Times have changed in the coaching profession. In today’s world of sport, players must deal with complex issues. Athletes are now more apt to fight for what they deserve than they were in the Vince Lombardi or John Wooden eras. That makes your role as the coach tougher than ever. Not only must you teach athletes the skills, strategies, and discipline to help them succeed; you also are expected to guide, encourage, respect, and inspire athletes. Creative Coaching is a strategic handbook for addressing the challenges of coaching modern athletes and maximizing their sport performance. Written by one of this country’s top coaching consultants, the book presents innovative approaches with proven payoffs. What sets author Jerry Lynch’s coaching method apart is his unique, collective approach. You will learn to teach, guide, and motivate in a reciprocal relationship with athletes. Respect and authority are earned not through a title or through disciplinary measures but through a clear vision and effective communication that prompts athletes to exert maximum effort toward their goals and develop their own decision-making skills—all of which have a direct performance payoff.

Coaching for Character provides coaches with a valuable tool to help them understand the basic principles of sportsmanship, the justification of these principles, and how to teach their players to understand and apply them. By applying the understanding of sportsmanship explained in the book, coaches will create more disciplined and coachable individual athletes and teams. And, more important, they will help young athletes develop the character and perspective that will serve them well throughout their lives. Coaches’ responsibilities as models and educators are brought to life through real situations that confront them on and off the field. The authors provide numerous questions that help readers to become more reflective about sport. The book also urges coaches and athletes to strive for a healthy balance between the playful side of sport and the seriousness of competition. By using Coaching for Character’s special suggestions for teaching sportsmanship, coaches will find new ways to reach their athletes—without preaching or sacrificing practice time that could be spent on developing the physical skills, conditioning, and mental strategies that are also essential to athletic success.