Secrets of Successful Coaching

Book excerpt: Coaching a youth sports team is as challenging as ever these days. Whether it’s a T-ball team with 5- and 6-year-olds, an under-10 soccer team, or a travel basketball team with a roster of experienced players, coaches face a lengthy and imposing to-do list. Among the responsibilities are teaching skills, organizing productive practices, managing game days, instilling life lessons, and—most important of all—meeting the diverse needs of every child who is counting on you to make the season a memorable one for all the right reasons. As you embark on your journey, who better to help you navigate the twists and turns that accompany a youth sports season than some of the most respected professional and collegiate coaches around—Joe Maddon, Karch Kiraly, Jenny Boucek, John Harbaugh, Ken Hitchcock, Charlotte Smith, and Sean Payton among others—who share incredible insight and wisdom in Secrets of Successful Coaching. Some of these coaches have reached the pinnacle of their sport, leading teams to Super Bowl titles and NCAA Championships; others have played under the bright lights and suffocating pressure of huge games before moving to the sidelines; and all possess that special touch when it comes to making a difference through the power of sports. They know the secrets to connecting with kids and the best ways of inspiring and motivating them, building their confidence, helping them learn from setbacks and disappointments, and what it takes to be a great leader and role model. Coaching children in sports is a privilege, and an incredible opportunity to influence young lives both on and off the field. Secrets of Successful Coaching will help you be that coach that kids love playing for and learning from—and the reason they’ll remember you for the rest of their lives.