The football encyclopedia

Gr 5 Up--American football is the number one spectator sport in the U.S. and the most popular sport for boys in 43 states. This volume takes a deep dive into the game and covers a wide range of topics, from Yale coach Walter Camp, who adapted much of the game from rugby in the 19th century, to Super Bowl LVIII. Each spread typically covers a single topic like fans or NCAA football. Longer sections offer profiles of all the league's teams, divided by conference and division. Layouts are visually striking, with multiple narratives broken into chunks of text set off with blocks of color, sharing the page with abundant photos, charts, lists, and sidebar features. Profiles of players (Troy Polamalu, Emmitt Smith), coaches (Andy Reid, Mike Tomlin), and many others are included throughout. Offensive and defensive positions, the evolution of equipment, scoring, coaching, stadiums (Chicago's Soldier Field is the oldest, Lambeau Field in Green Bay is the coldest), strategy, and technique all get full treatment. VERDICT A handy reference or a comprehensive overview, this football compendium will be deservedly popular in virtually any school.