Team Chemistry: 30 Elements for Coaches to Foster Cohesion, Strengthen Communication Skills, and Create a Healthy Sport Culture

by André Lachance, Jean François Ménard

What is different about teams that are consistent winners, those teams that always seem to bring their A-game when the stakes are highest? A positive team culture is likely the answer. We've all seen it happen: the team that looks great on paper, or has a league-leading regular season, but can't pull out the wins or give their top performance when everything is on the line. As coaches and sport leaders what can we do to ensure that we maximize the potential of our athletes and teams so they are successful and continue to enjoy sport? How do we ensure that we coach in a way that benefits the team and remains respectful of the individual? In their first book together, André Lachance and Jean François Ménard offer tangible and practical strategies to help sport leaders create efficient group dynamics, build team culture, and help a group of athletes to gel. Using the periodic table of elements to organize concepts into a modular framework, the authors have created a powerful new resource for coaches in every sport. Building successful teams is not as simple as picking the best players: there are specific methods that coaches and leaders use to make their messages stick and to bring out the best in everyone within a group. Consistently, the healthiest team cultures have a huge impact on performance. That is the power of Team Chemistry.

280 pages, Paperback

Published April 19, 2022

Reviews

[Juliet Lockwood · Rating 4 out of 5]

“Team Chemistry” looks at the ways that sports coaches can create healthier sports cultures through communication, cohesion, and positive outlooks. Written by two Canadian coaching powerhouses, “Team Chemistry” breaks down the effect that team culture can have on performance.

What I loved about this book was how accessible it was. I am not (and have never been) an elite athlete or coach, but everything in this still resonated with me. More than just “how to excel at athletics”, “Team Culture” really dives into how to excel at life, starting with your own mentality and communication skills.

The stories encompassed in the pages were such an intriguing dive into the world of professional and Olympic sport. Lachance and Ménard wove great visual detail into their accounts and experiences. Mixing personal stories with their advice and teachings made this a super easy and digestible read.

This book has even gotten my “anti-book” fiancé to read! He was a D1 collegiate athlete and is now a strength and conditioning coach for elite athletes — so this is obviously right up his alley. He has always preached the importance of having the right mental state when approaching challenges, and this book really echoes that

I would recommend this book for anyone looking to understand the role mentality plays on personal excellence — within the sports world and without!

Thank you to ECW Press for sending me an advanced reading copy in exchange for my honest review!

[Cristina Elena | LaaA · Rating 4 out of 5]

“Team Chemistry” is a great book for anyone working or volunteering in sports, no matter the proficiency level! The audiobook is split into 36 sections and, besides being fairly easy to listen to, it also covers a wide variety of topics which are useful to know for any coach: how to address the team members during a crisis, how to keep morale up when the odds seem against your team, and most importantly, it focuses on a set of rules and best practices that coaches should adopt if they are to succeed in their activity.

Special thanks to NetGalley, ECW Press Audio, and the editorial team for giving me the opportunity to review the ARC in audiobook format and to you, my reader, for taking the time to read this honest personal book review.

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#LifeLongLearning #TeamChemistry #NetGalley

[Luigi Sorbara · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great resource for coaches. Plenty of thought provoking situations that will make you re-evaluate how you deal with your athletes.

[mar · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great for coaches, but also athletes

[Deezil Howell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Breaks down complicated dynamics of a Coach/Player relationship into layman's terms. Helps with seeing these dynamics in everyday situations as well, not just in a coaching scenario.