Course Components
The course includes the Successful Coaching ebook, one-year access to the course and its accompanying Coaching Successfully Manual and Coaching Aids (PDF downloads), the 100-question test and automatic test scoring, IHSA by-laws and separate IHSA by-laws test, certificate of course completion printable from the website, and entry in the National Coaches Registry. You will have immediate access to the course upon purchase, and nothing will be shipped to you.

Course Description
Being a successful coach is an enormous challenge. School administrators, parents, athletes, and entire communities all have high expectations of today’s coaches. Good intentions are not enough for success; you need all the knowledge you can get. Most seasoned coaches have learned the skills of coaching through years of trial and error. Coaching Principles helps new coaches shorten that learning process—and reduce the painful errors—by teaching the principles of coaching based on the sport sciences and the wisdom of successful coaches.

Coaching Principles is based on extensive research and best practices featured in the accompanying ebook Successful Coaching, written by renowned sport psychologist Rainer Martens. The 20-unit course challenges coaches to define their coaching philosophy, objectives, and style; enhance communication and motivational skills; become more effective teachers; and improve team, relationship, risk, and self-management skills. Coaching Principles covers the fundamentals of being a successful coach—on and off the field.

The supporting videos total more than 90 minutes and depict scenarios coaches deal with on a daily basis. The video also features roundtable discussions with experienced master coaches who provide practical guidelines and sage advice for new coaches on a variety of topics.

Another feature of the course is the Coaching Successfully Manual. This downloadable, editable document can serve as a foundation for creating a comprehensive guide for the administration of a sport program. In addition to housing documents found in the course, the manual contains real-life examples of team policies, mission statements, coaching philosophies, and other ideas and forms coaches can use as is or modify to suite a specific program’s needs.

Coaching Principles also introduces a number of interactive exercises, including the Developmental Dozen, which are 12 goals that prepare coaches for the demands that they will face in developing athletes. At the conclusion of each course unit, coaches are encouraged to compile notes related to each of the 12 goals associated with the unit.

As coaches progress through the online course, they will be asked to read sections of the Successful Coaching ebook; participate in interactive exercises; watch video and listen to audio clips; refer to and complete a variety of self-assessments, forms, and checklists; and take unit quizzes. The course concludes with a 100-question test. All of these elements combine to make the Coaching Principles course an interactive and engaging learning experience.

A separate component devoted to IHSA by-laws is included with this course. IHSA by-laws are accessible from the IHSA website. A link to the by-laws is provided in the course. A separate IHSA test accompanies this section, which is a requirement of the IHSA coaching education certification. 

Audience

Geared toward Illinois high school coaches, serious club coaches, college and university undergraduate students, and advanced coaches at the youth level (those who coach athletes ages 14 and older), the 20-unit online course covers the fundamentals of being a successful coach—on and off the field.

Unit 1: Developing Your Coaching Philosophy

• Introduction
• Making the Tough Call With Good Decisions
• Goals for Successful Coaching: The Developmental Dozen
• Self-Awareness
• Coaching Roundtable
• Summary
• Quiz

Unit 2: Determining Your Coaching Objectives

• Introduction
• Coaching Objectives Assessment
• Athletes First, Winning Second
• Coaching Roundtable
• Summary
• Quiz

Unit 3: Selecting Your Coaching Style

• Introduction
• The Three Styles
• Refining Your Coaching Philosophy
• Leadership and Vision
• Team Culture and Other Factors
• Coaching Roundtable
• Summary
• Quiz

Unit 4: Coaching for Character

• Introduction
• Principles of Character
• Coaching Roundtable
• Summary
• Quiz

Unit 5: Coaching Diverse Athletes

• Introduction
• Coaching Scenarios
• True Stories
• Are You Crossing the Line With an Athlete?
• Coaching Roundtable
• Summary
• Quiz

Unit 6: Communicating With Your Athletes

• Introduction
• The Six Steps of Communication
• Effective Communication
• Improving Communication Skills
• Coaching Roundtable
• Summary
• Quiz

Unit 7: Motivating Your Athletes

• Introduction
• Having Fun
• Optimal Activation
• Positive Energy
• Enhancing Athletes' Motivation
• Coaching Roundtable
• Summary
• Quiz

Unit 8: Managing Your Athletes' Behavior

• Introduction
• Positive Discipline
• Steps to Prevent the Need for Discipline
• Corrective Discipline
• Team Rules
• Coaching Roundtable
• Summary
• Quiz

Unit 9: The Games Approach

• Introduction
• Which Approach?
• Court Games
• Coaching Roundtable
• Summary
• Quiz

Unit 10: Teaching Technical Skills

• Introduction
• The Four Steps—Soccer Skills
• The Four Steps—Wrestling Skills
• Your Teaching Plan
• Better Practice Principles
• Coaching Roundtable
• Summary
• Quiz

Unit 11: Teaching Tactical Skills

• Introduction
• Tactical Skill Instruction
• Tactical Knowledge
• Decision Training
• Coaching Roundtable
• Summary
• Quiz

Unit 12: Planning for Teaching

• Introduction
• Step 1: Identify the Skills Your Athletes Need
• Step 2: Know Your Athletes
• Step 3: Analyze Your Situation
• Step 4: Establish Priorities
• Step 5: Select the Methods for Teaching
• Step 6: Plan Practices
• Coaching Roundtable
• Summary
• Quiz

Unit 13: Training Basics

• Introduction
• Components of Physical Fitness
• Your Role in Physical Training
• Training Principles
• Coaching Roundtable
• Summary
• Quiz

Unit 14: Training for Energy Fitness

• Introduction
• Physiology of Energy Systems
• Evaluation
• Designing a Training Program
• Coaching Roundtable
• Summary
• Quiz

Unit 15: Training for Muscular Fitness

• Introduction
• Muscle Anatomy
• How Muscles Work
• Evaluation
• Designing a Training Program
• Coaching Roundtable
• Summary
• Quiz

Unit 16: Fueling Your Athletes

• Introduction
• Know Your Nutrients
• Eating for Health and Performance
• Hydration
• Coaching Roundtable
• Summary
• Quiz

Unit 17: Battling Drugs

• Introduction
• Drugs 101
• Your Role in Prevention
• When Athletes Have a Drug Problem
• Coaching Roundtable
• Summary
• Quiz

Unit 18: Managing Your Team

• Introduction
• The Seven Managers You Need to Be
• Time Well Spent
• Coaching Roundtable
• Summary
• Quiz

Unit 19: Managing Relationships

• Introduction
• Interpersonal Skills
• Resolving Conflict
• Special Relationships
• Working With Parents
• Coaching Roundtable
• Summary
• Quiz

Unit 20: Managing Risk

• Introduction
• The Process
• Coaches' Legal Duties
• Coaching Roundtable
• Summary
• Quiz
• Course Test

Established in 1981 and rooted in an athlete-centered philosophy that places the developmental needs of athletes ahead of winning at all costs, Human Kinetics Coach Education courses and resources are customized and widely used by youth sport organizations, state high school associations, school districts, state departments of education, colleges and universities, and national governing bodies of Olympic sports to teach, train, and certify coaches.