The Politics of Coaching

24Feb

The Politics of Coaching – Book Recommendation

As coaches, players, and generally as people, we should always be looking to improve in one way or another. Continual growth and lifelong learning are impactful characteristics that shape a prosperous future. By improving ourselves, we can positively impact our surroundings on a greater scale.

At Nebraska Soccer Talk, we have many objectives. We are here to promote players and coaches that participate in the game we love. As the season gets underway, NEST is also going to be covering as many games as humanly possible with a three person operation. However, we have a more overarching goal of forming an uplifting and supportive soccer community. We plan to do that in many different ways with the assistance of our readers.

In the world we live in, there are countless resources at our disposal. Some are worth the time and effort, others simply are not. Sorting through those resources can be confusing, as well as time consuming. This article series is meant to make your growth process simple, enjoyable, and organized. Many of these resources are valuable, regardless of your level or role. Youth, high school, club, college, and pro coaches can benefit from these resources. Players, especially team leaders, can learn many valuable lessons. Finally, these items would be great for any parent looking to be more prepared for their child’s development.

As a young coach and director, I spent countless hours searching and researching the internet for material. Throughout that process, I came across wonderful books, articles, and videos that have impacted me. These resources cover a myriad of topics, including game tactics, data analysis, roster construction, team bonding, program pillars, leadership, and so much more. Through Nebraska Soccer Talk, I wanted to share the resources that have helped me grow as a person and coach.

by Carl J. Pierson

NEST Review – Coaching can be a wonderful experience, regardless of the sport. For many of us, that sense of impact-fulness is the reason why we chose to get involved. However, longevity in the coaching career path does not happen by chance or luck. Those that prosper are expert communicators, personal managers, organizers, and life coaches. Fulfilling all of those roles can be overwhelming for many. If handled improperly, burn-out or a pink slip is a real possibility. Carl Pierson provides you with a full-scale guide to the coaching lifestyle. Even the smallest of details matter when you’re the program leader; this book helps you with those topics.

Table of Contents

Chapter 1: The Campaign

Throwing Your Hat In The Ring
It’s Who You Know, Not What You Know
It Never Hurts To Apply
The Interview
The Underdog
Know Your Strengths
Never Use Negative Campaigning Publicly
Running Against An Incumbent

Chapter 2: Director of Communications

The State Of The Program Speech
Individual Player Meetings
Open Door vs. Call and Click Policy
The Magic of E-Mail
The Danger of E-Mail
The Power of Old Fashioned Mail
Controlling the Message
The New Enemy: Online Fan Forums
New Forms of Communication
The Coach’s Lifeline
Crazy Parents: Label Them Before They Label You
Political Correctness: The Power of Words

Chapter 3: Public Relations

Media Relations
The Best Public Relations Move You Will Ever Make
The Other Best Public Relations Move You Will Ever Make
Know Your Constituents
The Expectations Game: Control Them Before They Control You
Dealing With Public Confrontations

Chapter 4: Special Interest Groups

The Powerful Parent
When the Powerful Parent is Your Boss
Fundraising and Donations
Parent Donations
Accepting Help From Parents
Booster Clubs
Control of Activity Accounts
The Allies Every Coach Must Have

Chapter 5: Confronting A “Cancer” in Your Program

Diagnosing Cancer
Player Cancer
Parent Cancer
Assistant Coach Cancer

Chapter 6: The Politics of Youth Sports

Coaching Your Own Kid
Youth Tryouts
Every Parent Has An Agenda
Convincing Youth Coaches to Integrate Your System
Sell Your System, Don’t Mandate It
When Selling Doesn’t Work
Beware The Parent That Won The 6th Grade Championship
The Residual Effect of Youth Sports Boards

Chapter 7: Learning From and Dealing With Coaches

Trophies as Critic Repellent
The Softer Side
Old Fashioned Political Acumen
Dealing With Coaches in Other Sports
Dealing With Club or Personal Coaches
Dealing With College Coaches

Chapter 8: The Politics of Winning and Losing

How to Handle Winning
Using “We” After a Loss
Beware of Blaming Bad Luck
Shouldering the Blame
Players Win Games

Chapter 9: Surviving Race and Gender Issues

Males Coaching Males
Females Coaching Males
Females Coaching Females
Males Coaching Females
The Politics of Race

Chapter 10: All Politics Is Local

Picking Teams
Seniors: Cut ‘Em or Keep ‘Em?
General Thoughts About Cutting Players
The Politics of Playing Time
Playing Time During a Blowout
Recruiting Players
Selecting Team Captains
My Proudest Moment In Coaching
The Classroom’s Impact on Coaching
The Coaching Crossroads: Recognizing When to Move On, Resign, or Stand and Fight
The Single Smartest Political Move Any Coach Can Make

NEST Rating – ★★★★★

Amazon Rating – ★★★★☆

Goodreads Rating – ★★★★☆

Buy this book on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Ebay or at your local bookstore.

Thank you for reading and being a part of our new community. A like, share, comment or recommendation of content would be greatly appreciated. Feel free to leave book/resource recommendations in the comment section below.

In order to financially support our efforts, sponsorship/partnership opportunities have become available. Sponsors will receive vast exposure to the Nebraska soccer community through different media avenues. The sponsorship process is easy and reasonable.

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Chace Hutchison

The Politics of Coaching – Book Recommendation

The Politics of Coaching – Book Recommendation