The First Book of Football

A former coach provides children with information on all aspects of football, including necessary skills, the traits it takes to be a great player, and the strategies required to form a winning team

Grade 5 Up Madden writes the way he talks: short sentences, lots of movement, lots of football terms, and lots of enthusiasm. In this book he gives readers a brief introduction to the sport, speaking to those who may only want to watch as well as those who want to play (or just carry the water bucket). In keeping with his belief in learning by doing, Madden keeps actual instructions of how to do things very brief. Diagrams are used to help explain some of the strategies and plays described, such as showing the differences among fly, post, corner, and curl patterns. Brief anecdotes from Madden's professional career add color to the presentation. A nice selection of well-captioned photographs is included as well. Namath's Football for Young Players and Parents (S. & S., 1987) or Dolan's Basic Football Strategy (Doubleday, 1976; o.p.) will provide more specifics of play for those who want to learn how to do it. Madden provides inspiration for youngsters who already are familiar with twith the basics. Elaine Fort Weischedel, Turner Free Library, Randolph, Mass.
Copyright 1989 Reed Business Information, Inc.