Teen Sports

Why is it that sports seem to bring out the best and the worst in us? asks author C. J. Mahaney. Sports are a gift from God. But as soon as you introduce the human heart, things get complicated. For the Christian athlete, sports are one of the key battlegrounds in which pride and self-glory are regular temptations. If sports are indeed a gift from God, why are playing fields and courts so often arenas for our egos? How are we to enjoy sports in a godly way?

The rollercoaster of teenage life doesn’t offer a lot of moments to slow down and process your experiences. 5-Minute Mindfulness Meditations for Teens offers easy, quick practices that allow you to harness the power of mindfulness meditation - paying immediate attention to your body and thoughts. Crafted for real-world situations, these exercises teach you to think and respond rather than react. There are even tips for how and where to engage in mindfulness meditation in complicated settings like school. You’ll gain clarity and learn to cope with stress more effectively.

Danny Jordan is one of two lucky winners of the US Basketball Writer's Association's contest for aspiring journalists. His prize? A trip to New Orleans and a coveted press pass for the Final Four. It's a basketball junkie's dream come true! But the games going on behind the scenes between the coaches, the players, the media, the money-men, and the fans turn out to be even more fiercely competitive than those on the court.

Stupid Fast is playwright Geoff Herbach’s first book for young adults. No one’s more shocked than shy 15-year-old Felton Reinstein himself when he undergoes a tremendous growth spurt. After dusting the football jocks in a race, Felton marvels at his new athletic ability. Everything isn’t looking up, however. Felton must also come to grips with his mother’s sudden depression and his bratty younger brother. And then Felton learns a shocking secret about his past that helps put things in perspective.

Rising from poverty-stricken Louisville in the 1950s, Ali became one of the world's greatest athletes. Beginning life as Cassius Clay, Ali would struggle against opponents both in and out of the ring. Segregation and racism stood as obstacles in his path, but as he climbed the boxing ranks, his social conscience grew. He refused to be pigeonholed as a stereotypical black athlete in the 1960s and changed his name to Muhammad Ali after converting to Islam.

Finish Strong Teen Athlete is Dan Green's follow up to his bestselling book Finish Strong (the auidobook and the mantra the New Orleans Saints used along their journey to become the 2009 Super Bowl Champions). Finish Strong Teen Athlete identifies 16 key principles for developing the champion within, and no matter which sport is played, any teen athlete (male or female) can learn from it.

Five running backs were selected in the first round of the 2008 NFL Draft. Jamaal Charles was not among them. Despite piling up the fourth-most rushing yards at the University of Texas in just three seasons, he waited for eight other running backs to get selected ahead of him. The Middle School Rules of Jamaal Charles features the stories and lessons of Jamaal’s childhood, defined by people overlooking him.

A team of scientists works to expose athletes who use banned drugs to win Olympic medals. Here is the true, inside story of the UCLA Olympic Laboratory - the drug-detection team that tests athletes for banned performance-enhancing drugs. The scientists worked long nights to detect a new, never-before-tested performance-enhancing drug called NESP (novel erythropoietic stimulating protein) during the 19th Winter Olympics (2002) in Salt Lake City, Utah. The group's work exposed three NESP users among the winning cross-country skiers.

In 1911, three men were in the final round of the famed Pendleton Round-Up. One was white, one was Indian, and one was black. When the judges declared the white man the winner, the audience was outraged. They named black cowboy George Fletcher the "people's champion" and took up a collection, ultimately giving Fletcher far more than the value of the prize that went to the official winner. Award-winning author Vaunda Micheaux Nelson tells the story of Fletcher's triumph with a western flair that will delight kids - and adults - who love true stories, unlikely heroes, and cowboy tales.

When high school senior Jonas moves to Seattle, he is glad to meet Levi, a nice, soft-spoken guy and fellow basketball player. Suspense builds like a slow drumbeat as listeners start to smell a rat in Ryan Hartwell, a charismatic basketball coach and sexual predator. When Levi reluctantly tells Jonas that Hartwell abused him, Jonas has to decide whether he should risk his future career to report the coach.

Growing up in North Carolina, Donald Davis heard stories that came to America through Scots-Irish immigrants about a fellow named Jack who was so real that young Davis thought he was a distant relative or otherside-of-the-mountain neighbor. Now Davis knows that Jack is a universal legendary figure who, by various names, is found in nearly every culture.

The most beloved and decorated player in Florida history takes fans behind the scenes and into the locker room for one of the greatest eras in the annals of college football. Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback Danny Wuerffel, now retired from the NFL, has finally had the time to look back, reminisce, and share his thoughts about that magical time when he was referred to by some "as the greatest passer to ever play college football."

For most girls, sleepaway camp is great fun. But for Amy Becker, it's a nightmare. Amy, whose home life is in turmoil, is sent to Camp Takawanda for Girls for the first time as a teenager. Although Amy swears she hates her German-immigrant mother, who is unduly harsh with Amy's autistic younger brother, Amy is less than thrilled about going to camp. At Takawanda she is subjected to a humiliating "initiation" and relentless bullying by the ringleader of the senior campers.

Looking to dominate the green? "DRIVE: Mental Toughness for Young Athletes—Mastering the Sports Psychology of Golf" is the game-changing guide you need. This transformative book equips young athletes with essential tools and strategies to conquer the mental challenges of golf and achieve unparalleled success. Inside, you'll embark on a journey to enhance your golf performance. Learn to cultivate a winning mindset, master unwavering focus and concentration, harness visualization techniques, set inspiring goals, develop effective pre-game rituals, and conquer performance anxiety.

Her story is amazing enough to inspire a major motion picture. Back on the surfboard just one month after losing her arm in a shark attack, professional surfer Bethany Hamilton became the cover girl of courage, inspiring millions around the world. In this devotional, Bethany speaks straight to her “soul sisters,” teen girls, about the challenges of facing your fears, living your faith, and letting God take you on an epic ride. Flip through the pages to read about how to stand up for your faith, make a difference, and avoid wipeouts.

The final match of the 2001 US Open featuring tennis stars Venus and Serena Williams was groundbreaking. It was first time siblings had squared off in the final match for more than 100 years. And it was the first time both players were Black. The photo of the smiling Williams sisters holding their trophies after the tennis match appeared in newspapers around the globe. It captured two athletes who fought, and would continue to fight, for a place for women and African-Americans in tennis and the world beyond.

Daring falls from high buildings and car chases in the movies. Circus trapeze artists and human cannon balls. Flips high in the air on skateboards and dirt bikes. Many people wouldn't dare to try such stunts. But other people make a living doing them. Learn what draws people to such life-threatening lines of work. Get the facts about some of the most famous stuntmen and women of all time.

Jesse Owens’ gold-medal winning feats at the 1936 Olympics in Berlin struck a mighty propaganda blow against Adolf Hitler. The Nazi leader had planned to use the German games as a showcase of supposed Aryan superiority. Instead, there was American, Black athlete Owens on the podium being photographed by Hitler’s personal photographer, Heinrich Hoffmann.

Who’s on the mic? It’s John Cena, of course! This rapping pro wrestler gets his attitude across with words and big-time wrestling moves. From his music to his famous feuds, get the inside scoop about all things Cena.

Watching a bicycle race is exciting, but have you ever wondered about the science behind the speed? From before riders reach the track until they blaze across the finish line, science plays a key role. Find out about the concepts behind bicycle and track design, aerodynamic clothing and gear, and much more!