Coaching Athletes to Be Their Best: Motivational Interviewing in Sports

The measure of a great coach is bringing the best out of athletes. This is the first guide to motivational interviewing (MI)–the proven approach to harnessing the power of conversations to build relationships and trust–for coaches, sport psychologists, training and rehabilitation specialists, and other affiliated staff. Revealing why conventional ways of giving feedback and addressing conflict are often counterproductive, the book presents tried-and-tested methods for getting through to athletes and helping them to thrive. Leading sport psychologists and MI experts–including MI cofounder Stephen Rollnick–provide effective strategies to fire up motivation, promote ownership of personal goals, address problem behavior on and off the field, enhance performance, and improve teamwork. Included are step-by-step examples and inspiring stories from coaches at all levels. Purchasers get access to a Web page where they can download and print the book’s reproducible quick-reference sheets on key MI skills.

This book is in the Applications of Motivational Interviewing series, edited by Stephen Rollnick, William R. Miller, and Theresa B. Moyers.