Successful Coaching

Successful Coaching provides sport coaches with the essentials to being an effective coach. Included are key principles for managing a team; developing a coaching philosophy; understanding, communicating with, training, and motivating athletes; teaching sport skills; and minimizing risk.



Successful Coaching has helped more than a million coaches—aspiring, new, and seasoned coaches alike—develop and expand their knowledge of coaching to provide the best, most fulfilling sport experience for their athletes. In the revised fifth edition, author and sport psychologist Rainer Martens is joined by coauthor Robin Vealey, longtime professor of sport psychology at Miami University (Ohio). Together they bring to the text their knowledge and proficiency, gleaned from decades of personal experiences as coaches, athletes, and educators.

Successful Coaching will help you think critically about your approach to coaching and develop the skills and wisdom to fulfill your many responsibilities as coach:

• Identify your coaching philosophy and coaching objectives
• Build relationships with players and staff and promote teamwork
• Nurture positive decision making and sportsmanship to develop more mature individuals
• Coach athletes of diverse backgrounds, characteristics, interests, and abilities
• Teach and practice sport skills and strategies using the games approach
• Train, condition, and fuel athletes using sound principles and methods
• Organize and guide your team and sport program
• Manage relationships with administrators, officials, parents, and media
• Minimize risk and meet your legal duties as a coach

The fifth edition of Successful Coaching has been carefully revised in accordance with recommendations of the National Standards for Sport Coaches. Updates and additions include the latest scientific research in physical training and nutrition, plus best practices, guidelines, and insights from successful coaches addressing today’s foremost topics of concern:

• Mental health issues, including depression, anxiety, and disordered eating
• Race, ethnicity, and sexual orientation in youth sport
• Sexual harassment and abuse
• Motivation, corrective discipline, and burnout
• Alcohol consumption, drug use, and vaping

Chapters are punctuated with supplemental content to underscore key concepts. Current insights, innovations, and quotes from recognized coaches demonstrate how to overcome common and challenging coaching situations. Coaching Yourself sidebars and end-of-chapter Questions for Reflection challenge you to think critically about your own coaching style and how to apply key principles in real coaching situations. Sample coaching forms that can be modified for personal use are provided online.

Written by coaches for coaches, Successful Coaching is a practical, readable, and useful resource that you’ll refer to throughout the season and cherish more than your playbook.

Successful Coaching is the text for Human Kinetics’ Coaching Principles course. Coaching Principles is recognized by numerous state high school and athletic directors’ associations, school districts, national governing bodies, and other sport organizations as meeting coaching education and certification requirements. In addition, hundreds of colleges and universities have adopted Coaching Principles for graduate and undergraduate coaching programs.

Note: A code for accessing HK Propel is included with all print books.