True Blue

True Blue (also known as Miracle at Oxford) is about the Oxford rowing team's rivalry with Cambridge.  After a tough loss, the team argues over how to band together to come back and win again.

Release Year: 1996
Rating: R
Length: 115m

For more information, view its pages at the Internet Movie Database and Rotten Tomatoes or purchase it from Amazon.

Slap Shot

Slap Shot is about a failing hockey team that uses violence to create fan interest.

Release Year: 1977
Rating: R
Length: 123m

For more information, view its pages at the Internet Movie Database and Rotten Tomatoes or purchase it from Amazon.

Searching for Bobby Fischer

Searching for Bobby Fischer is about a young chess protégé who struggles with the pressures of competition.

Release Year: 1993
Rating: PG
Length: 109m

For more information, view its pages at the Internet Movie Database and Rotten Tomatoes or purchase it from Amazon.

The Natural

The Natural is about a man's invigorating return to a baseball team after a mysterious absence.  Great scene with a sport psychologist in it.

Release Year: 1984
Rating: PG
Length: 134m

For more information, view its pages at the Internet Movie Database and Rotten Tomatoes or purchase it from Amazon.

Little Girls in Pretty Boxes

Little Girls in Pretty Boxes is a made-for-television movie based on the book about gymnasts and the extreme difficulties they encounter at the upper echelons of competition.  Elite gymnastics results in many sacrifices for all involved, both physically and mentally, but how how much is too much?


Release Year: 1997
Length: 96m

For more information, view its pages at the Internet Movie Database and Rotten Tomatoes or purchase the book from Amazon.


Aggression: Aggression is depicted in a few ways throughout the movie: both in the parent-to-parent relationships with one another while viewing their daughters and in the coaching style with the athletes.

Anxiety: The coach tries to put them under constent anxiety so they will cope better with it, and some handle it better than others. The girls are constantly reminded of who is at the top and that if they are there, they may not be remain for long.

Commitment: The girls are reminded on a regular basis about how much effort that they need to put into their gymnastics to pursue their goal. Parents make a huge commitment to follow their children in their efforts.

Confidence: In one of the last scenes the coach yells at Katie for not attempting the Yurchenko. You can not bail out on skills; you must have the confidence or you will get hurt.

Eating Disorders: Katie reduces the amount she eats. She says that she won't eat her dinner and if she does, she will just throw it up because losing three pounds means gaining a foot in height in her tumbling.

Goal Setting: The coach puts a lot of outcome oriented goals on the athletes: win or else that's it.

Going for your Dream: All the girls hope to make it to the Olympics. They give up much to pursue their dream, including leaving behind their home and family.

Injury: In the end the star athlete has a career ending injury, which in turn leads to the thought that Katie was being pushed too hard.

Keeping Sport in Perspective: When they decide to go home Katie's mother realizes that her job is to be a mother. She does not want Katie to become hurt in order to be win in a sport. Her life is more important.

Parents/Family: In order for Katie to move her entire family must make a sacrifice and do so. However, her relationship with her family is part of the key to her success.

Substance Abuse: The girls put their bodies through so much and in turn suffer pain they must push through. Dana Parker, the star athlete, offers Katie prescription medicine to help her battle through pain.

Little Giants

Little Giants is about a nerdy coach who assembles a football team to play the city champions.

Release Year: 1994
Rating: PG
Length: 107m

For more information, view its pages at the Internet Movie Database and Rotten Tomatoes or purchase it from Amazon.

A League of Their Own

A League of Their Own is the story of the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League from the 1940s.

Release Year: 1992
Rating: PG
Length: 128m

For more information, view its pages at the Internet Movie Database and Rotten Tomatoes or purchase it from Amazon.

Jerry Maguire

Jerry Maguire is a story about a sports agent and his only client learning what is really important in life.

Release Year: 1996
Rating: R
Length: 139m

For more information, view its pages at the Internet Movie Database and Rotten Tomatoes or purchase it from Amazon.

Gladiator

Gladiator is about two teenagers who become friends in the world of underground boxing.

Release Year: 1992
Rating: R
Length: 101m

For more information, view its pages at the Internet Movie Database and Rotten Tomatoes or purchase it from Amazon.

Gallipoli

Gallipoli is about two friends two friends who go off to war.  The beginning features running competitions.

Release Year: 1981
Rating: PG
Length: 110m

For more information, view its pages at the Internet Movie Database and Rotten Tomatoes or purchase it from Amazon.

For Love of the Game

For Love of the Game is about a pitcher during the twilight of his career, who has flashbacks about the decisions he made in his life during a no-hitter.

Release Year: 1999
Rating: PG-13
Length: 137m

For more information, view its pages at the Internet Movie Database and Rotten Tomatoes or purchase it from Amazon.

Field of Dreams

Field of Dreams is the story of an Iowa farmer who hears voices and builds a baseball diamond in his cornfield.

Release Year: 1989
Rating: PG
Length: 107m

For more information, view its pages at the Internet Movie Database and Rotten Tomatoes or purchase it from Amazon.

Fever Pitch

Fever Pitch is about a man's conflict between his obsession with soccer and the woman he loves.

Release Year: 1997
Rating: R
Length: 102m

For more information, view its pages at the Internet Movie Database and Rotten Tomatoes or purchase it from Amazon.

The Fan

The Fan is about an obsessed baseball fan who causes problems for an all-star player.

Release Year: 1996
Rating: R
Length: 116m

For more information, view its pages at the Internet Movie Database and Rotten Tomatoes or purchase it from Amazon.

Brian's Song

Brian's Song is a heartwrenching tale of friendship between Gale Sayers and Brian Piccolo, who is fighting cancer.

Release Year: 1971
Rating: G
Length: 73m

For more information, view its pages at the Internet Movie Database and Rotten Tomatoes or purchase it from Amazon.

Blue Chips

Blue Chips is about a basketball coach's ethical struggles to win.  Blue Chips is also Shaq's first movie.

Release Year: 1994
Rating: PG-13
Length: 108m

For more information, view its pages at the Internet Movie Database and Rotten Tomatoes or purchase it from Amazon.

Breaking Away

Breaking Away is a coming-of-age story about a small townie who had dreams of racing internationally with the best.

Release Year: 1979
Rating: PG
Length: 101m

For more information, view its pages at the Internet Movie Database and Rotten Tomatoes or purchase it from Amazon.