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Chasing Perfection: The Principles Behind Winning Football the De La Salle Way
A coaching legend shares techniques, philosophies, and team-building exercises applicable beyond the playing field
In 1979, when Bob Ladouceur took over the head football coaching job at De La Salle high school, the program had never once had a winning season. By the time he stepped down in 2013 and after posting an unprecedented 399–25–3 record, De La Salle was regarded as one of the great dynasties in the history of high school football. In When the Game Stands Tall: Coaches’ Playbook, Ladouceur shares, for the first time, the coaching philosophies he employed at De La Salle. Far more than a book on the Xs and Os of football, this resource focuses on how Ladouceur created a culture based on accountability, work ethic, humility, and commitment that made his teams greater than the sum of their parts. This book not only include details on the nuances of the game and the techniques that made the Spartans the most celebrated high school football team in history, it also has chapters on creating what Ladouceur calls an “authentic team experience,” which include lessons as valuable in a board room as in a locker room.
In 1979, when Bob Ladouceur took over the head football coaching job at De La Salle high school, the program had never once had a winning season. By the time he stepped down in 2013 and after posting an unprecedented 399–25–3 record, De La Salle was regarded as one of the great dynasties in the history of high school football. In When the Game Stands Tall: Coaches’ Playbook, Ladouceur shares, for the first time, the coaching philosophies he employed at De La Salle. Far more than a book on the Xs and Os of football, this resource focuses on how Ladouceur created a culture based on accountability, work ethic, humility, and commitment that made his teams greater than the sum of their parts. This book not only include details on the nuances of the game and the techniques that made the Spartans the most celebrated high school football team in history, it also has chapters on creating what Ladouceur calls an “authentic team experience,” which include lessons as valuable in a board room as in a locker room.
- GenresFootball
240 pages, Hardcover
First published October 1, 2015
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36 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
July 3, 2018
Today’s book review is for “Chasing Perfection” written by Bob Ladouceur with Neil Hayes. The book is about coaching American Football at the high school level. Ladouceur was the head coach of the varsity football team at De La Salle High School here in Concord, California. His teams are the owners of the all-time longest winning streak in high school history (151 wins between 1992 and 2004). To put that into some perspective, the next longest streak is 109 games!
There are lots of different types of sports books. There are coach and player biographies. There are league and team histories. There are greatest games, greatest championships and greatest dynasties. My favorites are those which discuss – in depth – schemes and techniques (in any sport). I enjoy them because you get a chance to learn the why’s and how’s of the game which then allows you to see and understand why something is working as it is happening on the field (or court). As such a book, this is perhaps the best book I have ever read about football – specifically, football techniques.
This is not really an “X’s” and “O’s” play diagram type of book. It IS a “we want the tackle to have his inside foot here, his outside foot there, four to six inches back and heel no more than one inch off the ground, with this much weight on one hand” book. That, literally, is the detail provided in the explanations in this book. And, I love it!!
I haven’t been this excited about reading a football book — WHILE reading the football book — since I was in high school and just learning how to play. Back then, I read a book on defensive football written by Dick Butkus and another book with chapters on various players and I was completely enthralled by Raymond Berry at wide receiver. Berry is NFL Films #36 greatest players of all time and Butkus is, well, Butkus. I learned more from that book and that chapter than I have from a host of other books I’ve read about the sport of football – at every level. And this book is as good as if not better than both of those.
Every part of organizing and building a team is covered: offense, defense, special teams, nutrition, weight training, scouting opponents, game planning. You name it. It’s here. Now, realistically, is it encyclopedic? No. But, then it’s less than 300 pages. If you want a book with “X’s” and “O’s”, this isn’t the book. But you can find dozens of those which still won’t add up to what you’ll learn from the reading (and re-reading) of this book.
Final recommendation: VERY highly recommended. Not only did this book explain things I didn’t know about, it also explained the reasons why some things I used to do instinctively actually worked. This book is so good, I would recommend it to anyone who wants to coach any sport at any level. It is that good…
There are lots of different types of sports books. There are coach and player biographies. There are league and team histories. There are greatest games, greatest championships and greatest dynasties. My favorites are those which discuss – in depth – schemes and techniques (in any sport). I enjoy them because you get a chance to learn the why’s and how’s of the game which then allows you to see and understand why something is working as it is happening on the field (or court). As such a book, this is perhaps the best book I have ever read about football – specifically, football techniques.
This is not really an “X’s” and “O’s” play diagram type of book. It IS a “we want the tackle to have his inside foot here, his outside foot there, four to six inches back and heel no more than one inch off the ground, with this much weight on one hand” book. That, literally, is the detail provided in the explanations in this book. And, I love it!!
I haven’t been this excited about reading a football book — WHILE reading the football book — since I was in high school and just learning how to play. Back then, I read a book on defensive football written by Dick Butkus and another book with chapters on various players and I was completely enthralled by Raymond Berry at wide receiver. Berry is NFL Films #36 greatest players of all time and Butkus is, well, Butkus. I learned more from that book and that chapter than I have from a host of other books I’ve read about the sport of football – at every level. And this book is as good as if not better than both of those.
Every part of organizing and building a team is covered: offense, defense, special teams, nutrition, weight training, scouting opponents, game planning. You name it. It’s here. Now, realistically, is it encyclopedic? No. But, then it’s less than 300 pages. If you want a book with “X’s” and “O’s”, this isn’t the book. But you can find dozens of those which still won’t add up to what you’ll learn from the reading (and re-reading) of this book.
Final recommendation: VERY highly recommended. Not only did this book explain things I didn’t know about, it also explained the reasons why some things I used to do instinctively actually worked. This book is so good, I would recommend it to anyone who wants to coach any sport at any level. It is that good…
March 31, 2021
I can’t say enough good things about Coach Ladoceur and Neil Hayes. I appreciate Coach being opening about his methodologies, for building successful young men, and subsequently successful football programs. High moral character that the game needs. Thanks for writing. Highly recommend.
March 7, 2016
I read select portions (seeing as I'm not into football), but I loved this book. The movie is one of my favorites and Bob Ladouceur teaches things that are applicable to any sport and to life. I got pages of notes to hopefully influence my baseball program that I dream of starting. Whether you like or get football, if you like sports and want to be involved in coaching or running a team at any level, I'd recommend this book. Some parts are only applicable to football, but there is a lot - especially in the first two chapters - that are for anyone.
December 17, 2015
A great book by the coach from When the game Stands Tall.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews