Customer Reviews

Mom, Can I Play Football?

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Seldom does a book provide readability and yet remain on your shelf as a reference. Jerry Norton has captured the world of youth football in his book. His stories of kids caught in the act of playing the greatest team sport ever, will warm your heart. As a football coach I was impressed with his grasp of the fundementals of football. As a parent and Youth League Executive I was impressed with his compassion for kids and the way they see the world. Jerry gets down on one knee and looks youth football in the eye,and the sport will be better for it. Anyone, in any youth sport should read and remember "Mom, can I play Football."

The simplicity of the book's message and the illustrations make it a delight to read. Anyone who has ever played sports or coached kids will enjoy it. Anyone intending to coach children should be required to read it.

The author makes a few valid points about coaches who want to win at all costs, but, his logic is flawed. Boys are naturally competitive and want to win. This book personifies exactly what is wrong with politically correct youth sports today. When the score is kept the object is to win. Certainly, not at all costs, but to win nevertheless. He left out the most important element of football and that is teaching life lessons, which if taught properly will stay with them forever. Life lessons such as never quiting, mental toughness, desire, teamwork, guts and pride. Its my experience that when these things are tought properly in a positive, fun environment kids will have fun and win. Norton thinks all kids should play equally. What does that teach the better kids, if you stink and give no effort you play the same as me, so why should I try harder. And to put the kids in who don't deserve the playing time it cheapens the reward. This book is way to MAMBY PAMBY. Dont waste the money.

Mom, Can I Play Football?: A Introspective View Of The Game For Parents And Coaches is a fun and entertaining collection of humorous anecdotes, delightful illustrations and amusing poems featuring kids at play in organized sports and the men and women who coach them. Mom, Can I Play Football? explains why children drop out of organized sports before age 13; how children feel about winning, losing and having fun; how the coach (and the parent!) can put fun back in children's sports; and how to avoid the pitfalls of coaching children. Mom, Can I Play Football? is critically essential reading for anyone who coaches organized sports for kids, the parents of those kids, as well as the school, municipal, and business community authorities who make organized children's sports possible.

As a coach, Jerry Norton had a great influence on my children. He has written an intelligent, witty and reflective book demonstrating that it is, indeed, possible for children to develop their natural abilities, learn good sportsmanship and also have fun playing youth sports.

As a sports marketing professional and sports mom, I think this book should be required reading for all coaches and sports parents.

Jerry Norton has a clear grasp of what is needed in youth sports today