Eyewitness: Football (Eyewitness Books)
Eyewitness Guides: Footballtells the story of America's favorite sport--from its beginnings in 19th-century English schoolyards to its current status as one of the world's favorite games. Broken down into helpful sections on coaches, strategy, training camp, the field, the stadium, and so on, each topic is clearly explained and illustrated with several photographs. Especially interesting are the sections on players' equipment, from shoes to helmets and from protective pads to jerseys, and the way these items have evolved over time. For example, in the early years helmets were made of pliable leather and could be folded up and carried in a pocket--a far cry from the high-tech plastic headgear worn today. Trivia fans will find much fodder here, from the number of onfield officials (seven) to the name of the star-like shapes on the Pittsburgh Steelers' logo (hypocycloids). Packed with useful information, football fans of all ages will enjoy--and learn from--this beautiful book. (Ages 9 and older)--Sunny Delaney