Code#
BV041

Australian Sports Commission
2nd Edition
Copyright 2001
264 pg Paperback

ISBN: 0736041133

Better Coaching provides updated information on the sport sciences, including anatomy, physiology, psychology, biomechanics, and skill acquisition, which are vital for coaches in a range of sports. It features practical guidelines to develop athletes’ endurance, speed, strength, power, and flexibility, and also uses of a range of case studies, examples and anecdotes to de-mystify some of the more technical sports science information. Coaching tips at the end of each chapter summarize key messages from each chapter.

This edition also has a greater emphasis on the management, planning and interpersonal skills required of the modern coach. New chapters on risk management, resource management, and coaching methods are important additions to this manual, and emphasize the broad role of the coach in sport. Excellent new chapters include ‘Working with Teams’, and ‘Adopting a Balanced Approach to Coaching’.

The welfare of the athlete is another important theme emphasized in Better Coaching. The opening chapter, ‘The Role of the Coach’, sets the scene for an athlete-focused approach to coaching. In addition, the chapters on ‘Coaching Athletes as Individuals’, ‘Sports Nutrition’, and ‘Medical Considerations in Sport’ provide information and examples on how best to assist their athletes with the range of issues they may face.

Better Coaching combines the application of training principles and methods with the people skills required to succeed as a coach. The text encourages a balanced approach to training, recovery, competition and life, and illustrates how best to enhance fitness, technique, mental skills and nutrition to minimize injury and illness. In addition, contemporary-coaching issues, such as legal, ethical and behavioral issues, drugs in sport, and information technology developments are addressed.

Table of Contents
The Coach
Chapter 1 Roles and Responsibilities of the Coach by Gene Schembri
Chapter 2 Coaching Methods by Brian Douge
Chapter 3 The Coach as a Resource Manager by Craig Davies
Chapter 4 Risk Management for Coaches by Deborah Healey

The Athlete
Chapter 5 Functional Anatomy by Julie Steele & Deidre McGhee
Chapter 6 Physiology and Sports Performance by Alan Roberts
Chapter 7 Testing the Athlete by David Pyne
Chapter 8 Coaching Athletes as Individuals by Geraldine Naughton

Preparing the Athlete
Chapter 9 Principles of Training by Frank Pyke
Chapter 10 Endurance Training by Richard Telford
Chapter 11 Speed, Strength and Power Training by Warren Young
Chapter 12 Flexibility Training by Victor Popov
Chapter 13 Performance Psychology by Sandy Gordon
Chapter 14 Acquisition of Skill by Bruce Abernethy
Chapter 15 Biomechanics of Sport by Bruce Elliott
Chapter 16 Sports Nutrition by Karen Inge
Chapter 17 Medical Considerations in Sport by Arjun Rao and the Australian Sports Drug Agency

Integrating the Program
Chapter 18 An Integrated Approach to Planning by Peter Spence
Chapter 19 Working with Teams by Jill McIntosh
Chapter 20 Adopting a Balanced Approach by Deidre Anderson