Coaching Athletes

This is the first guide to motivational interviewing (MI)—the proven approach to harnessing the power of conversations to build relationships and trust—for coaches, sport psychologists, training and rehabilitation specialists, and other affiliated staff. Revealing why conventional ways of giving feedback and addressing conflict are often counterproductive, this audiobook presents tried-and-tested methods for getting through to athletes and helping them to thrive.

Introducing Mental Toughness for Young Athletes, a book filled with proven strategies for athletes in the cheerleading world. While your competitors also work on the physical aspects of their game, and the gains are marginal, you will have the upper hand on all of them by becoming more mentally tough.

Famous three-time Grand Slam winner Arthur Ashe pointed out that many in sports fall victim to “paralysis by analysis”. Athletes on any level can experience the pain of overthinking and sabotaging their performance. Blame many traditional methods of teaching and training. How can we train smarter, not harder? If only our body and mind could perform in a way that’s more natural and instinctive. The best athletes have this quality, but many feel it is simply unattainable for them. I assure you it is not.

Dr. Jennifer Etnier offers a system of positive coaching that can be applied to any sport, and explains that good coaching requires working with young athletes at their developmental level and providing feedback designed to keep children engaged and having fun. Etnier gives easy-to-understand guidance on important aspects of successful coaching-including information on the development of children's motor skills, communication with a young athlete's parents, and nurturing a growth-oriented mindset-making this a critical resource for youth coaches of all experience levels.

Do I want to become an elite coach in my sport? Do I want inspire my players to be successful in sport, but also in their lives? Do I want to learn qualities that make me a great coaching candidate? 50 Things to Know About Coaching, by Shane A. Reinhard, offers an approach to coaching sport that is not just about wins and losses, but more about skill development, relationship building, and being successful outside of sport.

Mindfulness, cognitive flexibility, and overall mental game are often overlooked when it comes to youth coaching for any sport. However, these areas are vital to truly unlocking any young person’s potential in the sporting arena. They say you need to “get your head in the game” - and no truer words have ever been spoken.