One common trait of successful coaches is a strong desire to continue educating themselves. No one embodies that more than Terry Liskevych, the former U.S. Olympic coach and co-founder of The Art of Coaching Volleyball.
Liskevych is particularly fond of book-reading as a primary learning tool.
“Book reading broadens your horizons,” he says. “It gives you a perspective of what other people think and do.”
Knowing that you probably have a little more time to read while riding out the COVID-19 pandemic, Liskevych has put together a list of his favorite books as well links to resources he finds useful for coaches at all levels.
Coaching Book List | Coaching Resource List
Let’s start with his reading list:
COACHING BOOKS
The Inner Game of Tennis by W. Timothy Gallwey
A classic that explores how people can reach peak performance by developing confidence and getting to know their inner-selves.
Training Soccer Champions by Anson Dorrance
With 21 NCAA women’s soccer championships at the University of North Carolina as well as a championship at the Women’s World Cup in 1991, Dorrance knows a lot about winning. He talks about teaching competitiveness, focus and getting the most out of female athletes.
Successful Coaching (Fourth Edition) by Rainer Martens
The best-selling coaching textbook in the U.S. Martens, a renowned sports psychologist, covers everything beginning coaches need to know, from biomechanics to practice organization to teaching fundamentals.
Play Practice by Alan Launder
The longtime coach and physical educator from Australia drills down on how to teach athletes to improve their skills on their own, both technically and tactically. This will open your eyes to new ways of coaching.
Coaching Better Every Season by Wade Gilbert
A deep dive into methods for making your athletes the best they can be in a year-round program. Gilbert, a psychologist, talks about how to build on your strengths, avoiding burnout and defining core values.
CULTURE BOOKS
Legacy by James Kerr
An inspiring look at the All Blacks, a rugby team from New Zealand that has won 87 percent of its matches over the past 100 years. This book addresses leadership, culture and how to take action toward fulfilling goals.
The Team Captain’s Culture Manual by Jeff Janssen
A great read for anyone, whether you’re a coach, business manager or entrepreneur. This book focuses on different aspects needed to establish a winning culture.
GENERAL BOOKS
Sapiens by Yuval Noah Harari
A challenging but extremely thought-provoking read. Maps out the history of humankind, from Neanderthal to 21st century technology.
Machine Platform Crowd by Andrew McAfee and Erik Brynjolfsson
An up-close look at the evolution of technology since the Industrial Revolution and a projection of where we could be headed in the remainder of the 21st century.
The Third Wave by Steve Case
Written by the founder of AOL, this book homes in on technology in the internet age and offers valuable insights into what we will need to know going forward.
Range by David Epstein
Looking at a broad spectrum of pursuits, Epstein makes the case that people who have had a wide variety of experiences and possess a lot of general knowledge are better off than specialists who have been focused on a single endeavor from an early age.
