My Top 5 Books Every Sports Coach Should Read 📚

13 minutes ago

2 min read

Whether you coach a local U9s team or work with aspiring county athletes, the best coaches never stop learning. These five books have shaped how I think about coaching and how I try to get the best out of every child I coach. I'd recommend all of them to any coach, parent or young sportsman.

1. Bounce by Matthew Syed

Syed, a former Olympic table tennis player, takes apart the myth that talent is something you're simply born with. Instead he shows how purposeful practice, a growth mindset and resilience create high performers. It's a great reminder for coaches to praise effort and improvement over natural ability. A child may be naturally quick, but do they work hard to get faster?

2. The Legacy by James Kerr

This book looks at the culture behind the All Blacks, one of the most successful teams in sporting history. It's packed with lessons on humility, standards, and leaving the jersey in a better place than you found it. For coaches, it shows that culture is built through daily behaviours, not slogans, and that character matters just as much as skill.

3. Atomic Habits by James Clear

Not a sports book, but arguably one of the most useful for coaches. Clear shows how tiny improvements, repeated consistently, lead to remarkable results. It's perfect for coaches helping young athletes build routines like warming up properly, practicing little and often, and sleeping and eating well. It also teaches us to focus on who an athlete is becoming, not just what they're achieving.

4. Every Moment Matters by John O'Sullivan

O'Sullivan interviewed hundreds of top coaches, sport scientists and athletes, and distilled what he learnt into a practical blueprint. It asks coaches to reflect on why they coach, how it feels to be coached by them, and how they define success. For anyone working with children, it's a brilliant reminder that every interaction, from a pep talk to a passing comment, shapes a young person's confidence and love of sport.

5. Coach Wooden: The 7 Principles That Shaped His Life and Will Change Yours by Pat Williams

John Wooden, the legendary UCLA basketball coach, judged success by effort and character rather than the scoreboard. This book explores the principles he lived by, from preparation and humility to consistency and caring for your players. It's a timeless read that shows you can be hugely successful while staying true to your values.

Final thoughts

What I love about these books is that none of them are just about winning. They're about developing people, building the right environment and helping athletes develop a love for sport!

Have a favourite coaching book of your own? Let us know! And if your child would love a coaching session that puts these ideas into practice, head to our booking page.