What Drives Winning

by Brett Ledbetter

Learn how to achieve more through character development with lessons including: How to separate the person from the player How to distinguish the two types of character How to overcome fear of failure Plus many more! This book is full of real-life examples and time-tested advice from some of the winningest coaches in sports history, as well as a number of easy-to-follow exercises that will help you better understand what will drive winning for yourself and your team. This is a book you'll want to reference again and again!

Genres: Leadership, Sports, Nonfiction, Soccer, Psychology

284 pages, Hardcover

First published June 1, 2015

Reviews

[Steve · Rating 5 out of 5]

Outstanding - character drives everything. How do you separate the player from the person?

Best part was the application ideas as to how to address performance & moral character traits w/ athletes (or people).

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

I just read the latest book in this series, What Drives Winning Environments. Excellent book for coaches.

[Keelin Genelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this coaching book and used some of the exercises with the team I went to Costa Rica with

[lauren lozano · Rating 5 out of 5]

While reading for my Master's in Coaching and Athletic Administration, I was asked to read this book. At first, I thought it was going to be like reading the other two, but this one really stood out to me. It lays out real-life examples and skills to coaches that they can use the same day they read them. If someone wanted to create a culture of excellence and positivity they should really read this book and see what they can use from it. This is something that will stay on my bookshelf for as long as I can coach.

Another really great thing about this book is that I don't know if Ledbetter did this knowingly or not, but classroom teachers could really benefit from this novel as well. A lot of the same skills that can motivate student-athletes can also motivate students in a classroom.

So... teachers? coaches? teacher-coaches? If you're out there. READ THIS BOOK!

[Ayanna Anderson · Rating 3 out of 5]

I like how this book was written as a conversation with multiple real life examples, but the advice is easier said than done. I told my nephew about the two questions most people ask after a game—Did you win? What was the score?—and how I didn’t realize it was or could be negative by focusing only on winning, and he looked at me like Auntie, it is about winning. LOL! Of course I had to give him more content from the book, and he understood but he was like yeah winning is what matters though. So I understand it is definitely a process (as we teach about enjoying the journey) and there are definitely a few tips I look forward to trying with the girls I coach in cheer and the athletes I interact with in the classroom.

[Andy Schmitt · Rating 4 out of 5]

Started this book with a slight view of the author having a big ego so I didn’t put much stock in the writing. However, I left it really enjoying the stories about championship teams finding creative ways to stay engaged, challenge their best players, and get everyone pulling in the same direction. Fun to think about using some of these ideas for your own team/work environment.

[Ann Jacob · Rating 5 out of 5]

The author was the guest speaker at our school district coaches clinic. The district bought each coach a copy of the book. Great book! I think it’s a good read for coaches, teachers, anyone in a leadership position, athletes, anyone on a team. Applicable personally and professionally. An easy read though I read in small parts so I could process the information.

[Christina Marcon · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you have a child that plays competitive sports, this is very insightful. Learned a lot about the psyche and pressure of winning and information created a lot of conversations between my son and I. I feel like I almost know what to say in tough and stressful situations!

[Daniel Thewis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ask your kids coach of they heard of Brett Ledbetter. If not, had them this book
Very applicable tools to implement in any team setting, even classrooms! Even though some tools would be tough to implement without some front loading, the ideas should open some eyes.

[Megan Phelps · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved the premise of separating the person from the player... lots of interesting ideas to implement. The writing was quite repetitive.

[John Elliott · Rating 3 out of 5]

His reframing of goals was really helpful and through-provoking. And I’ll definitely try out some of his personal and team development exercises with the next team I coach.

[Christine Primm · Rating 5 out of 5]

BEST COACHING Book EVER!!

[Adina Johnston · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great read for whoever is a coach or leader!

[Helen Young · Rating 2 out of 5]

Usefulness: 3/10
repetitiveness: 10/10

[Molly Troutman · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was fantastic! I loved all the activities you can pull from the book to use with athletes!

[Mari C. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing book. I’m a coach and this book definitely opened my eyes not only for my players but also for personal growth.

[Abigail Stephenson · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’m going to use this as my volleyball bible.

[Nae · Rating 5 out of 5]

Highly recommended for coaches and players! Awesome book for character skills, team work, & gaining a better understanding of person vs. player.

Currently using this book in a “Peak Performance” class. Practices given throughout the book have engaged students tremendously!

[Stephanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

A book about the psychology of sports. Really breaks down what should be focused on and how to help yourself, team, teammates get there. Highly recommend for coaches and players alike.

[Marklandman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Awesome book. Has lots of good ideas and examples in it. Definitely the right way to be approaching coaching.

[Doug Mart Fischer · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'd give it 3.5 stars if I could. Some really great content and some things I disagreed with, which is only natural in a book. I thought Ledbetter provided some excellent activities and ideas that I will be using with my team. I read "Wooden on Leadership" before this, so the focus on character driving success was reinforced and supported. I especially valued his activities to separate the athlete from the sport (character is who you are, the sport is what you do) and especially the chapters on goals (the "why" behind the goal is more important than the goal itself), positivity, and caring. My main disappointment was that he didn't include more wisdom and ideas from the elite D-1 basketball coaches he interviewed. The snippets he shared with us were gold, however the vast majority of the book is about Ledbetter himself and his academy. Nevertheless, worth the read. It will definitely get you thinking.

[Raymond Amato · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gives me a whole new perspective of being a coach. thoroughly enjoyed what Brett had to say. Any coach or athlete should read this book.