Coaching classics

Every year I post this because there are many new readers to the blog and followers on Twitter (@coachgambetta) and friends on Facebook who have not seen it. These are classic works that I think every coach should read. They span a range of areas from scientific and technical to sport sociology. Just as with any classic they are timeless. They are rich with knowledge. There are many works in this list that I go back and review each year, they never get old. Challenge yourself and see how many of these you can read in the year if you do you be a more knowledgeable coach for doing it.

• The Inner Athlete by Bob Nidefer
• Problem Athletes and How to Handle Them by Tom Tutko and Bruce Ogilvie
• Psychology and the Superior Athlete by Miroslav Vanek and Bryant J. Cratty
• Scientific Principles of Coaching by John Bunn
• What Research Tells The Coach About Sprinting by George Dintiman
• Track & Field Omnibook by Ken Doherty
• Modern Track & Field by Ken Doherty
• Modern Training for Running by Ken Doherty
• The Science of Swimming by James E. Counsilman
• The Mechanics of Athletics by Geoffrey Dyson
• Better Athletes Trough Weight Training by Bob Hoffman
• Hidden causes of injury, prevention, and correction for running athletes by John Jesse
• Wrestling Physical Conditioning Encyclopedia by John Jesse
• Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation: Patterns and Techniques by Dorothy Knotts and Margaret Voss
• Scientific Principles and Methods of Strength Fitness. By Patrick O’Shea
• Total Body Training by Richard H. Dominguez and Robert Gajda
• Kinesiology by Gene Logan and Wayne C. McKinney
• Skill In Sport by Barbara Knapp
• Acquiring Ball Skill – A Psychological Interpretation by H.T.A. Whiting
• The Thinking Body by Mabel Todd
• Run Run Run by Fred Wilt
• How They Train by Fred Wilt
• Mechanics Without Tears by Fred Wilt
• No Bugles, No Drums by Peter Snell
• The Unforgiving Minute by Ron Clarke with Alan Trengove
• Run to the Top by Arthur Lydiard
• Franz Stampfl on Running by Franz Stampfl
• The Jim Ryun Story by Cordner Nelson
• Another Hurdle by Dave Hemry
• Run To Daylight by Vince Lombardi and W.C. Heinz
• Track and Field Dynamics by Tom Ecker
• Championship Track and Filed by Tom Ecker
• Biomechanics of Athletic Movement by Gerhard Hochmuth
• Sports Physiology by Edward L. Fox
• Interval Training – Conditioning for Sports and General Fitness by Edward L. Fox and Donald K. Mathews
• Biomechanics and Energetics of Muscular Exercise by Rodolfo Margaria
• Biomechanics of Sports Techniques by Jim Hay
• Introduction to Biomechanic analysis of sport by John W. Northrip, Gene A. Logan and Wayne C. McKinney
• Principles of Sports Training – Introduction to the Theory and methods of Training by Dietrich Harre
• Fundamental of Sports Training by L. Matveyev
• Sports Training Principles by Frank Dick
• Training Theory by Frank Dick
• Track Speed – Hurdles, Sprints and relays by John Le Masurier
• Track and Field – Textbook for Coaches and Sports Teachers Edited by Gerhardt Schmolinsky
• Olympic Track And Field Techniques by Tom Ecker, Fred Wilt, and Jim Hay
• International Track and field Coaching Encyclopedia by Feed Wilt and Tom Ecker
• Track in Theory and Technique Edited by Thomas P. Rosandich
• The Hurdlers Bible by Wilbur Ross
• Mechanics of the Pole Vault by R.V. Ganslen
• The Triple Jump Encyclopedia by Ernie Bullard and Larry Knuth
• Tendinitis: it’s Etiology and Treatment by Sandra Curwin and William D. Stanish
• The Sweet Spot in Time by John Jerome
• Weight Training In Athletics by Jim Murray and Peter V. Karpovich
• Weight Training in Athletics and Physical Education by Gene Hooks
• Circuit Training by Manfred Scholich
• Circuit Training by R. E. Adamson and G.T. Morgan
• The Miracle Machine by Doug Gilbert
• The System of Physical Education in the USSR Edited by G. I Kukushkin
• The Soviet Road To Olympus – Theory And Practice Of Soviet Physical Culture And Sport by N. Norman Shneidman
• 1000 Exercises d’ Athletisme by Kurt Murer and Walter Bucher
• Winning Volleyball – Fundamentals, Tactics and Strategy by Allen E. Scates
• The Pursuit of Sporting Excellence – A Study of Sport’s Highest Achievers by David Henry
• The Athletic Revolution by Jack Scott
• Meat on the Hoof – The Hidden World of Texas Football by Gary Shaw
• Out of Their League by Dave Meggyesy