Better Coaching, Advanced Coach's Manual

Better Coaching provides updated information on the sport sciences, including anatomy, physiology, psychology, biomechanics, and skill acquisition, which are vital for coaches in a range of sports. It features practical guidelines to develop athletes' endurance, speed, strength, power, and flexibility, and also uses of a range of case studies, examples and anecdotes to de-mystify some of the more technical sports science information. Coaching tips at the end of each chapter summarize key messages from each chapter.

This edition also has a greater emphasis on the management, planning and interpersonal skills required of the modern coach. New chapters on risk management, resource management, and coaching methods are important additions to this manual, and emphasize the broad role of the coach in sport. Excellent new chapters include ‘Working with Teams', and ‘Adopting a Balanced Approach to Coaching'.

The welfare of the athlete is another important theme emphasized in Better Coaching. The opening chapter, ‘The Role of the Coach', sets the scene for an athlete-focused approach to coaching. In addition, the chapters on ‘Coaching Athletes as Individuals', ‘Sports Nutrition', and ‘Medical Considerations in Sport' provide information and examples on how best to assist their athletes with the range of issues they may face.

Better Coaching combines the application of training principles and methods with the people skills required to succeed as a coach. The text encourages a balanced approach to training, recovery, competition and life, and illustrates how best to enhance fitness, technique, mental skills and nutrition to minimize injury and illness. In addition, contemporary-coaching issues, such as legal, ethical and behavioral issues, drugs in sport, and information technology developments are addressed.