Finally! There is A Mental Toughness Book For Young Athletes!

Moses and Troy Horne here. Your mental toughness guides! If you are reading this you probably have a young athlete who struggles with in-game stress and maybe even sports performance anxiety. That is why this version was mostly written by Moses. As of the time of the writing of this book Moses Horne is a 15-year-old elite athlete who can talk directly about the triumphs and struggles of working towards being mentally tough. This is the only book that I know of with input from an actual young athlete.

My name is Troy Horne. I'm his dad. I am here to help the parents understand how to help their kiddos navigate this mental toughness journey. For more on that make sure that you pick up the Parent's guide version of this book - Mental Toughness for Young Athletes: Eight Proven 5-Minute Mindset Exercises For Kids And Teens In Competitive Sports (Parent's Guide) It's super necessary. We know where you are and we know how to help you help your young athlete find their mental fortitude. We have purchased a lot of books about mental toughness in sports.

Most of the books that we read were not a good fit for young athletes because they were either written for adults or not written for youth athletes in COMPETITIVE sports. There is a difference.

Since there wasn't anything out there for elite athletes I did what every youth sports parent does when they want to help their kid. I started my own team! JUUUUST KIDDING! (I probably should have, but I didn't believe that I would be able to do it well. I lacked mental confidence myself I guess. We talk about that in the parent's version of this book too.)

We took the long journey of ups and downs. We struggled to help our young athlete find his mental toughness. IT WAS ROUGH! Luckily along the way, we found the winning formula thanks to being able to talk with sports icons personally.

We launched a podcast together called Hoopchalk Basketball Podcast and on it, we interviewed sports MENTAL TOUGHNESS GIANTS like...

• Chauncey Billups
• Tywanna Smith
• Keiko Yoshimine
• Earl Boykins
• Jason Richardson and
• Kobe Bryant!

We studied what they did and said based on our interviews and we came up with a mental toughness plan that worked! We wrote down what worked for our young athlete and we put it in this book so that you would be able to skip a lot of the struggle and failure part. No need for everyone to struggle right?

In this book, we are going to share with you what we learned from talking to NBA Athletes, NFL Athletes, EuroLeague Athletes, College Coaches, and College Athletes as well.

• Does your child perform better in practice than they do when the game or when the Lights Come On?
• Do they seem like they are losing their love for the game?
• Do you want to help them?

If you answered yes to these questions then you are in the right place. This book is the answer that you have been looking for! I can say this with confidence because I have used everything that I am going to share with you in this book with my son and it has worked.

What a blessing to get the keys to mental toughness straight from greats! I look forward to sharing what we learned with you!

This stuff is a game-changer and it's made specifically for young athletes!

Order your copy now to improve your young athlete's mental toughness level for good!

In his latest graphic novel, Dragon Hoops, New York Times bestselling author Gene Luen Yang turns the spotlight on his life, his family, and the high school where he teaches.

Gene understands stories--comic book stories, in particular. Big action. Bigger thrills. And the hero always wins.

But Gene doesn't get sports. As a kid, his friends called him Stick and every basketball game he played ended in pain. He lost interest in basketball long ago, but at the high school where he now teaches, it's all anyone can talk about. The men's varsity team, the Dragons, is having a phenomenal season that's been decades in the making. Each victory brings them closer to their ultimate goal: the California State Championships.

Once Gene gets to know these young all-stars, he realizes that their story is just as thrilling as anything he's seen on a comic book page. He knows he has to follow this epic to its end. What he doesn't know yet is that this season is not only going to change the Dragons's lives, but his own life as well.

*Rivaling the nonfiction works of Steve Sheinkin and Daniel James Brown's The Boys in the Boat....Even readers who don't appreciate sports will find this story a page-turner. --School Library Connection, starred review

*A must for all library collections. --Booklist, starred review

Winner of the 2020 AJL Sydney Taylor Honor!

From the New York Times bestselling author of Strong Inside comes the remarkable true story of the birth of Olympic basketball at the 1936 Summer Games in Hitler's Germany. Perfect for fans of The Boys in the Boat and Unbroken.

On a scorching hot day in July 1936, thousands of people cheered as the U.S. Olympic teams boarded the S.S. Manhattan, bound for Berlin. Among the athletes were the 14 players representing the first-ever U.S. Olympic basketball team. As thousands of supporters waved American flags on the docks, it was easy to miss the one courageous man holding a BOYCOTT NAZI GERMANY sign. But it was too late for a boycott now; the ship had already left the harbor.

1936 was a turbulent time in world history. Adolf Hitler had gained power in Germany three years earlier. Jewish people and political opponents of the Nazis were the targets of vicious mistreatment, yet were unaware of the horrors that awaited them in the coming years. But the Olympians on board the S.S. Manhattan and other international visitors wouldn't see any signs of trouble in Berlin. Streets were swept, storefronts were painted, and every German citizen greeted them with a smile. Like a movie set, it was all just a facade, meant to distract from the terrible things happening behind the scenes.

This is the incredible true story of basketball, from its invention by James Naismith in Springfield, Massachusetts, in 1891, to the sport's Olympic debut in Berlin and the eclectic mix of people, events and propaganda on both sides of the Atlantic that made it all possible. Includes photos throughout, a Who's-Who of the 1936 Olympics, bibliography, and index.

Praise for Games of Deception

A 2020 ALA Notable Children's Book!
A 2020 CBC Notable Social Studies Book!

Maraniss does a great job of blending basketball action with the horror of Hitler's Berlin to bring this fascinating, frightening, you-can't-make-this-stuff-up moment in history to life. -Steve Sheinkin, New York Times bestselling author of Bomb and Undefeated

I was blown away by Games of Deception....It's a fascinating, fast-paced, well-reasoned, and well-written account of the hidden-in-plain-sight horrors and atrocities that underpinned sports, politics, and propaganda in the United States and Germany. This is an important read. -Susan Campbell Bartoletti, Newbery Honor winning author of Hitler Youth

A richly reported and stylishly told reminder how, when you scratch at a sports story, the real world often lurks just beneath. --Alexander Wolff, New York Times bestselling author of The Audacity of Hoop: Basketball and the Age of Obama

An insightful, gripping account of basketball and bias. --Kirkus Reviews

An exciting and overlooked slice of history. --School Library Journal

From the New York Times bestselling author of Strong Inside comes the inspirational true story of the birth of women's Olympic basketball at the 1976 Summer Games and the ragtag team that put US women's basketball on the map. Perfect for fans of Steve Sheinkin and Daniel James Brown.

A League of Their Own meets Miracle in the inspirational true story of the first US Women's Olympic Basketball team and their unlikely rise to the top.

Twenty years before women's soccer became an Olympic sport and two decades before the formation of the WNBA, the '76 US women's basketball team laid the foundation for the incredible rise of women's sports in America at the youth, collegiate, Olympic, and professional levels.

Though they were unknowns from small schools such as Delta State, the University of Tennessee at Martin and John F. Kennedy College of Wahoo, Nebraska, at the time of the '76 Olympics, the American team included a roster of players who would go on to become some of the most legendary figures in the history of basketball. From Pat Head, Nancy Lieberman, Ann Meyers, Lusia Harris, coach Billie Moore, and beyond--these women took on the world and proved everyone wrong.

Packed with black-and-white photos and thoroughly researched details about the beginnings of US women's basketball, Inaugural Ballers is the fascinating story of the women who paved the way for girls everywhere.

If They Could Conquer Challenges, So Can You: Uncover the Journey of Basketball Heroes Who Overcame Adversity to Become Legends

Have you ever heard of Kenny Sailors?
Kenny who?
Didn't the jump shot always exist in basketball?

The short answer is no.

In the early 1900s, the sport of basketball was in its infancy. The basic elements of the game included passing the ball, no physical contact, and only two-handed set shots. Times were ripe for improvements and the development of new techniques.

A few notable players in the 1930s and 1940s began to jump and shoot a basketball. But it was Kenny Sailors who stepped in and made the modern-day jump shot famous.

Beyond the Jump Shot is a story of basketball and life that will elevate and inspire you to believe, and try something different.

FROM KENNY'S SON DAN:

With the jump shot, my dad left his mark on basketball. His example in sports and life elevated others to become people of character, integrity, and faith. Pop taught those around him the value of hard work, respect for authority, and doing your best. He cared about his God, family, country, and the Marines. Basketball was a thread that ran through the life of Kenny Sailors. Pop realized there was life after sports and was compelled to encourage others to elevate their lives and dreams.

Attucks! is true story of the all-black high school basketball team that broke the color barrier in segregated 1950s Indiana, masterfully told by National Book Award winner Phil Hoose.

By winning the state high school basketball championship in 1955, ten teens from an Indianapolis school meant to be the centerpiece of racially segregated education in the state shattered the myth of their inferiority. Their brilliant coach had fashioned an unbeatable team from a group of boys born in the South and raised in poverty. Anchored by the astonishing Oscar Robertson, a future college and NBA star, the Crispus Attucks Tigers went down in history as the first state champions from Indianapolis and the first all-black team in U.S. history to win a racially open championship tournament--an integration they had forced with their on-court prowess.

From native Hoosier and award-winning author Phillip Hoose comes this true story of a team up against impossible odds, making a difference when it mattered most.

An ALA Notable Book of 2019
NYPL Best Book for Teens of 2018
A 2018 Booklist Youth Editors' Choice
A Center for the Study of Multicultural Children's Literature Best Book of 2018
A Kirkus Reviews Best YA Nonfiction Book of 2018
An ALSC Notable Children's Book of 2019
A YALSA Excellence in Nonfiction Award Nominee

This title has Common Core connections.

Then she looked down at my hands and saw the shoes. Junior, what are those? she said. Honey, I told you that we would have to wait. Wait a minute Mama, I told her. That man said I could have them. Mama looked around, Man? What man? I turned and pointed to where he was, but he was gone.

On a spring day in 1986, I was browsing in a thrift store located in southeast Houston. Having survived several economic shifts in the community, it was a brick structure with large windows that once housed a White's Auto Parts in a yet to be gentrified area of the city. It was here that I became captivated by this family. It was here that I met yet never spoke to Junior.

Based on actual events, SHOES is the story of Junior, an 11-year-old African American boy from inner-city Houston. A kind, responsible and resilient young man, Junior overcomes the tragic loss of his father in a fire that destroyed their home and left him with burns that threatened his ability to ever walk again.

From the friendship of the Williamson family, along the vivid and adventurous bus rides to the store, SHOES is the tale of a young black boy, now thrust into the role of 'man of the house' navigating life with hope and optimism. Fatherless, physically challenged and with every reason in the world to give up, Junior will engage the readers as they become voyeurs and feel good as they witness 'the hood' through Junior's eyes. They'll see his village of support and will be genuinely uplifted by this young man whose courage and determination are far greater than his circumstances.

From award-winning young adult author Paul Volponi comes the true story of his unforgettable summer spent proving himself as a legitimate New York City streetballer, only later discovering that he had gained a set of skills that would enhance his life off the court, as well.

During the sweltering summer of seventeen-year-old Paul Volponi's life, he had only one goal--he wanted, no, needed to become a legitimate and respected New York City street basketball player. It was a passion that consumed him night and day, and at times even isolated him from his friends and family. So he entered through the gates of the Proving Ground, the roughest streetball yard in the city. It was a place where the fouls resembled felonies, and the atmosphere mirrored that of the Roman Coliseum more than Madison Square Garden. It was where teens and adults contested pickup games with a ferocity seemingly greater than that of the NBA Finals. The Proving Ground was a difficult place to cultivate friendships and an easy environment to make enemies.

This is the story of Paul's summer-long initiation at the Proving Ground. It is truly a streetball testament of a teenager who wanted more than anything else to earn his stripes in streetball society. Only what he didn't understand at the time was that this experience would deliver to him, as it does today for so many young adults, a set of skills that would enhance his life far beyond the boundaries of a basketball court.

Each year, close to one million boys and girls in the United States participate in high school basketball. Of that group, barely three percent will go on to play in college. The question is then what is the importance of this experience for those who never play at the next level. What exactly should these students have learned to make it worthwhile? What specifically should have been taught? Without any doubt, Unconscious Basketball teaches the essentials that students need to become exceptional basketball players. From recognizing the importance of dreaming big, practicing, and setting deadlines to never fearing failure, earning confidence, and even learning to lose. Young players who fully embrace these principles will achieve greater success on the court, but more importantly, these skills will translate to situations encountered in all aspects of adult life. Written for high school and middle school basketball players, both boys and girls, Unconscious Basketball can also serve as an adjunct for coaches to emphasize the objectives they're already teaching - not just in basketball but in all sports. The author, Bruce Rosenfeld, MD, describes the lessons in straightforward detail with real examples taken from both playing and coaching basketball as well as from practicing medicine. In high school, he was often stereotyped as an unacademic basketball player, and told on multiple occasions not to set his scholastic goals too high. Instead of accepting that negative advice, he used it to ignite the fire and prove the skeptics wrong. Today, Dr. Rosenfeld is a surgeon, an assistant professor of urology, and a high school varsity basketball coach. He understands deeply the power of the game.

Do you want to help young athletes unleash their inner winner, become more confident, and reach new heights?
Sometimes, you may encounter moments when children feel doubt, fatigue, or fear of failure. These are precisely the moments when the stories of the greatest champions become powerful weapons. They lift spirits, fill hearts with faith in themselves, and help overcome obstacles. This book is a real treasure trove of inspiration and wisdom.

This book contains unique stories about the greatest winners in world sports, from legendary footballers to unbeatable boxers to Olympic champions. What makes them so special? What lessons have they left for future generations? In this book, you will find answers to these questions. There is no place for the ordinary here - only stories about passion, hard work, self-belief, and continuous striving for excellence. Read about their triumphs and defeats, their inner strength, and perseverance.

These stories are not just about sports. They are life lessons that will help your children unlock their potential, overcome challenges, and become true champions.

Lionel Messi (Argentina, soccer): Legendary soccer player who led his team to victory in the World Cup finals. His incredible skills, virtuosity and ability to work as a team made him one of the greatest soccer players in history.
Serena and Venus Williams (USA, tennis): Sisters who dominated women's tennis. Their doubles play together brought them many titles.
Michael Jordan (USA, basketball): Six-time NBA champion with the Chicago Bulls. His leadership, accuracy and ability to motivate his team made him a legend.
Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal, soccer): Manchester United and Juventus star. His goals and teamwork ability helped him become one of the greatest soccer players ever.
Mariano Rivera (Panama, baseball): the story of a simple guy from the village who became the best player of the New York Yankees. His reliability and ability to close out games made him a legend.
Mia Hamm (USA, soccer): Legendary soccer player, two-time Olympic champion. Her character, ability to train harder than others, and teamwork made her a world champion.
Dean Karnazes is an ultramarathoner who inspires people to make life better through simple running.
Drew Brees (USA): NFL champion. His marksmanship and ability to play anywhere on the field are essential lessons for young athletes.
Michael Phelps (USA): The story of the legendary swimmer who broke all records.
Eddy Merckx is a cyclist who has won marathons on a broken bike.
And other great champions.

• Sport in children's lives is not only about learning physical skills, but also about building character, confidence and a winning spirit.
• There is a winner in every child. In every little heart lurks a talent that, like a treasure, needs to be discovered. Your responsibility is to inspire, motivate and support.
• This is what helps them grow, develop and achieve new victories.
• Let these stories of champions be their compass and your belief in them be their wings.
• Sport is not only health and physical activity. It is a path to self-improvement, to victory over oneself. And you, as a parent or mentor, are a guide on this path for your child.
• This book will inspire, uplift, and help your children become a better person.

Read these inspirational sports stories with your child and inspire a world of resilience and victories!
Ready to give your budding sports star the gift of wisdom beyond the game?

Scroll to the top of the page and click the BUY button to order your copy of Inspirational Sports Stories for Kids and be inspired by the wisdom and experiences of great champions

Hey Kids! Meet Ja Morant, the NBA's electrifying point guard!!!

From humble beginnings in South Carolina to dominating the NBA. Ja's determination, passion, and family support propelled him to stardom.
Join Ja's Incredible Adventure.

Learn:
1. Overcoming obstacles and self-doubt
2. Importance of family, hard work and perseverance
3. Embracing uniqueness and individuality
4. Balancing fame and humility

Fun Features:
1. Exciting basketball stats and trivia
2. Inspirational quotes and life lessons
3. Engaging quizzes and activities

Perfect For:
1. Young basketball enthusiasts
2. Bedtime reading
3. School book reports
4. Birthday gifts

Get ready to slam dunk your dreams!
Join Ja Morant's remarkable journey!!

20 Inspiring Basketball Stories to Empower Young Athletes in Sports and Life

Unlock the power of sport and help the young athlete in your life unleash their true potential-on the court and beyond!

Each story takes readers on an emotional journey through triumphs over adversity, showcasing how these athletes achieved greatness against the odds. These lessons transcend basketball, instilling habits and mindsets that last a lifetime.

With 20 powerful stories to choose from, every young athlete will find a tale they love and relate to-fueling their passion and confidence before every game.

Here's a glimpse of what's inside:

• The Power of Teamwork: Lessons from the legendary 2000 San Antonio Spurs.
• Building a Dynasty: Insights from the iconic 1990s Chicago Bulls.
• Defying the Odds: How Earl Boykins proved height doesn't limit talent.
• LeBron vs. Kobe: Discover how two of the NBA's greatest reached the top.
• Ben Wallace's Blueprint: The perfect mix of hard work and opportunity.

Bonus Features Include:

• 100+ basketball fun facts and trivia to share with friends, coaches, and teachers.
• Inspiring quotes from players and teams after each story.
• There are life-changing lessons and trivia in every chapter.

Whether they're a player or a fan, this book delivers inspiration and valuable lessons to ignite their passion for basketball-and life.

Whether you are a coach, a basketball player or an enthusiast, there's something in this book for You.
The BASKETBALL DRILL MASTERY is a guide for players seeking to improve their WARM UPS, BALL HANDLING, DRIBBLING, PASSING, SHOOTING, and DEFENSE SKILLS.
So dive deep into expertly crafted drills that enhance your passing precision, improve your dribbling control, and boost your shooting accuracy. With clear instructions you'll learn how to perfect your basketball skills and dominate on the court. This indispensable resource is your pathway to becoming a more confident, skilled, and successful basketball player.

This inspiring book tells the true story of Paige Bueckers, a girl who worked hard, stayed focused, and became one of the biggest names in basketball. From playing in her backyard to leading her team to victories on the national stage, Paige's journey is filled with determination, teamwork, and love for the game.

Kids will learn how Paige never gave up, even when things got tough. She practiced every day, always pushed herself to be better, and believed in her dreams. Along the way, she also became a leader and a role model for girls everywhere, showing that with heart and hard work, anything is possible.

This easy-to-read book is perfect for young readers who love sports and want to know what it takes to be a champion. Paige's story encourages everyone to follow their passion, break boundaries, and dream big!

Player's Guide to College Hoops was developed to influence student-athletes' post-secondary decisions and expose them to collegiate recruiting methodology.


The intricacies of college sports can be overwhelming for young athletes. Coach Deonna Dee Davis, former Vanderbilt women's basketball, WNBA, and overseas basketball player, head high school varsity basketball coach and private basketball trainer, knows the process requires next-level-thinking.

This guide provides just that - a step-by-step how to for those athletes who want help deciding their next best move.

Whether you know him as King James or The Chosen One, LeBron James is one of the most famous N.B.A. players of all time. His nicknames, acquired early during his high school career, spoke of future greatness. James entered the N.B.A. at 18 years old with the Cleveland Cavaliers, launching a career that would see James excel. The first major upset came when James began to make career changes as a free agent. He lost a large number of fans, but the manner in which he addressed his choices made him who he is today: one of the best basketball players in the nation. Readers follow James's journey from the Cavaliers to the Miami Heat to the Lakers, and will examine the reporting of his career with the help of media literacy terms and questions.