Coaching & Scouting

November 1, 2015

Gr 7-10-Exploring the abundance of nonathletic jobs available in professional, collegiate, and high school sports, this text-heavy series does an exemplary job preparing readers for careers off the field. Each volume contains four chapters-"Getting Started," "Hard at Work," Realities of the Workplace," and "The Nitty-Gritty"-that deliver an honest, realistic perspective on the profession, including an eye-opening look at job opportunities. Text-dependent questions and suggestions for research projects extend the content. Emphasizing a strong background in writing and math, the books don't shy away from asserting the importance of education and even offer examples of colleges where students can develop the skills they'll need to pursue their sports-related careers. Contemporary real-world examples, such as how the hiring of Becky Hammon in 2014 as the assistant coach for the NBA's San Antonio Spurs was the first time a woman had filled in that role in any major pro sport, and interviews with individuals with years of experience in their fields provide not only currency and authority but inspiration for would-be sports professionals. While an all-encompassing "Series Glossary of Key Words" minimizes the job-specific vocabulary and lingo, it's a minor detriment to this standout series. VERDICT Interesting and informative reads that will appeal to both sports enthusiasts and a general audience.

Copyright 2015 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

February 15, 2016
Grades 6-8 For kids whose dream jobs revolve around athletics, especially those who realize they won't be star players, the Careers off the Field series presents a variety of opportunities in closely related occupations. Readers will learn about the nature of these fields, their challenges, potential rewards, educational requirements, and how to break into them. Besides presenting a focused overview of related professions, each volume offers close-ups of individuals working in the sport and uses quotes to bring their points of view into the discussion. The writing is generally clear, and color photos appear throughout the books. Although Coaching would have benefited from closer editing, it clearly differentiates among various levels of coaching and deals head-on with the thorny issue of women in the field.Appealing topics and informative discussions make this series an attractive choice for career assignments.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2016, American Library Association.)