Overview

Playing professional football is a dream for many--but it's also a high-pressure, grueling job. If you're the pro player on the field, millions of people are scrutinizing your every play, expecting you to make your blocks, outsmart your opponents, move the ball to your end zone, and score. To play at 100 percent on Sundays, you are constantly preparing for the next game--practicing, lifting weights, going to meetings, or watching video. Throughout the year, you must also maintain your fitness through proper workouts, rest, and nutrition. Playing in the pros is an incredible challenge. But for those who suit up on Sundays, the journey is totally worth it. This book, which was reviewed by six-year National Football League (NFL) veteran Michael Lehan, offers an authentic look at what life is like as a pro football player. You'll learn: - How players climb the ranks to reach the NFL - What daily life is like for an NFL player - How NFL players prevent and treat injuries Go behind the scenes and see what it's really like to be an NFL star!

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9781467738446

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Reviews

Top-notch writing, colorful photos and sidebars, fact boxes, and diagrams combine to make this series a standout. Many readers dream of athletic stardom: these books offer an overview of the less glamorous side: what players must do to reach the professional level of sports, athletes' daily routines, and how they avoid injuries. With their busy schedules of games and travel, pro-basketball players frequently take naps to catch up on much-needed rest, while football players need more than just sleep to recover from the toll exacted by game day, which one former linebacker likened to being 'in several car crashes.' Sleep, diet, and a year-round fitness regimen are essential for players. Descriptions of training exercises are also included, such as the 'crossover lunge' practiced by many hockey players and Gold Grove second baseman Brandon Phillips' fielding exercises. A great series that sheds light on the reality of life in professional sports. --School Library Journal, Series Made Simple --Journal Playing Pro Sports is a four-volume series exploring life as an athlete in the big leagues of baseball, football, basketball, and hockey. Each of the two books reviewed began with a profile of a well known, world-class athlete in the highlighted sport followed by a brief history of the game. This is followed by a summary of the skills required to excel and the daily routine accepted by the players who make it to the big leagues. Chapters focus on the importance of fitness and nutrition, as well as the danger of injuries, such as concussions. There is also an emphasis on the misuse of supplements, painkillers, and performance-enhancing drugs, all important issues for young, aspiring athletes. Each book concludes with a sample training plan, an equipment diagram, and a glossary of potentially unfamiliar terms. This series is well written, and is presented in a realistic manner. Of particular note, it reminds the reader of the rarity of actually making the big leagues in any sport rather than offering up a pie-in-the-sky, 'follow your dreams' mantra. Prior to publication, each book in the series was reviewed by a long-time veteran of that sport, and the authenticity that affords is reflected in the content. There is a great deal of visual appeal in the overall appearance of the series; it has drawing power from first glance for young readers (particularly male readers) and should circulate significantly among middle school and younger high school aged readers. --VOYA --Journal

Playing Pro Sports is a four-volume series exploring life as an athlete in the big leagues of baseball, football, basketball, and hockey. Each of the two books reviewed began with a profile of a well known, world-class athlete in the highlighted sport followed by a brief history of the game. This is followed by a summary of the skills required to excel and the daily routine accepted by the players who make it to the big leagues. Chapters focus on the importance of fitness and nutrition, as well as the danger of injuries, such as concussions. There is also an emphasis on the misuse of supplements, painkillers, and performance-enhancing drugs, all important issues for young, aspiring athletes. Each book concludes with a sample training plan, an equipment diagram, and a glossary of potentially unfamiliar terms. This series is well written, and is presented in a realistic manner. Of particular note, it reminds the reader of the rarity of actually making the big leagues in any sport rather than offering up a pie-in-the-sky, 'follow your dreams' mantra. Prior to publication, each book in the series was reviewed by a long-time veteran of that sport, and the authenticity that affords is reflected in the content. There is a great deal of visual appeal in the overall appearance of the series; it has drawing power from first glance for young readers (particularly male readers) and should circulate significantly among middle school and younger high school aged readers. --VOYA --Journal Top-notch writing, colorful photos and sidebars, fact boxes, and diagrams combine to make this series a standout. Many readers dream of athletic stardom: these books offer an overview of the less glamorous side: what players must do to reach the professional level of sports, athletes' daily routines, and how they avoid injuries. With their busy schedules of games and travel, pro-basketball players frequently take naps to catch up on much-needed rest, while football players need more than just sleep to recover from the toll exacted by game day, which one former linebacker likened to being 'in several car crashes.' Sleep, diet, and a year-round fitness regimen are essential for players. Descriptions of training exercises are also included, such as the 'crossover lunge' practiced by many hockey players and Gold Grove second baseman Brandon Phillips' fielding exercises. A great series that sheds light on the reality of life in professional sports. --School Library Journal, Series Made Simple --Journal

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