As a coach, you can make a real difference. You want your players to enjoy the game and fully develop their talents. Whether you’re a professional coach or a parent unexpectedly standing on the sidelines, you’ll do a much better job when you know what you’re aiming for, and how to get there.

In this book, Mauro van de Looij, an experienced youth coach at top-division clubs in the Netherlands, shares practical insights and scientific research on motivation, talent selection, training, and coaching. He guides you through essential questions like: How important is winning, really? How do you influence your players’ motivation? How can you recognize talent? And what should you say at halftime?

Never before has there been such a comprehensive book to help you define your own coaching vision and style, as a trainer, coach, and leader. Mauro challenges you to build a high-performance culture where the individual always comes first.