This is an easy-to-understand reference for anyone who wants to learn more about America and American fo otball. It looks at: the language of the game; strategies an d subtleties of play; equipment and players; and associated cultural traditions. '
Renowned NFL analysts' tips to make football more accessible, colorful, and compelling than ever before More and more football fans are watching the NFL each week, but many of them don't know exactly what they should be watching. What does the offense's formation tell you about the play that's about to be run? When a quarterback throws a pass toward the sideline and the wide receiver cuts inside, which player is to blame? Why does a defensive end look like a Hall of Famer one week and a candidate for the practice squad the next? These questions and more are addressed in Take Your Eye Off the Ball 2.0, a book that takes readers deep inside the perpetual chess match between offense and defense. This book provides clear and simple explanations to the intricacies and nuances that affect the outcomes of every NFL game. This updated edition contains recent innovations from the 2015 NFL season.
Football, known as ‘The Beautiful Game’, transcends borders, cultures, and generations, captivating millions around the globe with its thrilling blend of athleticism, strategy, and unyielding passion. From the dusty streets of small villages to the grand stadiums of bustling metropolises, football unites people in a shared love for the sport, creating unforgettable memories and lifelong bonds. This book delves into the multi-faceted world of football, offering insights into its rich history, intricate tactics, and the remarkable stories of the legends who have graced the pitch. Whether you're a novice seeking to understand the basics or a seasoned fan eager to deepen your knowledge, this comprehensive guide covers all aspects of the game. From grass-roots development to professional leagues, from iconic moments to the latest technological advancements, we explore the evolution and future of football in an engaging and accessible manner. Each chapter is designed to illuminate different facets of football, from the essential skills and techniques to the cultural impact and global reach of the sport. Join us on this journey through the world of football, and discover why it remains the most beloved and influential sport on the planet.
"Considered the bible of scouting techniques" according to the Los Angeles Times, Football Scouting Methods explains the basic scouting strategies and insights of author Steve Belichick. He was widely viewed as the ablest football scout of his time and coached at the U.S. Naval Academy for 33 years; his son is New England Patriots coach Bill Belichick, a three-time Super Bowl winner. When Steve Belichick died in November 2005, the New York Times headline cited him as "Coach Who Wrote the Book on Scouting," and quoted Houston Texans General Manager Charley Casserly calling Football Scouting Methods "the best book on scouting he had ever read." Joe Bellino, Navy's Heisman Trophy winner in 1960, told the Times that Steve Belichick "was a genius. On Monday nights, he would give us his scouting reports, and even though we were playing powerhouses, I always felt we were prepared because he found a way for us to win." In recent years Football Scouting Methods has been one of the top ten most sought out-of-print books; used copies have been quite scarce. This reissue edition makes the original 1962 text available once again in exact facsimile. The book covers how to scout opponents, recognize defenses, analyze offenses, discover "tip-offs" that reveal the opponent's plays, compose a useful report, self-scout, and conduct postgame analysis. "Steve Belichick taught many younger men how to scout and how to watch film and how to prepare their teams for the next week's game," David Halberstam noted in the Washington Post, and his best student was his own son Bill Belichick, "one of whose greatest skills as a coach to this day remains his ability to analyze other teams, figuring out both their strengths and their vulnerabilities, and shrewdly deciding how to take away from them that which they most want to do." When CBS asked Bill Belichick to name his favorite book, he replied "Well, I've got to go with my dad's. Football Scouting Methods. I'd have to go with that."
READ THE REMARKABLE STORY OF A LIFE LIVED IN THE SERVICE OF FOOTBALL Life is a beautiful game – but how should you play it? ‘To be a manager, you have to perform always. You cannot live in history. It's now and tomorrow that counts’ ---- For Sven-Göran Eriksson, one of the world’s most revered and respected football managers, the game has come to an end. He leaves us with his parting reflections, looking back on what he has achieved, experienced and learned over a lifetime in service to the beautiful game. It is a journey that has taken him from a small club in his native Sweden, across every continent, to competing on the world’s stage. Before his death, he was able to impart the lessons he’s learned along the way – about life, leadership and love – and to speak candidly about his extraordinary successes, as well as overcoming his failures. On the field, he led some of the finest sportsmen on earth to great victories and heartbreaking defeats, and in the process left his indelible mark on the game. This is a story of lives touched and connections made in the dogged pursuit of excellence. But for Sven the true journey he wanted to share is the one he made on the inside – the man that he became. Because A Beautiful Game is far more than the tale of a successful football manager. It is the story of the biggest game of all – what makes a good life. A story that endures, long after the final whistle. ---- REMEMBERING SVEN-ÖRAN ERIKSSON 'Great manager and superb man-manager' John Terry 'One of the very best and a man who will be sadly missed by everyone in the world of football' Michael Owen 'I could play my best football under him' Micah Richards
Who is the Quiet Fan? It’s you, me and almost everyone who follows football. But for years we’ve been marginalised by the hooligans, the fanatics, the obsessives and the angry. Only the ‘passionate’, it seems, can say that they love their clubs and love the game. This quiet fan is finally speaking up and saying: it’s time to reclaim the middle ground. In a memoir recounting the combined folly and delights of supporting Lincoln City, Scotland and Rangers (it’s complicated), Ian Plenderleith speaks up for the fans you never notice - the quiet ones sitting (or standing) among the howlers, the shouters and the fist-shakers. From a grim and foul-mouthed fourth division encounter in early 1970s Lincolnshire through to a star-studded orgy of fireworks and excess in 21st century New York, he examines the role of football as a reassuring, ever-present background to life's thrills, pains and fluctuations. In a pacy, wit-driven mixture of observation, anecdotes and analysis, this book looks anew at the way we watch and relate to football. How it can be a fundamental part of our lives, but without completely blanketing some other important issues like love, death, divorce and the Birmingham post-punk indie scene. How football is, of course, so much more than a game, but perhaps just slightly less than the universe. Ever since Fever Pitch and the wave of hard man football literature 20 years ago, we’ve been told that the only way to express our love for football is through extreme, absurd, violent or negative emotions. The Quiet Fan sees things differently. Magnificent, frustrating, invigorating football is our game too.