The Coach's Guide to Teaching

by Doug Lemov

The mark of a great coach is a constant desire to learn and grow. A hunger to use whatever can make them better.

The best-selling author of Teach Like a Champion and Reading Reconsidered brings his considerable knowledge about the science of classroom teaching to the sports coaching world to create championship caliber coaches on the court and field. What great classroom teachers do is relevant to coaches in profound ways. After all, coaches are at their core teachers.

Lemov knows that coaches face many of the same challenges found in the classroom, so the science of learning applies equally to them. Unfortunately, coaches and organizations have a mixed level of understanding of the research and study of the science of learning. Sometimes coaches and organizations build their teaching on myths and platitudes more than science. Sometime there isn't any science applied at all.

While there are thousands of books and websites a coach can consult to better understand technical and tactical aspects of the game, there is nothing for a coach to consult that explicitly examines the teaching problems on the field, the court, the rink, and the diamond. Until now.

Intended to offer lessons and guidance that are applicable to coaches of any sporting endeavor including everyone from parent volunteers to professional coaches and private trainers, Lemov brings the powerful science of learning to the arena of sports coaching to create the next generation of championship caliber coaches.

Genres: Teaching, Soccer, Nonfiction, Education, Sports

474 pages, Kindle Edition

Published December 7, 2020

About the author

Doug Lemov is an American educator and author. He is currently Managing Director of Uncommon Schools, a non-profit charter management organisation that manages 42 charter schools across New York, New Jersey and Boston.

Reviews

[Skyler Bell]

Regardless of what sport you coach, this is a must read. If you enjoy learning theory, or if you just want to get better at helping your athletes get better, Lemov provides practical insight on how to sharpen your behavior to create a powerful learning environment.

As a soccer coach, this book is clear and direct in its examples, since many of them come from my sport of choice, but the application is accessible and relatable across disciplines.

It’s not a fast read. I always labor more with books that have fewer and longer chapters, but I took more notes on chapters 1 and 2 than I did in my last 10 coaching books combined.

5 stars

[Stephen Laird]

I really enjoyed reading this book in preparation for the 2024 soccer season. My main takeaway from it is how neatly many concepts I learned and practiced as a flight instructor translate onto coaching sports. Lots of good info here for developing a team.

[Ryan McTernan]

Simply a phenomenal book. It covers everything that coach education books miss, and ties together so much of what can help develop wonderful, teaching coaches. Please buy this book now.

Highly recommended to listen to Dan Abraham’s Sports Psychology podcast interview with Doug, it helps prime your brain for what you encounter in the book. Simply fantastic.

[Brendan M Lawler]

Must read for coaches

Great depth of detail on many different coaching topics and specifics for how to implement the details. Your coaching experience doesn’t matter. This book applies to all of us.

[Rob Newson]

Excellent book!

I read this from several perspectives - (1) leadership and (2) learning and development The book is about coaches teaching but there are so many leadership lessons - it’s gold. It also applies to organizational L&D beyond the pitch, court and field. So insightful

[Philip Phillipou]

One of the best books Ive read in recent years. Excellently set out, with great up to date research in teaching.

I think this will be a big go to for coaches for many years.

[Tom]

Incredible book. It has transformed my approach to coaching and reminded me of key aspects to improve my teaching. I would strongly recommend it to any teachers or coaches.

[Drew Adams]

Required Reading for All coaches

I wish I could go back and give this book to my younger self… would’ve saved me from a whole lot of mistakes. Cannot recommend this book more!

[Graeme Brodie]

A classic

This is such a fantastic book, and a must read for any coach, whether aspiring, novice or expert. It's a long read, but don't let that put you off, you'll get so much out of this in terms of how the players you coach learn and how you can supercharge that learning. The book also raised loads of points that caused me to reflect on how I coach, and some things I can really improve upon. Looking forward to trying to apply some of this in my own coaching.

[Andy George]

Very informative and easily digestible to read

My main take away from this book was whilst reading it was..…..
A lot of it is obvious SO WHY am I not doing it!!

A small amount was a refresher and a reminder that I used to do some of the things mentioned but there was a lot more that I can now implement and add to going forward

[Stephanie]

SO SO GOOD. Lots of great information and ideas on how to implement them and the why you should implement them.

[Pete Wung]

A stellar book. A must read for all serious coaches.
Please follow the link to my blog.

https://polymathtobe.blogspot.com/202...

[Justin]

It's an essential read, one of the most remarkable books I've read in some time. It should be part of every coach's library, and I imagine I'll reference it again and again.

[Ryan]

A book filled with practical applications and thought provoking ideas that really helped me to become a better coach and teacher. Should be read in undergrad program’s nationwide.

[Olubunmi Adewumi]

Worth reading a second time.

[Chelsea Williams]

A bit of a slog and an overwhelming amount of information. But so useful.

[John Kotwick]

Only a recommendation to anyone interested in the overlap of coaching and teaching, but if you are… five stars.

[Dan]

Great tips to help a coach think through the process of teaching. It describes how learning is most impactful and gives coaches ideas to help make the most impact on their team(s).