Successful Coaching

Rainer Martens, PhD, has coached at the youth, high school, and collegiate levels and has studied sport as a research scientist. The founder and president of Human Kinetics, he also started the American Sport Education Program, a leading coaching education program for many years. Recognized as a pioneer in the development of sport psychology, Rainer is the author of more than 80 scholarly articles and 18 books. He has been a featured speaker at over 100 conferences around the world and has conducted more than 150 workshops and clinics for coaches and athletes at all levels. After receiving his PhD in physical education from the University of Illinois at Champaign-Urbana in 1968, Martens was a member of its faculty for 16 years. A past president of the National Academy of Kinesiology, he has been recognized for his contribution to sport by the National Recreation and Park Association and by his induction into the National Association for Sport and Physical Education Hall of Fame. He has received Distinguished Alumni awards from Hutchinson High School, Emporia State University in Kansas (where he earned a bachelor's degree), the University of Montana (where he earned a master's degree), and the University of Illinois. Rainer played slowpitch softball for 45 years and coached the most successful senior slowpitch team in the United States, the Florida Legends. In 2009, he was inducted into the National Senior Softball Hall of Fame. Rainer began playing pickleball in 2016 after retiring from slowpitch softball. He has won several national championships and, along with Julie, his wife of 30 years, has built Pictona, a 49-court pickleball facility in Holly Hill, Florida, which is widely acclaimed as the best pickleball facility in the country. As part of their philanthropic efforts, Rainer and Julie donated the facility to the City of Holly Hill. They also helped launch a community center next to Human Kinetics in Champaign, Illinois, which carries their name: the Martens Center. Rainer is an avid wildlife and landscape photographer, traveling the world in pursuit of the unusual and exotic. Rainer and Julie live in Ormond Beach, Florida. Robin S. Vealey, PhD, is a professor in the department of sport leadership and management at Miami University in Ohio, where she has worked for more than 30 years. She has dedicated nearly her entire adult life to youth sports, whether as a coach, administrator, educator, researcher, or consultant. She is internationally known for her research on the psychological aspects of youth sport and coaching effectiveness. Vealey, who has authored three books, has won several professional awards throughout her academic career, including being named a fellow by the Association for Applied Sport Psychology (AASP) and the National Academy of Kinesiology. She previously was president of AASP, is a certified consultant in sport psychology as recognized by AASP, and is on the U.S. Olympic Committee Sport Psychology Registry. In addition to serving on numerous journal editorial review boards, Vealey is a past editor of The Sport Psychologist. In 2011, Vealey was named to the Marshall University Athletic Hall of Fame after a stellar playing career in women's basketball. Vealey went on to serve as a collegiate volleyball and women's basketball coach and an athletics administrator. She currently enjoys playing golf and continues to remain active in various sports as a sport psychology consultant for youth athletes and teams.

Part I. Foundational Skills for Coaches Chapter 1. Developing Your Coaching Philosophy Why Philosophy? Examples of Coaching Philosophies in Practice Developing Your Coaching Philosophy Wrap-Up Chapter 2. Determining Your Coaching Objectives Three Major Objectives of Coaching Athletes First, Winning Second Your Personal Reasons for Coaching Wrap-Up Chapter 3. Providing Effective Leadership The Powerful Influence of Coaches Coaching Styles Leadership Strategies for Coaches Leadership Is a Skill You Can Develop Coaching Code of Ethics Wrap-Up Chapter 4. Coaching Diverse Athletes Maturational Differences in Young Athletes Cultural Competence Gender Considerations in Coaching Understanding Sexual Orientation Race and Ethnicity in Youth Sport Disability and Youth Sport Mental Health in Athletes Preventing Sexual Harassment and Abuse in Youth Sport Wrap-Up Part II. Understanding and Managing Athletes' Behavior Chapter 5. Communicating With Your Athletes Communication as a Complex Process Evaluating Your Communication Skills Developing Your Communication Skills Coaching and Social Media Wrap-Up Chapter 6. Motivating Your Athletes Basics of Motivation Need for Fun and Stimulation Need for Acceptance and Belonging Need to Feel Competent Need for Autonomy From Motivation to Anxiety and Burnout Is It Wise to Specialize? Wrap-Up Chapter 7. Using Discipline and Rewards With Athletes A Positive Discipline Approach Preventive Discipline Corrective Discipline Using Rewards Effectively Wrap-Up Chapter 8. Coaching for Character What Character and Sportsmanship Mean Why Is Character Development an Important Coaching Objective? How to Teach Character and Sportsmanship Wrap-Up Part III. Being a Great Teacher Chapter 9. The Games Approach Technical and Tactical Skills Traditional Approach Essence of the Games Approach Evaluating the Games Approach Wrap-Up Chapter 10. Teaching Technical Skills Learning Technical Skills Three Stages of Learning Teaching Technical Skills Wrap-Up Chapter 11. Teaching Tactical Skills Tactics and Tactical Skills Reading the Situation Tactical Knowledge Decision-Making Skills Teaching Tactical Skills Wrap-Up Chapter 12. Planning for Teaching Benefits of Planning Step 1: Identify the Skills Your Athletes Need Step 2: Know Your Athletes Step 3: Analyze Your Situation Step 4: Establish Priorities Step 5: Plan Practices Wrap-Up Part IV. Physical Training and Nutrition Chapter 13. Training Basics Fitness for Sport and Physical Training Coach's Role in Physical Training Training Principles Wrap-Up Chapter 14. Energy Fitness Training Energy and Energy Fitness Physiology of Energy Systems Energy Demands of Your Sport Measuring Energy Fitness Designing an Energy Fitness Training Program Wrap-Up Chapter 15. Muscular Fitness Training Muscular Fitness Defined How Muscles Work Training for Muscular Fitness Muscular Demands of Your Sport Testing Muscular Fitness Designing a Muscular Fitness Program Wrap-Up Chapter 16. Fueling Your Athletes Coach's Role Six Basic Nutrients The Athlete's Diet Nutrition Supplements Hydration When and What to Eat Wrap-Up Chapter 17. Drugs in Sport Drugs 101 Your Role in Education and Prevention When Athletes Have a Drug Problem Wrap-Up Part V. Management Skills for Coaches Chapter 18. Managing Your Team Coaches' Management Responsibilities Policy Manager Information Manager Personnel Manager Instructional Manager Event and Competition Manager Logistics Manager Financial Manager Wrap-Up Chapter 19. Managing Relationships Interpersonal Skills Special Relationships Fellow Coaches Administrators Support Staff Officials Parents and Guardians Media Wrap-Up Chapter 20. Managing Risk The Legal System Risk Management Process Immunity Coaches' Legal Duties Other Duties Waivers and Participation Agreements Insurance Wrap-Up Epilogue