Handbook of Winning Football by Coach George Allen

Last night I finished reading Handbook of Winning Football by Hall of Fame Coach George Allen.  About 450 pages of football wisdom.  It was published in 1975 but once you read it, you will realize why Coach Allen is a Hall of Fame football coach.  Also if you are a Washington Redskins fan from that era you will love all the pictures.

For all new youth football coaches that think they may not be good football coaches because they lack football knowledge, "Organization is the foundation of all successful football coaching.  This is just as true in the handling of high school and college teams as it is in coaching play for pay professional squads.  Organization is the basis for the whole game."  Get your self organized find some good assistant coaches and have fun coaching youth football.

Play for Fun and Winning is Funner!

Tom Landry and Autobiography - Football Dallas Cowboys

I just finished Tom Landry: An Autobiography and it was excellent.  I must admit I have always been a Dallas Cowboys fan since growing up in Texas and from the Dallas / Fort Worth area as a young child.  I also coach youth football and I love this book.  I am definitely a Landry guy!

..."if you want a football team to improve, you need to identify the areas in which you aren't as good and practice those."  Tom Landry

After finishing the Paterno autobiography last week, this autobiography is a little different in that its less about coaching and more about Coach's life but a more enjoyable read, probably for a Cowboy fan. I highly recommend Tom Landry: An Autobiography.  I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.

Gentleman This is Football Book

Gentlemen, This Is a Football: Football's Best Quotes and Quips is a great little bathroom book and or gift for your football fan.  This has some great one liners from some of the best football players and football coaches to use on your youth football team and parents.  Or just increase your football wisdom.

When you win say nothing. When you lose say less.  Paul Brown, Cleveland Browns Coach.

A good coach needs a patient wife, a loyal dog and a great quarterback, but not necessarily in that order.  Minnesota Vikings Coach Bud Grant.

I highly recommend Gentlemen, This Is a Football: Football's Best Quotes and Quips for any football lover.

The Score Takes Care of Itself by Bill Walsh Football Book

A few months back, I read The Score Takes Care of Itself: My Philosophy of Leadership by Bill Walsh the great football coach of the San Francisco 49ers from 1979-1989 and the innovator of the West Coast offense. This a must read book for any football coach but also any business professional.

A major theme throughout the book is setting a standard of performance excellence and coaching / managing and teaching and then holding people accountable to the performance standard.  I love "Winners act like winner before they are winners."

After reading the book The Score Takes Care of Itself: My Philosophy of Leadership, I do not consider myself a control freak anymore.  Walsh would even set a standard of performance for his office staff including the receptionist answering the phone.  His expectations of excellence included everyone within in the organization on or off the field of play.  As a leader you are only as good as your weakest link.

Fritz Shurmur - Eagle Five-Linebacker Defense Football Book

I just started reading Frtitz Shurmer's The Eagle Five-Linebacker Defense.  This is a must have book simply for the description of outside linebacker / defensive end play.  The play of the outside linebacker "starts with a good take off, or explosion, across the line of scrimmage on the snap." They must "sprint across the line of scrimmage and reacting on the run rather than sitting on the line of scrimmage reading."

Too many time the DE or OLB sit and wait and there is no pass rush or the running back has already gotten a head of steam and its over for contain.  

I hope you enjoy The Eagle Five-Linebacker Defense.

Youth Football Skill and Drills by Tom Bass

Tom Bass in his book Youth Football Skills & Drills: A New Coach's Guide says one youth football coach to 6 pee wee football players an ideal ratio of coaches.  I must agree with Coach Bass.  To really teach the youth football player you need multiple drill stations to keep the young little league football players interested.  I like running three drill stations with two coaches each. Ive been happy when I've had 4 to 5 assistant coaches that know football and are not "daddy coaches."

Coach Bass' Youth Football Skills & Drills: A New Coach's Guide is a great addition to your youth football coaching library.  It's an easy read and a simple guide to the beginner youth football coach.

Complete Guide to Special Teams by Frank Beamer

Another great addition to your youth football coaching library is Frank Beamers Complete Guide to Special Teams (American Football Coaches Ass).  This is a great book on special teams.  My copy is worn, highlighted and notes in different colors along the page edges.

I spend a good amount of time on Special Teams in practice, because Special Teams is an easy way to gain an edge in youth football .  Even Coach Vince Lombardi knew that an error on Special Teams was usually the difference in close games.

I highly recommend this book, Complete Guide to Special Teams (American Football Coaches Ass).  Remember to play for fun and winning is funner.  EMJ69USHHT46

Complete Guide to Installing 44 Split Defense by Joe Roman

One of the many defensive books in my youth football coaching library is Complete Guide to Installing the 44 Split Defense (Art & Science of Coaching)  I am not big on the 44 defense but this book has some very good general defensive coaching information, coverage explanations, communication, linebacker play and a pretty good chapter on the kicking game from a defensive perspective.

I recommend this book.  Its not a favorite of mine but a good addition to any coaching library.

Remember, Play for Fun and Winning is Funner.  Coach Parker, Keller TX

Vince Lombardi On Football

Yesterday, I  received my copy of Vince Lombardi on Football and read the first 25 pages this morning.  Absolutely amazing.  Coach Lombardi goes into great detail about the Green Bay Packer Sweep by position.  I can hear him speaking to me through the pages.  Can't wait to read more.

Here's a video so you can hear Coach.

Complete Book of Drills for Winning Football Book by Koehler

One of my top books I use to help organize my youth football practices is the Complete Book of Drills for Winning Football by Micheal D. Koehler.  It has over 350 football drills in offense, defense and special teams; agility, quarterback, running back, receiver, offensive lineman, d-lineman, linebacker, tackling, defensive backs, and team drills.

It has great diagrams of the drills, with coaching points, purpose and detailed explanations of the football drills.  I highly recommend Complete Book of Drills for Winning Football.

Play for Fun and Winning is Funner!

Single Wing Offense DVD Youth Football Dave Cisar

I am a fan of the Single Wing Offense.  I like to run the Single Wing and Beast formations on short yardage situations in a multi formation offensive scheme.  A couple of years ago, Coach Cisar ask me to review his book and a few of his videos on my blog at CoachParker.org. Coach Cisar's books and videos are great for the youth football coach.

Even if you do not use the Single Wing, the information is Coach Cisar's books and videos will be useful to you in coaching your youth football team and players.  Coach Cisar's media is highly recommended.

Play Football the NFL Way by Tom Bass

Here's another book that I bought back in the 1990's when I first started coaching youth football for Plano Sports Authority just North of Dallas Texas.  My copy of this book is worn out.  A ton of good pics and Bass is a great author. You can probably find a good used copy for a bargain.

The book outlines the main position areas in football, like QB, RB, LB, etc and explains their techniques in detail and describes practice drills.  You can hit the Amazon link on the left and search inside the book for more details.

I hope you enjoy the book!

Playing Outside Linebacker or Defensive End

Fritz Shurmur's description of how to play the outside linebacker or defensive end whichever you call it, maybe the best I have read yet.  I just got his book today The Eagle Five-Linebacker Defense, and was thumbing through it and came across his outside linebacker description.  Unbelievable!  I can't wait to read more, but need to finish the Lombardi book first.  I must be ADD.  I've got 15 defensive football books on the coffee table.  

 

Football Coach's Survival Guide Coaching Book

I bought the Football Coach's Survival Guide back in 1992 when I first starting coaching.  You can pick up a used copy pretty cheap.  Its not the greatest book but it does have some good information in it for football coaches.  It a guide for High School coaches and has good practical applications for youth coaches.  I am partial to this book since it was one of the first books in my football coaching library.  I hope you enjoy it.

Coaching Youth Football by Coach Reed

If you are a youth football coach or thinking about coaching a team, you must purchase Coach John T Reeds Coaching Youth Football book.  This is a must have book for your youth football coaching library.  Coach Reed is a little gruff and gritty, but his common sense no-nonsense approach is great.  I personally loved this book, and I know some do not like him.  If you are old school and or a very disciplined focused individual, you will love Coach Reeds books.  I highly recommend this book to youth football coaches.

Coaching Football's 46 Defense book by Ryan and Walker

One of the defensive football books that I read this summer was Coaching Footballs 46 Defense by Rex Ryan and Jeff Walker.  This football coaching book is a must have for our coaching library.  I love Rex Ryan.  I watched him speak on one of the COOL clinic DVDs three years ago and recently on HBOs Hard Knocks with the New York Jets.  He is a coach I wish I would have had the opportunity to play for and would die for an internship opportunity with him and the Jets.  Ok, so let me dream.  :)

Buddy Ryan's 46 Defense gained exposure with the 1985 Championship Chicago Bears.  And because the defense is so widely identified with the Bears, it is sometimes known as the "Bear."  The Defense focuses on the run so its great for all football levels even youth football teams where the run is king.

I highly recommend this book.