At the London Olympics in 2012 Team GB achieved a third place finish in the medals table. A key factor in this achievement was the high standard of contemporary British sports coaching. But how has British sports coaching transitioned from the amateur to the professional, and what can the hitherto under-explored history of sports coaching in Britain tell us about both the early history of sport and about contemporary coaching practice? A History of Sports Coaching in Britain is th...

As Kon Georgiou sits in his Supermax (HRMU) cell one night, he recalls the last two years prior to the shooting. He goes from a life of drugs, girls, partying, loyalty and brotherhood to a life behind bars in one of Australia's hardest prisons. This book will give you a rare glimpse into club culture in Australia and the complete course of events that took place in the cellar of the Black Market Cafe in November 1997, where three high-ranking member of the Bandidos Motorcycle Club were sho...

Look at this picture. Tell me what you see…The American South is rife with stories of a haunted past—especially its houses. In this eclectic and impressive collection, thirteen novelists were asked to build their tales around the photo of a dilapidated mansion. They were given two requirements—the house must appear in the story, and it should be a Southern Gothic tale. And they delivered.From childish demons to a mad novelist, from the Mississippi ...

Drawing on extensive archival records and illustrations, histories of the sport, and newspaper files, Canada’s Prime Minister delves into the fascinating early years of ice hockey.In the tumultuous beginnings of hockey, the fights were as much off the ice as on it. This engaging new book is about the hockey heroes and hard-boiled businessmen who built the game, and the rise and fall of legendary teams pursuing the Stanley Cup. With a historian’s perspective and fan...

The definitive, fully authorised story of the record-breaking rivalry between London Olympics organiser Sebastian Coe and Steve Ovett.Steve Ovett and Sebastian Coe presided over the golden era of British athletics. Between them they won three Olympic gold medals, two silvers, one bronze and broke a total of twelve middle-distance records. They were part of the landscape of the late seventies and early eighties -- both household names, their exploits were watched by...

Foreword by Richard Hytner, Deputy Chairman, Saatchi & Saatchi WorldwideWe’ve all worked with one-a smart and immensely talented individual who brings enormous value to the organization. The problem? He’s an awful teammate.So as a leader, do you consider this key player toxic or irreplaceable?There Is an I in Team explores the relationship between individual and team-asking the question, How can we harness the talent of individual performer...

Words of wisdom from Ron Barassi providing motivation and inspiration to forge success and satisfaction in sport and in life.Ron Barassi is an iconic figure in Australian sporting culture, with a record of personal and team success that is unrivalled. Beyond sport, he has become a greatly respected elder in our broader society.In Wisdom, he shares with us 31 maxims and quotations that he has collected and which have been integral in forging that reputation....

As an institution that helps bind Canadians to an imagined community, hockey has long been associated with an essential Canadian identity. However, this reductionism ignores the ways Canadians consume hockey differently based on their socio-economic background, gender, ethnicity, and location. Moreover, Canadian culture is not static, and hockey's place in it has evolved and changed.In Coast to Coast, a wide range of contributors examine the historical development of hocke...

English football is in a state of crisis. It has been almost 50 years since England made the final of a major championship and the national sides, at all levels, continue to disappoint and underperform. Yet no-one appears to know how to improve the situation.In The Way Forward, football coach Matthew Whitehouse examines the causes of English football's decline and offers a number of areas where change and improvement need to be implemented immediately. With a keen focus and passion...

Celtic: A Biography in Nine Lives, takes its structure from nine key individuals associated with the club since its inception, and touches on aspects of that person's life to explore key themes in the club's history. From John Glass, their tenacious first President and Willie Maley, who played in Celtic's first match against Rangers in 1888, to the legendary Jock Stein, who led the club to European glory in 1967 and Martin O'Neill, the most popular and successful ...

A journey through the history, culture, and mystique of tennis from "an original and provocative mind" ( The Wall Street Journal).If you've watched Rafael Nadal spin a forehand at 4000 rpm, Maria Sharapova arabesque out of a serve, Serena Williams utterly destroy a short ball, or Roger Federer touch a volley into an impossibly angled winner, you know how exciting tennis can be. This book reveals the long history and unique culture behind the sport. With a p...

Contributors include Julian Ammirante (Laurentian University at Georgian), Jason Blake (University of Ljubljana, Slovenia), Robert Dennis (Queen's University), Jamie Dopp (University of Victoria), Russell Field (University of Manitoba), Greg Gillespie (Brock University), Richard Harrison (Mount Royal College), Craig Hyatt (Brock University), Brian Kennedy (Pasadena City College), Karen E.H. Skinazi (University of Alberta), and Julie Stevens (Brock University).