New Releases by Rick Wolff

The world of sports psychology and in the introduction of mental skills coaches has exploded into the athletic mainstream over the last few decades. Before then, the attitude regarding such training was extremely conservative and “old school”—the prevailing philosophy was that “any athlete who needs to talk with a shrink needs to have their head examined.” Fortunately, with today’s modern athletes, the dark ages of mental training in sports have gone away and times have changed for the better. But as with any growing industry, there are lots of new and untested pathways to one’s mental performance training in practices and games. But depending on who you talk to, the advice that is given can vary widely—and sometimes, even be contradictory. The Secrets of Sports Psychology Revealed by Rick Wolff, one of the pioneers in the field of sports psychology, is based upon his many years of clinical, hands-on work with top professional and amateur athletes in a variety of sports. He provides real insight into what does—and doesn’t—work. Specifically: Do pre-game visualization techniques really work? Is it OK to be superstitious, or are those rituals counterproductive? Does taking a deep breath or two in a tight situation really help? What’s the best way to learn how to make adjustments in one’s game? These direct questions, and many others, are presented and answered in this easy to use how-to guide aimed directly at athletes and coaches. The answers are right to the point and are based upon the author’s observations and work over the years with top athletes.

Since he retired from baseball in 2001, Cal Ripken, Jr., has devoted his time to coaching kids, including his own son and daughter, who play baseball and basketball, among other sports. With a baseball league of nearly 700,000 kids, ages 5-12, named for him, he has also had a chance to meet and work with countless young athletes. Cal Ripken’s simple yet effective philosophy for helping kids get the most out of playing sports is to keep it simple, explain the "why," celebrate the individual, and make it fun! But Ripken is troubled by what he sees in youth sports: a competitive intensity that removes the element of fun from playing. Now, drawing on his experiences as a father, a player, and a coach to his charges at his youth baseball based organization, Ripken Baseball, the legend offers his insights and advice on how to approach organized sports with your kids to ensure they have the best experience possible, stay fit, and enjoy themselves. Whether you were a star player or a kid who never learned to throw, this book will tell you everything you need to know about sports parenting from the pre-school years to middle school. It covers all the bases, including: Teaching the basics of sportsmanship How an overemphasis on technique or winning can harm your child’s game How to develop a good relationship with your child’s coach The pros and cons of travel teams and club teams The importance of returning the games to the kids and how best to behave as a parent The latest on performance and nutrition Fun games and exercises to do with your kids to encourage them Why most kids burn out on team sports by middle school and how to avoid it Few athletes embody sportsmanship and fair play as perfectly as Cal Ripken. His advice will inspire confidence in kids and parents alike.

Harvard has a reputation for turning out notable lawyers, doctors, politicians, and scientists--but not exactly for producing professional ballplayers. However, in the mid-1970s Rick Wolff transferred from this major leaguer of academia to baseball's minors, playing for the Detroit Tigers organization. Thirty years later, his son followed in his footsteps: Harvard diploma in hand, he now plays for a minor league affiliate of the New York Mets. Baseball fans will enjoy the duo's parallel adventures in the little-known world of boarding houses, horrible meals, long bus rides, and colorful coaches that make minor league baseball so popular and fascinating.

A practical, provocative, and comprehensive guide for parents who want to ensure that their children get the most out of all their sports experiences, The Sports Parenting Edge takes a fresh, resolutely positive approach to a popular subject. Parents and coaches today, according to author Rick Wolff, do not want to be lectured anymore about the problems inherent in youth sports. Rather, they want to learn how to work around the pitfalls of out-of-control parents, how to deal with win-at-all-costs coaches, and in short, how to make certain that their children enjoy sports and have the opportunity to develop their full athletic potential. A must for parents of children from kindergarten age through high school, this book also includes a frank discussion of college recruitment issues.

What could be easier or more fun than coaching youth sports? How complicated could it be—it’s all fun and games, right? Unfortunately, coaching kids isn’t that simple. If you’ve ever watched a youth league game, you know that all sorts of pressures, worries, concerns, and emotions come into play when your kid is out on the field. In fact, it’s not unusual to witness at least one ugly incident at a game where a coach or parent has gotten out of control. The good news is, as a coach, you can guarantee that kids have fun, get the physical and psychological boost they need, and want to play on your team next year. And now this book shows you how. Written by a nationally recognized sports-parenting expert, coach, and author who is also a former professional baseball player, Coaching Kids For Dummies shows you step by step how to make sports a positive experience for kids of all ages. Packed with practical advice for coaches and parents, it shows you how to: Help kids select the best sports for them Communicate effectively with your young athletes Deal with losses and wins Provide encouragement without pushing too hard Motivate kids and boost performance Foster good sportsmanship Prevent sports burnout Handle irate parents Evaluate travel teams No matter what your prior experience with youth league sports—even if you weren’t in one yourself as a kid—Coaching Kids For Dummies coaches you in all the essentials. Topics you’ll explore include: What every parent should know about youth sports, including the right age to get them started, how leagues work, and what your kid and you can expect Basic coaching tasks and responsibilities, such as pregame preparation, practice sessions, team meetings with kids and parents, and more Communication and motivational skills every coach needs to develop Coaching challenges, including scheduling, hostile parents, dealing with injuries, and coaching your own kids Loaded with tested-in-the-trenches strategies for helping kids get the most out of sports, Coaching Kids For Dummies is every youth league coach’s survival guide.

Author Rick Wolff has written this book to help parents and coaches avoid the pitfalls surrounding the increasingly competitive environment of youth sports, while helping children enjoy a positive, challenging, and educational sports experience.

Are you a soccer mom? A Little League dad? Is your five-year-old crazy for tennis and your ten-year-old mad about golf? Today's youngsters are faced with unprecedented choices and opportunities in sports, and parents find themselves juggling the many roles of mentor, coach, chief cheerleader, and fellow athlete. Sports Parenting will help you meet the challenges of raising an athletic child. A crucial guide that leads parents through the steps necessary to ensure that their kids get the most out of youth sports, the book advises parents on many topics.

This is the straight talk the book you've wanted to see in print. Read it and re-read it. The sections on why scouts sign certain ballplayers and bypass others are right on the mark.----Joe McIlvaine, former New York Mets vice president, Baseball Operations

Inside tips to improve all areas of your game.

With more than 250 titles in the series, "For Dummies" has really taken off. This brilliant, tongue-in-cheek parody provides a helpful and hilarious reference to nothing less than life itself, giving readers mind-bogglingly stupid advice on such topics as sex, religion, etiquette, and taxes. Photos & illustrations.

At last! A guide for real golfers who've had it with the old-fashioned way. Golf Dirty Tricks presents 50 abominable and amusing methods that show golfers how to con their way through every golfing campaign. The book comes packaged with its own swindling assistance: a set of the infamous Flat-Top Tees. Illustrations throughout.

A biography of the outstanding Boston Red Sox slugger.

A biography of the Oriole third baseman whose lifetime fielding average is tops among third basemen in major league history.

A practical guide for those fledgling baseball players with eyes on the major leagues.