Insider Member?
Login or Sign Up

New in the Insider Basketball Playbook

General Principles in Attacking Zone Defense

2- and 3-Man Shell Blockout Drill

3 Around 2 Middle Clear Through Offense

Last-second SLOB: Basket Cut Options

Multiple Screen Options Quick Hitter

12 Tips to Being a Good Defender

Basketball Book Reviews

Click on a link below or scroll down this page to read the Hoops U. Basketball Book Reviews. Learn more about these great basketball books! Don't miss the DVD Reviews or the Equipment Reviews.

The Perfect Jump Shot: The Science and Art of Shooting a Basketball
by Scott Jaimet

Survival Guide for Coaching Youth Basketball
by Keith Miniscalco & Greg Kot

The Women's Basketball Drill Book
by Women's Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA)

Basketball Skills & Drills (Third Edition)
by Jerry V. Krause, Don Meyer, Jerry Meyer

Dare to Be
by John Mason

You Haven't Taught Until They Have Learned: John Wooden's Teaching Principles and Practices
by Swen Nater & Ronald Gallimore

The Complete Guide to Coaching Girls' Basketball: Building a Great Team the Carolina Way
by Sylvia Hatchell with Jeff Thomas

The Complete Guide to Girl's Basketball
by Michael D. Mullaney

The Perfect Jump Shot by Scott Jaimet is actually quite the concept for a book! How many books, video's, or clinics have you seen about shooting a basketball where they actually talked about the jump shot? The only thing I can recall about learning the jump shot is having been told to release it just as you reach your high point. True, but there really is a lot more to the jump shot than that; and there is a lot more to it than a normal, or set shot. Coach Jaimet, in The Perfect Jump Shot, breaks it down and teaches it a simple and understandable way.

The Perfect Jump Shot is quite simply a guide to help you become a shooter or to help you better instruct shooters. Coach Jaimet breaks down the jump shot into areas such as balance, foundation, and technique -- and some thoughts are quite different than you may have learned before (which is a good thing!)

Coach Jaimet loads the book with 174 pictures -- images of basketball players shooting the basketball to help you get great visuals of the proper way to shoot! The book is also loaded with great shooting tips and drills to help you master the art of shooting the jump shot.

If you desire to learn more about how to shoot the jump shot -- the mechanics, the techniques, the fundamentals necessary -- then you need to spend some time inside this book. Coach Jaimet nailed himself a jump shot with his book, The Perfect Jump Shot!

Back to Top

The Survival Guide for Coaching Youth Basketball is written
to help the new coach at beginner levels. I can tell you right
now, it does the job! Why would I say that? Before I sat
down to review this book, I handed it to my wife and jokingly
told her to 'give me a review' for it. 'Jokingly' because as
someone who never played basketball or even watches
basketball, she really knows nothing about basketball; and I
figured she'd put it right down. Anyhow, I came back awhile
later and she actually read several pages! She mentioned that what she read was really quite helpful for someone like her who has never coached at any level. The book begins by giving you the basics of what you need to know ... things like what to bring and what to know. It might seem like basic ideas, but if you are coaching your 8-year olds basketball team these are things you probably don't know.

After reading the book myself, my ideas are pretty much the same -- this book will give any beginning coach the knowledge they need to effectively coach a youth team. The authors state that "this book is designed to help you, the rookie coach, learn how to help kids ages 5 to 10 play the game of basketball" and I wholeheartedly agree. This book not only helps you know where to begin, but it also helps with organization, setting up a basic offense and defense, and even giving plays for special situations. Survival Guide for Coaching Youth Basketball is also loaded with drills you can incorporate into your practices to develop the fundamentals the kids need to learn.

If you have never coached or know very little about the game of basketball, I absolutely recommend this book. Even if you have coached a little previously but need a better understanding of the fundamentals and basics, then the Survival Guide for Coaching Youth Basketball is the place to start. If you are one of those parents that was 'asked' to coach your son or daughter's team -- get this book now so you can help your kids learn the game the right way -- and maybe even learn some things yourself!!

Back to Top

The Women's Basketball Drill Book is, quite simply, a
necessary addition to your coaching library. This book is
page after page of nothing but drills -- no fluff, no filler! Over
180 basketball drills from some of the greatest coaching
minds in women's basketball! Some of the contributing
coaches; Pat Summitt, Jody Conradt, Jane Albright, Brenda
Frese, Andy Landers, Muffet McGraw, Tara VanDerveer, Kay
Yow...the list goes on!

I really enjoy this book for a couple of major reasons. First, the drills are divided into 12 categories so that you can quickly and easily find the type of drill you are looking for. These categories include warming up, conditioning, footwork, ballhandling, passing, screening, shooting, rebounding, defense, perimeter play, post play, and transition play. Every area you need to drill is covered.

Second, the drills cover a vast array of skill/team levels. Some of these 'drill books' are so basic in all of their drills that they are really only useful to beginning basketball teams. The drills in this book are usable at all levels of coaching and play. The Women's Basketball Drill Book most certainly covers the fundamental drills needed, but so many of the drills are a progression beyond the simplest of drills. These are drills designed and performed by college coaches and college teams -- they will work for you -- at whatever level you coach!!

I believe it is important to have a wide variety of drills at our disposal. The ability to utilize different drills in practice is essential to keep it fun and exciting for the players; The Women's Basketball Drill Book will help keep your practices fresh and new. It is also important to use drills that are proven to work; these drills from these great basketball coaching minds would not be in this book if they did not work!

Back to Top

Basketball Skills & Drills, now in its' third edition, is a must
have for every coach at every level. The new third edition also
comes with a special DVD loaded with demonstrations of
many of the various drills, sets, concepts and more.

This book is quite simply loaded with everything you need to
know as a basketball coach. Basketball Skills & Drills covers
each and every fundamental -- how to perform them properly,
drills to execute and practice, coaching points you can use to help in teaching, and more ideas and thoughts. Learn how to properly teach skills such as ballhandling, shooting, passing, rebounding, etc... You will also learn several team offenses and team defenses you can easily and successfully incorporate into your program.

Basketball Skills & Drills is also filled with pictures and diagrams to help you understand the concepts and drills being taught. I also found the 'drill finder' in the back of the book particularly useful and valuable. With this great tool, you can easily find drills from any of the chapters -- fundamental being taught, specific focus of the drill, and whether it is basic, intermediate, or advanced. If you want to find something quick, you do not have to spend a lot of time searching for it!

If you do not already have this book in your library, I highly recommend it -- this should be required reading for all young coaches! If you own a previous edition, you need this third edition for the DVD alone -- it is a great bonus to the book and it is a phenomenal DVD!

Back to Top

The subtitle for this book, "70 Questions That Lead to Life's Most
Important Answers", basically explains what this book is all about.
However, it is so much more than just simple answers to a bunch of
questions. Mr. Mason answers 70 important questions with insight and
wisdom that only he can.

There are some great, thought-provoking questions such as "Is fear causing you to run from something that isn't after you?" and "If you don't enjoy what you have, how could you be happier with more?". These questions, and every other question, are answered in such a way that will make you think and make you think smarter. Taking Mr. Mason's answers to heart will help to improve your attitude, ideals, work ethic and more.

If you are ever looking for answers to some of life's most important and difficult questions, this book is a must-have. 'Dare to Be' by John Mason is a phenomenal book that will also make a great gift for your graduating seniors, captains, or anyone else in your life that benefit from great wisdom!

Back to Top

I have been trying to come up with adjectives to describe You
Haven't Taught Until They Have Learned and I’m finding it
quite difficult! Maybe I’ll think of something, but in the
meantime, I know that this is one of the most beneficial books
I’ve ever read. I know this because of everything I am trying to
retain…and I know this because I didn’t want the book to
end…and I know this because even though I just finished, I
want to start over again!

We all know the greatness of Coach Wooden as far as wins and championships are concerned. Many people know the great things he has done and said on and off the court as well. There is so much in this book, however, that no one could know; except a former player (Swen Nater). Coach Wooden believed he was first and foremost a teacher – he just happened to teach the game of basketball.

I can pretty much guarantee that no matter how much you know about Coach Wooden or how many books you’ve read by him or about him, you have not read anything like this book. There is plenty to learn about Wooden – how he taught and why he did things he did – but there is so very much that you can take and relate to your position. Whether you are a basketball coach, teacher, parent, manager, or in any position of leadership; you are a teacher. Someone is learning from you. This book so effectively helps you understand how to teach. Having gone through college as an education major, I believe this book should be required reading for all up and coming teachers. It is simply phenomenal! (Hey, there’s an adjective!!)

If you would like to learn many things about teaching, coaching, and leadership that you have not been taught, I suggest you get this book now! It is definitely one book you will turn to time and again.

Back to Top

The Complete Guide To Coaching Girls' Basketball: Building
a Great Team the Carolina Way is a phenomenal book from
University of North Carolina Head Women's Coach, Sylvia
Hatchell, along with girl's coach, Jeff Thomas.

If you coach girl's basketball -- at any level -- this book will
help you immensely. Coach Hatchell goes beyond discussing
the simple fundamentals of coaching and X's and O's; she delves deeper into the mentality of a coach and the various nuances that can occur (though the fundamentals are important and they are covered in great detail). The Complete Guide To Coaching Girls' Basketball: Building a Great Team the Carolina Way is loaded with discussions and drills regarding fundamentals, offense and defense. The basics are here if you are just starting out as a coach or if you coach younger girl's. If you coach high school age girls and are more experienced, there is also a wealth of information. There are numerous drills, plays, and sets that will benefit the most experienced of coaches and teams. Coach Hatchell also talks at length about team and game management; a couple of areas that are often overlooked and sometimes difficult to learn. She does a masterful job discussing these areas and giving helpful ideas and tips.

The one aspect of this book that really sets it apart are the 'Ask the Coach' boxes throughout. In these, Coach Hatchell gives her answer to questions such as "What's a good drill to teach the behind-the-back dribble?" and "How do I get my kids to make good cuts in our press break?". The 'Ask the Coach' boxes are loaded throughout the book and the answers are very insightful and interesting.

The Complete Guide To Coaching Girls' Basketball: Building a Great Team the Carolina Way is a must-have addition to your coaching library. It is a well-written book that is very easy to understand and easy to follow. This is one of those coaching books you will want with you at all times -- any information you may be searching for is right in the book.

Back to Top

As a basketball coach who likes to read a lot of books,
coaching materials, and so forth, I have read many so-called
'guides to basketball'. Some are decent, but most of them are
so basic and watered-down that you could learn more
watching an 8-year old in her driveway. The Complete Guide
To Girls' Basketball is not one of those books.

The Complete Guide To Girls' Basketball is far and away the
most complete book I have read on the basics, fundamentals, and strategies of basketball. This is a great book for coaches at all levels; girl's or boy's. Coach Mullaney didn't just slap some notes between a book cover; he obviously put forth a lot of time and effort writing this book. It is extremely well organized, easy to read, and simple to understand.

The main thing I like about this book, in comparison to many of the other 'guides', is that it goes well beyond the basic cookie-cutter information. The basics are discussed, but Coach Mullaney goes further and describes more in-depth and pertinent topics, ideas, and drills. That is why this book is not only great for the first-time coach, but also for even the most experienced of coaches at all levels of play.

I also really enjoy Part One of the book, where Coach Mullaney guides you through developing your own plan, philosophy and communication skills. This is an area I would have found invaluable when I first began coaching.

The Complete Guide To Girls' Basketball also details offense, defense, and special situations by breaking down all the skills involved and teaching how to perform them effectively. The drills section is also very well put together with over 200 exceptional drills - with easy to follow diagrams. All facets of the game are touched on so you can use these drills to help prepare yourself or your team.

The title says, 'The Complete Guide to Girls' Basketball', which it most certainly is! If you coach girls basketball, this book is must-have addition to your library. If you coach boys basketball, I also recommend this book...there are so many great ideas in here it is worth checking out! If you want to improve your coaching knowledge and coaching skills, The Complete Guide to Girls' Basketball deserves a look!

Back to Top

Hoops U. Store Spotlight

Join HoopsUInsider.com and get more basketball coaching and training information!