Book Information
Valerie Lewis Arbogast and Peggy Kellers
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Coaching for the Inner Edge by Robin S. Vealey
Publisher: Fitness Informational Technology, Morgantown West Virginia,
USA
407 pages ISBN 9781885693594
$59.00 USD
1-800-477-4348 (US ONLY) or 304-293-6888
“Sport arouses passion and competitive intensity within us because
we all have at least briefly experienced ‘being in the zone’
or performing at a level commensurate with our physical and mental potential”
(p. 3). Coaching for the Inner Edge provides coaches with useful information
about sport psychology and enables them to understand athletes’
thoughts, behaviors and emotions during sport participation. This may
create ways for both coaches and athletes to enhance the quality of
their achievements by realising optimal performance, development and
experience.
Coaching for the Inner Edge is organised into four parts and a consistent
format is followed throughout the book. Each of the 16 chapters includes
an overview of the chapter’s objectives and purposes, action photographs,
models and diagrams appropriate for the chapter’s content, applicable
research, Summary Points, a Glossary and Reflective Learning Activities.
The specific content is formatted in such a way that it is easy to follow
and find key points, examples, and quotes.
The first part, Establishing a Solid Foundation, provides detailed
information about the necessary building blocks for success as a coach.
Chapters such as philosophy, motivation, communication and team cohesion
are well-developed, insightful and practical. For a potential coach,
this part would make it easy to understand the necessary components
one must establish before stepping into the profession. The material
does not lock a coach into one approach but allows a person to view
the big picture and decide how each concept fits with his/her style
and personality.
Part II, Mental Training Tool Box, focuses on factors that Vealey feels
assist coaches in getting athletes to be effectively prepared for competition
and success. Tools such as goal setting, imagery, productive thinking
and relaxation are presented. Although some experts would argue that
components such as imagery, for example, are skills rather than tools,
the information is still valuable for effective performance.
In Part III, Mental Skills for Athletes: The Big Three, the author
introduces a unique combination of chapters when she develops attention
skills, managing energy and ways that someone can self-coach. When athletes
can learn these important skills and make them part of their performance
and practice routines, these individuals can make adjustments on their
own without the aid of coaches. Just as with any physical skill, mental
skills can be learned, practiced, improved and implemented for effective
performance in a competitive setting.
Finally, Part IV, Putting It All Together, elaborates on how a coach
can implement the building blocks, tools and skills into his/her coaching
program. Vealey uses the term “recipe” and this section
truly is a set of ingredients not only necessary for success but also
for pitfalls to be aware of and avoided as a coach and in working with
athletes. Burnout, for example, is a piece of the puzzle people in this
profession need to pay attention to. Understanding the factors that
impact burnout is essential for coaches.
Coaching for the Inner Edge has numerous examples and quotes from and
about famous athletes and coaches at various levels, which probably
set this book apart from most. They reflect the author’s commitment
to making the mental aspects of coaching relevant, understandable and
practical. What coach wouldn’t want examples and quotes to draw
upon in instructing and influencing his/her athletes? These are also
very helpful in the classroom as well in highlighting key points with
concrete examples for students preparing to be future coaches.
Vealey seems to make a conscious effort to balance the gender and racial
diversity among examples, quotes and photos throughout her book. With
college athletes, five Caucasian males, five African American males,
19 Caucasian women and four African American women were highlighted.
Among children, Vealey includes photos of young athletes with four Caucasian
boys, three African American boys and one Caucasian girl. Professional
athletes, Olympians and coaches were also included throughout the book
with examples, quotes and photos. Caucasian males topped the list with
32, while nine African American males, nine Caucasian women, three African
American women and one Asian woman were featured.
Throughout Vealey’s Coaching for the Inner Edge, she includes
numerous examples, diagrams and photographs allowing coaches and athletes
to understand the basics of sport psychology. She allows the reader
to focus on the many topics within each part and enables them to draw
useful information from each chapter. Having summaries at the end of
each section refocuses the reader on the important issues of each chapter.
As Socrates said, “The unexamined life is not worth living”
(p.13). This is critical for the Inner Edge. It allows not only coaches
and athletes, but everyone of all ages, genders and races to focus on
what really is important. It brings forth what each individual values.
Coaching for the Inner Edge allows the reader to consider what is important
within the sport world and how one should go about achieving these important
values.
Contact
Peggy Kellers
James Madison University
Harrisonburg, VA.
USA
Email: kellerpx@jmu.edu

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Book Information
Valerie Lewis Arbogast and Peggy Kellers
|