The measure of a great coach is bringing the best out of athletes. This is the first guide to motivational interviewing (MI)--the proven approach to harnessing the power of conversations to build relationships and trust--for coaches, sport psychologists, training and rehabilitation specialists, and other affiliated staff. Revealing why conventional ways of giving feedback and addressing conflict are often counterproductive, the book presents tried-and-tested methods for getting through to athletes and helping them to thrive. Leading sport psychologists and MI experts--including MI cofounder Stephen Rollnick--provide effective strategies to fire up motivation, promote ownership of personal goals, address problem behavior on and off the field, enhance performance, and improve teamwork. Included are step-by-step examples and inspiring stories from coaches at all levels. Purchasers get access to a Web page where they can download and print the book's reproducible quick-reference sheets on key MI skills.
This book is in the Applications of Motivational Interviewing series, edited by Stephen Rollnick, William R. Miller, and Theresa B. Moyers.
"The information age offers endless possibilities that can help teams and organizations succeed. But we can never forget the importance of connecting as people and building a winning culture of communication, trust, and teamwork. I appreciate the insights of Coaching Athletes to Be Their Best, and its focus on the motivational power of a common purpose.--Hall of Famer Joe Torre, four-time World Series champion manager of the New York Yankees and MLBs Chief Baseball Officer "This book provides a brilliant approach to relationship coaching that will resonate with coaches and today's generation of athletes, allowing both to reach new levels of performance and quality of experience."--Kathy Delaney-Smith, all-time winningest Ivy League basketball coach, Women's Basketball, Harvard University To help athletes reach their potential, I try to understand their personalities, see what makes them tick, and ultimately find their drivers. Using MI would definitely help this process. Anyone who aspires to be as good a coach as he or she can possibly be should read this book.--Matthew Maynard, MBE, Head Coach, Glamorgan County Cricket Club, United Kingdom "I know where I will be heading the next time I am struggling to make that initial key communication breakthrough with a player! If you wish to build quicker relationships with your athletes, and deliver those vital corrections without causing resistance, buy this book!"--Matt Wells, First Team Coach, Fulham Football Club, United Kingdom "This book provides insight and instruction on how to use MI to help my athletes determine their own course of action and become the performers they want to be."--Matt Rhule, Head Coach, Carolina Panthers "MI can enable coaches and psychologists to unlock the solutions that lie just beneath the surface of everyday challenges. I highly recommend this book."--Michael Gervais, PhD, sport psychologist; cofounder, Compete to Create "Read this book and read it again. Fill it with notes in the margins and use it as a guide for 'being your best' as a coach. Your athletes will thank you for it!"--Steve Rainbolt, Director of Track and Field and Cross Country, Wichita State University "The ideas, skills, and strategies presented in this book are so applicable in everyday life that it would be easy to underestimate their transformative power. The book is a treasure trove.Essential reading for coaches, senior leaders, and executives in sport."--James Vaughan, MPhil, Head of Football and Coaching Psychology, AIK Football Club, Sweden; cofounder, Player Development Project "Having spent 15 years as a college soccer coach, I can only imagine the type of coach I could have been had I known about MI--and used it.--Ben Freakley, MS, Head of Mental Performance, Toronto Blue Jays-
