Review of Videos 1-4
Video Librarian Vol. 15 No. 5 September-October 2000
Nitty-Gritty Basketball * * *, 3 out of 4 star rating
(2000) 4 videocassettes, approx. 45 min. each.
$24.95 each ($50 each w/PPR.) Golden Aura Publishing. Color cover.
Based on The Basketball Coaches Bible by Sidney Goldstein, the first four volumes of this projected 17 part series are now available for purchase. I watched the first two volumes, Basketball Fundamentals I, which focused on individual skills, and Basketball Fundamentals II, which emphasized team skills.
Geared for coaches, these tapes are jam packed with drills clearly demonstrated mostly by male and female (college and) high school age players (though younger players are sometimes used to demonstrate that skills can be acquired by players of all ages) in practice and in play situations.
Individual drills in the first tape address ball handling, pivoting, dribbling, shooting, passing, catching, rebounding and defensive skills, while the second tape offers team drills on offensive and defensive principles.
Designed to be viewed in sections, the tapes can be used in conjunction with The Basketball Coaches Bible, although they stand quite nicely alone. The other titles currently available are Planning Basketball Practice 1 and Planning Basketball Practice 2. Recommended. Aud: J(Jr High), H(High School), C(College), P (Public) (L. Stevens)

Review of Video 1
Booklist September 2000 Rewind
Top Sports Videos (only basketball video in top 10)
by Sue-Ellen Beauregard

@IMP = NItty-Gritty Basketball: Fundamentals I. Golden Aura. 1999. 48 min. $24.95 (pp, $50)
@REV = Ages 10-adult. Basketball coach Sidney Goldstein teaches such fundamental basketball skills and techniques as ball handling, dribbling, shooting, and rebounding while clips of boys and girls demonstrating presented skills and drills lend visual instruction. A great resource for both coaches and players. New titles in the ongoing series are Fundamentals II and Planning Practice I and Planning Practice II.

 Coaches Comments about the Videos

"Revolutionary" is a cliche, But with your methods it holds true!
SCOTT LADWIG, women 7th, Armstrong, Minneapolis, MN

"Material is worth every penny, The videos a must!"
Matthew Pernick, HS, Cape Cod Academy, Osterville, MA

"Love the videos."
Hand Hall, HS player, Rosa Fort HS,
Joey Baca, 4-6th girls, Milan NM
Rusty McAlister, Youth League, Telford YMCA, Richmond, KY
Donna Fine 7th/8th/ grade girls, TX School for the Deaf, Austin, TX
Matthew Pernick, HS, Cape Cod Academy, Osterville, MA
Daniel Freeman, Retired Coach, middle school , J.T.Williams Org., Charlotte, NC
Kasey Davis, Jr & HS men's/women's, Logandale, NV
Jim Hamilton, Middle boys, Craig, Alaska
Tanner Heaton, Guard, Salinas, KS
Wilf, HS, Nelson MacIntyre Collegiate Winnipeg Manitoba Canada
Paul Nicolaos, Beyrut Lebanon

"Best material on fundamentals I have seen"
Antonio Cardoso, ADCR Senhorinhense, Aveiro
Marko Jirasek, HS
Jim Treece, Boys 5th grade, Bixby, Ok
Joey Baca, 4-6th girls, Milan NM
Patrick Mills, 4th Division Germany
Donna Fine 7th/8th/ grade girls, TX School for the Deaf, Austin, TX
Matthew Pernick, HS, Cape Cod Academy, Osterville, MA
Daniel Freeman, Retired Coach, middle school , J.T.Williams Org., Charlotte, NC
Kasey Davis, Jr & HS mens/women's, Logandale, NV
Jim Hamilton, Middle boys, Craig, Alaska
Tanner Heaton, Guard, Salinas, KS
Wilf, HS, Nelson MacIntyre Collegiate Winnipeg Manitoba Canada
Paul Nicolaos, Beyrut Lebanon

"Most useful basketball material I have purchased"
Robert Waybright, 7th-8th, Susanville, CA
Jim Treece, Boys 5th grade, Bixby, Ok
Patrick Mills, 4th Division Germany
Donna Fine 7th/8th/ grade girls, TX School for the Deaf, Austin, TX
Matthew Pernick, HS, Cape Cod Academy, Osterville, MA
Daniel Freeman, Retired Coach, middle school , J.T.Williams Org., Charlotte, NC
Kasey Davis, Jr & HS men's/women's, Logandale, NV
Jim Hamilton, Middle boys, Craig, Alaska
Tanner Heaton, Guard, Salinas, KS
Wilf, HS, Nelson MacIntyre Collegiate Winnipeg Manitoba Canada
Paul Nicolaos, Beyrut Lebanon

Review of 14 DVDs
Video Librarian Vol 19, #6 Nov-Dec 2004
New to DVD
The Nitty-Gritty Basketball Series (Golden Aura Publishing, 14 discs, $32.95 each, web: mrbasketball.net) Based on The Basketball Coach's Bible by Sidney Goldstein, this 14 program series (reviewed in VL-9/00, ***) is geared toward coaches and jam-packed with drills demonstrated by high school age (actually college age) players in practice and in play situations. Extra features include 30 minutes of bonus materials on each disc.

Review of Videos 12-14
Booklist Sept 2004
The Nitty-Gritty Basketball Series: Basketball Offense I (Video 12). Golden Aura. 2004. 52min. $24.95 (pp) (1-884357-82-2).
The sampled title, Basketball Offense I, complements Basketball Offense II (video 13) and Basketball Offense III (video 14), the final titles in the well regarded 14-volume basketball fundamentals set hosted by Sidney Goldstein. The camera stays mostly inside the court (players of both genders are represented) as lengthy drill sequences and voice over instruction and graphics drive home basic techniques and pointers. Dribbling, passing, catching, shooting, rebounding, and more are separately addressed, along with offensive versus defensive strategies and other tactics. Specific problem areas and productive practice sessions are considered as well. Basketball players and coaches serious about the game should step up to the viewing line. ­­Jeff Dick

Review of Videos 5-7
School Library Journal--June 2002
The Nitty-Gritty Basketball Series, Vol. 5-7, 3 videocassettes (from a series of 17), color, range: 35-45 min. Golden Aura Pub. 2002. $32.95 ea (home use), $39.95 ea. (pub. perf.), Includes: Basketball Shooting I: Shooting Technique; Basketball Shooting II: Practice Shooting; Basketball Shooting III: Pressure Shooting.
Gr all levels, coaches- The content and focus of this series reflects the values its creator and narrator, Sidney Goldstein, emphasizes in his ten minute introduction that is repeated in each video. As a result of this repetition, Goldstein says each video can stand on its own. He stresses the importance and of learning and practicing the fundamentals of shooting at each stage of development. He believes that players can't become acceptable game or pressure shooters without mastering the simple steps covered in video 5 and the practice drills featured in video six. To prove his point , he compares and contrasts his proven techniques with a diverse group of men and women college players demonstrating the correct and incorrect ways of shooting.
The production is very simple and effective, especially in the use of on screen graphics. Other than the long and repeated introduction, there are no glaring weaknesses. however, the series is intended primarily for coaches and players who are very dedicated in improving themselves rather than casual participants. With that in mind, basketball shooters looking to refine their abilities will be helped immensely. Rob Tench, Newport News Public Library, VA

Review of Videos 2-4
Library Journal
October 15, 2000 volume 125 no. 17

The Nitty-Gritty Basketball Series
3 vols.
ea. vol: color. 42 min. Golden Aura Publishing
201 W Evergreen Ave, #503
Philadelphia, PA 19118; $24.95; public performance $50. Includes: Fundamentals II. ISBN 1-884357-90-3; Planning Practice I. ISBN 1-884357-75-X.; Planning Practice II. ISBN 1-884357-76-8. SPORTS
These three videos continue the series begun in Fundamentals I (Video Reviews, LJ 7/99). Fundamentals II
shows coaches how to teach team skills, such as the center jump and full-court press. Producer Sidney Goldstein diagrams drills that players then demonstrate, but beginning coaches would find them difficult to comprehend. The two Planning Practice videos must be used in conjunction with Fundamentals I (because they briefly refer to skills fully demonstrated there) and with the series' book, The Basketball Coach's Bible. Planning Practice I, which explains a nine-part lesson plan, with drills and amount of time spent on each, would help any coach improve practice. Planning Practice II offers rules and advice for making practice more productive, e.g., no dribbling while the coach is talking and using a helper to keep statistics. The advice is sound and would be useful to coaches of all levels. Like the Fundamentals I video, these three show both male and female players, employ a variety of settings, avoid talking heads, and boast good production quality. The entire series is recommended for public libraries; Fundamentals I and II provide the groundwork. - Kathy Ruffle, formerly of Coll. of New Caledonia Lib., Prince George, BC

Review of Video 1
BookList 12/15/99
Nitty-Gritty Basketball: Fundamentals I. 48 min. 1999. $24.95 (pp,50)
Part of a planned 17-program series, this title features basketball coach Sidney Goldstein covering the development of correct skills practiced in playing situations. He discusses ball handling, pivoting, wrist movement, dribbling, shooting, moves, pressure and practice shooting, passing, catching, rebounding, defense, and picking. Throughout the program, clips of both boys and girls demonstrate the skills and
drills. Excellent introductory graphics and outline titling effectively structure the program. Descriptions and visuals flow evenly. This is a fine resource for coaches and players in elementary school through high school. - James Scholtz