This anthology of short, autobiographical stories has kids’ book authors telling tales of their own real-life athletic incidents. Some are funny, some are serious, and some put their own twist on the whole “sports” concept. Eight stories from both “boys” and “girls” include tales of dodgeball, wrestling, track, softball, and ballet. Kids will relate to the struggling non-jocks as well as the athletes who take the trophy home.

These six powerful short stories chronicle bits of the lives of characters, major and minor, who have walked the rugged terrain of Chris Crutcher's earlier works. They also introduce some new and unforgettable personalities who may well be heard from again in future books. As with all Crutcher's work, these are stories about athletes, and yet they are not sport stories. They are tales of love and death, bigotry and heroism, of real people doing their best even when that best isn't very good. Crutcher's straightforward style and total honesty have earned him an admiring audience and made readers of many nonreaders.

DOUBLE THE TROUBLE, DOUBLE THE FUN. Is it a game, set, match for Henry? Henry wants to win the doubles tennis trophy more than anything. He knows he'd good enough, but he's not sure his partner Rocky is. The advantage goes to new readers as they follow Henry as he helps Rocky train and, at the same time, works on his history project. Can Henry serve up an ace on and off the court?

Basketball Bats Henry and his four friends on Rockford Road are an unbeatable basketball team—on their driveway court. But without team T-shirts or an official name, can they take on the Tigers, a team that plays at the huge YWCA and has a player old enough to shave? Henry feels sure he can lead his friends to victory, but is he really a team player? Or is he a ball hog? Goof-Off Goalie There's nothing Goose wants more than to play goalie for his soccer team. It looks like so much fun—and so easy!—on TV. But can he quit daydreaming long enough to stop the ball? With Henry's training, Goose is sure he can go from goof-off to goalie in no time. Just as Goose starts to improve, Henry gets grounded because his grades are slipping. Will Goose help Henry in return? Or is being a goalie more important than friendship? Basketball Bats and Goof-Off Goalie are both 2009 Bank Street - Best Children's Books of the Year.

In Sport Shorts, meet three different student athletes struggling to navigate their busy lives and reach their individual goals while dealing with the everyday worries of high school. “Full Count” is about Jasper Green. Follow him as he transitions from middle school to high school as a star baseball player. “Double Fault” is the story of Savana Jones, one of the star tennis players on her high school team, as she tries to earn an athletic scholarship for college. Finally, in “The Practice Squad,” Alan Berry pursues his passion for basketball in a way many athletes would never consider. Each story portrays the difficulties student athletes face while also celebrating their successes. High school athletes have many decisions to make upon leaving high school, whether they enter the pros or attend college. Follow these three as they build their own varied paths to success.

Sport is big business; international in nature and the focus of much media and cultural attention. In thisVery Short Introduction, Mike Cronin charts the history of sport, from its traditional origins in folk football and cock fighting to its position as a global phenomenon today. Looking at a variety of sports from team games such as rugby, cricket, and football to games for individuals such as golf, tennis, and skiing, he considers how these first emerged and captivated the interest of ordinary people, and how sport has been transformed within our daily lives. Exploring the relationship between sport and class, gender, commerce, identity, and ethics, Cronin considers some of the central issues in sport today, including the high pay of professional footballers and the glamour of women in sports, as well as fair play standards. Charting sport through the ages and around the world, this is a short guide to the history, development, and place of sport in contemporary global society. ABOUT THE SERIES: The Very Short Introductions series from Oxford University Press contains hundreds of titles in almost every subject area. These pocket-sized books are the perfect way to get ahead in a new subject quickly. Our expert authors combine facts, analysis, perspective, new ideas, and enthusiasm to make interesting and challenging topics highly readable.

Powerful Lessons: Sports Shorts II, a collection of short stories, is J. H. Hollands fourth publication. As was the case with his previous collections, Holland told these stories to his children when they were growing up. He has dusted off the pages of some very old stories to include them in this book. The stories are inspirational and contain wonderful messages of encouragement. It is the authors hope that families will enjoy these stories together. True amazement is found in the second or third reading, when readers grasp that there is actually more there than originally thought. Which of the characters do you relate to?

Powerful Lessons Sports Shorts is a collection of short stories penned by J. H. Holland, author of Link and DSI: Diddly Squat Investigation. His creative imagination and realistic approach to each sport come from his own experiences. Dr. Holland competed in each of the various sports, and developed an appreciation for the life lessons attributed to the world of athletics. He originally shared these stories with his own children as they were growing up, to encourage them to apply themselves and to find joy in competition. An individuals triumphs are found in the energy it takes to compete, and the rewards are ones personal achievements. It is the authors hope that as you and your family read these stories, you will not only be entertained, but also discover connections with the characters as they come alive on the page.

SOCCER DREAMS AND PLENTY OF ACTION this second book in the Gym Shorts series scores high with new readers. There's nothing Goose wants more than to play goalie for his soccer team. It looks like such fun – and so easy! – on TV. But to say Goose has a little trouble focusing is a bit of an understatement. Luckily, his friend Henry agrees to train him. Just as Goose starts to improve, Henry gets grounded for slipping grades. Can Goose make it to goalie? Can he help Henry who has helped him so much already? Goof-Off Goalie is a 2009 Bank Street - Best Children's Book of the Year.

Kick a home run through the goal posts of life in this jock-ular collection of old stories and new from the Bathroom Reader sports pages! Uncle John’s Sports Shorts lets you relive the sporting world’s most incredible moments! From ancient stick-and-ball games to modern-day sports deals and the physics of football, it’s all in here: great finishes, embarrassing losses, inside secrets, bizarre pastimes, and disastrous “Dumb Jocks” quotes—including this bewildering gem from the NFL’s Erik Ainge about Jets quarterback Mark Sanchez: “He’s stupid while being stupid. You have to be smart while being stupid, and he’s dumb while being dumb.” Don’t even try to comprehend that, just read about what else you’ll find in Sports Shorts: • Bowling for humans • Reasons you should never mix hipsters, kickball, and alcohol • The hidden power of Olympic swimming champion Mark Spitz’s mustache • The origins of surfing, instant replay, ESPN, March Madness, cricket, stock car racing, and more • How the Dallas Cowboy Cheerleaders changed the way America watches sports • The biggest conspiracy theories in pro sports, the most shocking uses and abuses of the Stanley Cup, and the most hellish holes in golf • Baseball records that will never be broken • When soccer moms go ballistic And much, much more!