My 2016 Reading List
In the tradition of lists from 2014 and 2015, here is my reading list for 2016.
The year started with the publication of my latest book, 21st Century Guide to Individual Skill Development. I tired of writing basketball/coaching books and decided to take a stab at fiction. I have written most of a pilot for a TV show, a reality TV show proposal, a documentary proposal, and have worked as a writer and researcher on another documentary. I also started an additional screenplay and a novel, in addition to beginning another instructional book. Consequently, I read more fiction and books on writing than I did basketball, strength & conditioning, or training books. Read more
My 2015 Reading List
Last year, I produced a list of the best books that I read in 2014, inspired by Verb Gambetta, and throughout the year, I have been asked for book recommendations (Of course, my first recommendations are the four books that I wrote in 2015: Fake Fundamentals, SABA: The Antifragile Offense, Fake Fundamentals Volume 2, and 21st Century Guide to Individual Skill Development). This year, I decided to publish the list prematurely in the event that people needed a Christmas present for their favorite coach, parent of an athlete, or athlete. Read more
My 2014 Reading List
Inspired by Vern Gambetta, I decided to put together a link of the relevant books that I read throughout 2014. Because I spent the first half of the year making five-hour bus trips for games nearly every Saturday, I had a chance to read a decent number of books this year (although nothing like Coach Gambetta), many of which contributed to my free weekly newsletter. The list is loosely in the order in which I recommend the books to a coach, although everyone’s interests differ. Enjoy. Read more
The 21st Century Basketball Practice
The game of basketball has evolved over the last generation, but basketball practices have changed very little during my 30 years in the game as a player, coach, clinician, and consultant. Today’s game more closely resembles the game that we played on the playground than the one that we were taught in practices. The 21st Century Basketball Practice is an attempt to modernize the youth and high-school basketball and catch up to the evolution of the game. Read more
Press Release: The 21st Century Basketball Practice
CONTACT: Brian McCormick, (916) 628-5134
Email: info@180shooter.com
PROFESSIONAL BASKETBALL COACH WRITES THE BOOK ON BASKETBALL PRACTICE
“Tremendous amounts of learning occurred on the playgrounds and during pickup games for people of a certain generation, and players today often miss this learning to attend organized practices or sessions with a skill trainer. The 21st Century Basketball Practice attempts to reincorporate this learning that once occurred in unstructured settings.”
LAS VEGAS, NEW MEXICO, November 12, 2014 – Basketball has evolved over the last 30 years, but basketball practices have hardly changed, despite the increasing interest, research, and technology. Professional basketball coach Brian McCormick, Ph.D. (University of Utah, 2013) has combined his practical experience coaching everything from CYO to European professional basketball with his educational experience to produce a book that explains a modern approach to the basketball practice.
Rather than view the team as controlled from the top down by a coach pulling the strings, The 21st Century Basketball Practice approaches the team and the game as a dynamic system, like a swarm of bees, and uses a constraints-led approach to coaching and teaching skills. Whereas the traditional approach to coaching separates skills into blocks of shooting, passing, dribbling, and more, The 21st Century approach teaches through the game by manipulating the tasks. This approach maintains the important perception-action coupling that is vital to the execution of skills in a game.
Based on the latest research from motor learning and sports psychology, The 21st Century Basketball Practice is a practical book. Rather than list drills, it explains how to create drills to solve specific problems that may arise for a coach or team. Through this approach, the number of drills is limited only by the coach’s imagination. It addresses what to do and what to say at practice. The purpose is to demonstrate an approach that promotes better performance in games.
The 21st Century Basketball Practice is McCormick’s 17th book for basketball coaches. His books have been purchased in more than 40 countries. To purchase The 21st Century Basketball Practice, go here for Amazon Kindle, here for paperback, and here for an e-book (PDF).
McCormick is available for interviews and appearances. For booking presentations, media appearances, interviews, and/or book-signings contact info@180shooter.com.
Developing Basketball Intelligence – An Amazing Book
I received the following email this morning:
Coach B.
I have to say that DBI is the best book I have ever read about coaching basketball. As a result of your book I have focused on teaching a few things such as ball handling, layups, spacing and defensive principals. My team has taken off. In the past our schools kids have been knocked around, but this year they are playing with more intelligence and savvy.
Dave
After a reply in which I thanked Dave and asked if I could share his email, he replied:
Sure thing. You can definitely use me as a testimonial. My name is David Lerch. Just so you know, our team over the last two years is 2-25. This year 4 games in we are 3-1 and our 5th and 6th graders who feed into the 7th and 8th grade team are 2-2 and playing really hard. Teams don’t want to play us this year. We have had two drops for next year.
Developing Basketball Intelligence is available as a paperback through lulu.com.
Also, for coaches looking to put Developing Basketball Intelligence into action, Playmakers Basketball Development Leagues feature a six-week, 12-session curriculum based on the concepts in DBI, and each participant receives a copy of Playmakers: The Player’s Guide to Developing Basketball Intelligence which is the player’s version of DBI.
Cross Over: The New Model of Youth Basketball Development Book Reviews
On Amazon.com, I saw the following two reviews of Cross Over: The New Model of Youth Basketball Development:
Ross Cronshaw:
Brian McCormick’s books have completely changed the way I coach basketball. The systematic way he builds through age groups, providing detailed research to back himself up, is great. He is also not afraid to take established basketball concepts and ask “Why do we do it this way, would it not make more sense to do it another way”?, and actually backs it up with some logical concepts of his own is inspirational.
I have this book, plus most of Brian’s other books, and use them at every training I do, from 4 year olds to men’s teams, and have had great success so far. No other author has changed my opinions as much, I am definately part of the “Crossover Movement”.
Pat Flanders:
This is the single best resource for youth basketball coaches. McCormick is unique in that he frames his philosophy of coaching basketball around the larger issues of youth athletic development, developing in kids a solid foundation of fundamentals, and recognizing that becoming an excellent basketball player involves a whole lot more than just one-on-one moves. The book gives concrete examples of drills for different ages and skill levels, but behind all of this is his research and well-developed opinions on how to help kids grow in ways that are appropriate for their age and development level. i’m a youth basketball coach and am frustrated by the number of people who call themselves coaches, but want nothing more than to create petri dishes that grow individual superstars. McCormick’s book takes into account the game of basketball and how developing as a player requires understanding the game, having skills that are not just basketball-related, and the fact that there’s no point in doing any of this if the kids aren’t enjoying it.
Cross Over: The New Model of Youth Basketball Development is available through Lulu.com.
Praise for Cross Over The New Model of Youth Basketball Development
I received this email this week about Cross Over: The New Model of Youth Basketball Development:
Coach,
I just finished reading the Third Edition of your book. I am an NSCA certified strength and conditioning coach, and a former collegiate strength coach. I left the field to become a PE teacher in a stable job environment to raise my children. I am very impressed with the book.
I am in my fourth year of coaching 5th & 6th grade basketball, and I never played basketball in an organized setting. I have had to learn a lot. Your book has been great. It has convinced and challenged me about the way I have been coaching, and it has shed a lot of light on strength and conditioning with this age group.
I am confident you have authored the single most important book ever written on basketball and athletic development, and I have read many.
Thank you,
Tavis, Arkansas
Cross Over is available as a paperback through Lulu.com or Amazon.com.
Hard2Guard Player Development Newsletter, Vol. 4 Links
Issue 2
Issue 3
Woodward focuses on ‘extra 1%’ with enlistment of vision expert from World Cup staff
Issue 4
Finishing what he starts – Brooks gets tricky to score around much bigger players
Issue 5
How nerves affect soccer penalty kicks
Issue 6
No More Drills, Feedback or Technical Training…
Steve Nash vs. the regular ol’ layup
The Art of a Beautiful Game: The Thinking Fan’s Tour of the NBA (Sports Illustrated)
Issue 7
Self-Monitoring, Human Nature, and Sustained Learning
Issue 8
Issue 9
The two faces of perfectionism
Issue 10
Curry’s imaginative finishers grabbing attention
Issue 11
Arsene Wenger: ‘Am I too intelligent to be a football manager? You can never be intelligent enough’
Issue 12
Issue 13
Stability, Sport, and Performance Movement: Great Technique Without Injury
Hare Brain, Tortoise Mind: How Intelligence Increases When You Think Less
Developing Sport Expertise: Researchers and Coaches put Theory into Practice
Issue 14
The Art of Learning: An Inner Journey to Optimal Performance
Issue 18
Secrets of Soviet Sports Fitness and Training
Issue 19
Performance Assessment for Field Sports
Issue 20
Issue 21
Harvard Tennis and the High Set
Valgus, varus or neutral knees?
Issue 22
Rear-Foot Elevated Split Squat
Issue 24
Seven Behaviors of Successful Athletes
Issue 25
How to Train like a World Cup Player
Issue 26
Drive: The Surprising Truth About What Motivates Us
Issue 30
Reading the Play in Team Sports
Issue 31
Shop Class as Soulcraft: An Inquiry into the Value of Work
Issue 32
Issue 33
Issue 34
Land on your ties, save your knees
Issue 35
Efficiency and the Mid-Range Shot
Issue 37
Sports Personality Position Theory
A Multidimensional Approach to Skilled Perception and Performance in Sport
Identification of non-specific tactical tasks in invasion games
Issue 38
Issue 39
Anticipation in a real-world task
Issue 40
Benefits of weight lifting for kids
Issue 41
Inside the brain of an elite athlete
Issue 42
The Fighter’s Mind: Inside the Mental Game
Hard2Guard Player Development Newsletters, Volume 4 Links
Issue 2
Issue 3
Woodward focuses on ‘extra 1%’ with enlistment of vision expert from World Cup staff
Issue 4
Finishing what he starts – Brooks gets tricky to score around much bigger players
Issue 5
How nerves affect soccer penalty kicks
Issue 6
No More Drills, Feedback or Technical Training…
Steve Nash vs. the regular ol’ layup
The Art of a Beautiful Game: The Thinking Fan’s Tour of the NBA (Sports Illustrated)
Issue 7
Self-Monitoring, Human Nature, and Sustained Learning
Issue 8
Issue 9
The two faces of perfectionism
Issue 10
Curry’s imaginative finishers grabbing attention
Issue 11
Arsene Wenger: ‘Am I too intelligent to be a football manager? You can never be intelligent enough’
Issue 12
Issue 13
Stability, Sport, and Performance Movement: Great Technique Without Injury
Hare Brain, Tortoise Mind: How Intelligence Increases When You Think Less
Developing Sport Expertise: Researchers and Coaches put Theory into Practice
Issue 14
The Art of Learning: An Inner Journey to Optimal Performance
Issue 18
Secrets of Soviet Sports Fitness and Training
Issue 19
Performance Assessment for Field Sports
Issue 20
Issue 21
Harvard Tennis and the High Set
Valgus, varus or neutral knees?
Issue 22
Rear-Foot Elevated Split Squat
Issue 24
Seven Behaviors of Successful Athletes
Issue 25
How to Train like a World Cup Player
Issue 26
Drive: The Surprising Truth About What Motivates Us
Issue 30
Reading the Play in Team Sports
Issue 31
Shop Class as Soulcraft: An Inquiry into the Value of Work
Issue 32
Issue 33
Issue 34
Land on your ties, save your knees
Issue 35
Efficiency and the Mid-Range Shot
Issue 37
Sports Personality Position Theory
A Multidimensional Approach to Skilled Perception and Performance in Sport
Identification of non-specific tactical tasks in invasion games
Issue 38
Issue 39
Anticipation in a real-world task
Issue 40
Benefits of weight lifting for kids
Issue 41
Inside the brain of an elite athlete