre and suspected - that hold readers in its power of awareness, to frighten, to terrify and?

Portfolio of horror of the King

Stephen King career spans forty years covering many works since the early stories, he wrote as a young person to grow in Maine for her work and recent publications in the second decade of the 2000's.

To date, the author Stephen King has written 70 books, 49 are os-cooling novels; seven are terrifying stories under the pseudonym of Richard Bachman; five of the non-fiction works; and nine collections of short scary stories. His works have been adapted to television, the cinema and comics. Even the first Stephen King film adaptations books dating back to the ' of the 1970s and ' 80 s get in the television series in the ' 1990s shorts or and the years 2000.

Due to his prolific writing and boundless imagination, King has been given many monikers from the "King of horror" to "master of Suspense". He has received numerous literary prizes for his contribution to literature: o. Henry Awards in 1996, Quill Awards in 2005, the National Foundation of book in 2003, a lifetime achievement award from the National Book Award in 2003. and the kind of suspense and horror in het bijzonder: Convention of world horror, World Fantasy Awards, science fiction and Fantasy Awards of America, Mystery Writers of America Awards, British Fantasy Society Awards, the Locus, the International Horror Guild Awards Award and many others.

His name continues to make the appointment or the body of awards in literature, records and books of Stephen King are still present in the annual Best-seller lists. Needless to say, it has established for himself a loyal readers who love his sharp prose, witty dialogues and a plot full of suspense and plot twists and the turns.

Legacy of horror Stephen King

As the film that director Alfred Hitchcock has left a legacy in making the horror and suspense movies, Stephen King made a huge influence in the writing of novels in the horror genre and suspense. One of the main features introduced in popular culture in General is the idea of transforming the ordinary into the unusual, the innocent into something very dangerous. He played with our expectation of what things and people are based only on what we perceive them. For example, in his classic novel misery, the principle is simple: a writer of horror was injured and taken to the trap in a snow storm in a small rural town. A woman has helped him and offered his house so he could retrieve pending help. The woman, age mature and still single, proved to be a big fan of his and had professed to be his "number one fan". History, if you don't know yet, twisted and spiral down into a dark abyss without changing the simple premise or an author made in a snowstorm with his fan number one.

That you can handle a little paranoia? Books of reading Stephen King now and experience what generations of readers encountered in their first reading tales of the King of horror.

You can find a list of authors such as books of Stephen King and other Stephen King on my Web site.

Books to Read After Harry Potter

The epic Harry Potter series came to an end, with The Deathly Hallows. These seven book series captivated the reading audience with 'magic' and gave rise to a new generation of book lovers. Therefore, the conclusion of the series left a void among the ardent Potter fans, all over the world, who still craves for more.

Fortunately, there are several admirable books that can prove to be the best choice to read after Harry Potter. We will be covering ten such books that are mystical, innovative and endearing. These fantasy based books are meant for the adults and children alike and though these books may or may not follow the theme or genre similar to 'Potter', they are definitely excellent and can easily engross the reading world.

The Last Unicorn written by Peter S. Beagle is a classic novel that depicts the journey of a Unicorn, an immortal wizard and a cat. This fantasy based book narrates their pursuit to find what happened to the unicorns. The underlying theme of the novel reflects love, delusion against realism, failure, compassion and destiny. The story is an amalgamation of myths and folklore just like the story of Harry Potter. The fantasy has an emotional twist when the characters of the book give up their belief in the supernatural or mythological creatures.

Many people draw similarities between His Dark Materials, which is a trilogy by Philip Pullman and Harry Potter. This particular book series involves intricate and adult themes which make it appropriate for the grown-up readers. These books are pleasurable as they leave impressions of magic comparable to Harry Potter. Pullman's books are ideal for reading after the Potter series.

The Lord of the Rings is another epic trilogy that has caught the interest of several Potter fans. J. R Tolkien drew many things from mythology and some of the characters of Lord of the Rings and Harry Potter have similar traits and features. Nevertheless, it is an interesting and gripping book which can surely capture the attention of Potter readers.

The Hobbit is another novel by Tolkien. It is a story that revolves around Bilbo Baggins - the hobbit and his adventures in Middle-Earth. In his perilous expedition, he comes across monsters and discovers inner bravery, strength etc. It is a fascinating and a must read book for Potter fans.

Susannah Clarke's Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrel is a novel based on secrecy, magic and marvel which makes the reading enjoyable. It is an excellent followup book after Harry Potter.

The Sparrow written by Mary Doria Russel is actually a science fiction however; it handles several themes that can earn earnest appreciation from Potter fans.

The Thief Lord by Cornelia Funke portrays the life of two orphans who escapes to Venice and stumbles upon the mystifying Thief Lord. Though the Lord helps them, he also draws them into risky robberies. The story is about magic, mystery and bonding which reminds one of Harry Potter.

The Chronicles of Narnia are amusing books to read after Harry Potter. It is a fantasy series about the amazing kingdom of Narnia which spans across seven books. Narnia has loads of fantastic beasts like Harry Potter. Also, the passage to the world of Narnia is through a cupboard which reminds of platform 9 ?. The story of Narnia is enthralling and engrosses the readers successfully.

Homeland by R.A Salvatore reveals the Drow world which is underground, deceitful and is inhibited by Drizzt Do'Urden. Drizzt is unable to adjust in the Muggle world just like Harry. However, unlike Harry who gets admission at Hogwarts School, Drizzt is practically left alone as despite being a great warrior, he declines to slay other Drows, which is a part of his duty towards his family and society. Salvatore produces a very sinister world, but the readers share Drizzt's loneliness and discover optimism in his compassion and might.

Earthsea Trilogy written by Ursula K. LeGuin is renowned for her writing style more than the story. The Wizard of Earthsea trails Ged as he turn into a full fledge wizard. The remaining part of the series tracks his adventures as he gains power. Earthsea is a delight for fantasy book readers. The wizard world reminisce the magical world of Harry Potter.

To conclude, it is always a special treat to revisit the Harry Potter series and read it all over again and again.

This article is to bring a persons attention to what is available to read that are related to the Harry Potter series. There are web sites available that will show more books to read that relates to the same theme to be reviewed.

Books on the death of 3 good Christian kids

There are several attractive children's books on the market, or help parents explain death to young children, or directly targeting children for their reading pleasure, that include an explanation of the death. But surprisingly few are specifically Christian books. However, I am able to recommend three books that are very engaging.

Water Bugs and dragonflies by Doris Stickney 1)has been published by The Pilgrim Press in 1982. This is a very small book, thin, containing a history that begins below the surface of a peaceful pond among a small colony of bugs of the water. The history ends with the transformation of a bug of the water in a Dragonfly and beautifully illustrates the fact that dragonflies can not return below the surface of the water to indicate bugs water, what has happened, and is similar to what life in his new body. A prayer follows, which the reader of the child can use as a guide in the prayer for the person that he or she is in mourning for the loss. The book then gives notes to parents to inform them about what they can say to a dead child, and this backup with quotations from Matthew and mark showing how J?sus approached the little children. The book ends with a prayer for parents. I think it's an ideal resource for parents who may be uncertain and precarious on the treatment of the subject.

2) I will live forever? by Carolyn Nystrom, illustrated by Jo - Anne Shilliam was published by Lion Hudson in 2006. And said in the first person through the point of view of the young child, it directly addresses the reader with a question on the thoughts of sad, of fear and then reports these issues in the world of the child. The story encapsulates the Christian understanding of why we die, starting with the story of creation and Adam and Eve in the garden of Eden. It goes to integrate quotations from the Gospel. It is also very honest and direct on the physical processes of death, the corruption of the body, the reason why it should be cremated or buried, etc.. It is to think about the sky - once more meet the child or direct, logical questions asked to respond to a young child. It is an excellent book, it that you wish you had access to the when you were a young child.

3) Part grandmother by Meg Harper, illustrated by Paul Nicholls, was highlighted by the communion of biblical reading in 2003. This is a wonderful book, centered around the funeral or a grandmother, and offers practical ways to help children to be part of the process of mourning the death of a loved. It includes a history and craft creative ideas for how a child can become involved in the preparation of tea after funeral. revenue; calligraphy instructions to make place cards; and how to make settings for photos, memories and water lilies of paper books. The book has a strong Christian Foundation, explaining the resurrection of the dead and finishing with prayers that can be read by a child at the funeral. This is a nice, practical book, help parents understand how to involve and to include children at every stage, thus they can live the truth that death is a part of life, not something exotic and taboo and frightening, to be hidden behind a wall of silence and mystifying rituals.

S.C.Skillman is the author of the novel romance mystery "Mystic circles" in which Juliet, concerned that his sister has fallen for the charismatic leader of a new spiritual age Craig, dubious group, raises the Cotswolds to see the situation for itself. She arrives at the community of Craig in the hope of saving Zoe. But intrigue and flourish or dismal on bonds and relations quickly flare in this narrow circle and, despite its reservations, Juliet is sucked in the wheel of love... with totally unpredictable consequences.

Mystic circles is now available as an e-book on Amazon Kindle. You can find more information by visiting the blog of the author at http://www.scskillman.com/.