Book Review - 'Every Moment Matters' by John O' Sullivan

This is the second book by the founder of the “Changing the Game” project and “Way of Champions” podcast.  It is dedicated to attempting to define the characteristics of athlete-centred development coaching.  The contention reflected in the title, is that every interaction between coach and athlete is important, and influences whether children remain engaged with sport. 

The book has 17 “lessons”, which are divided into three categories, “Why do I Coach?”, “How do I Coach?” and “How Does it Feel to be Coached by Me?”.  Most are illustrated by the author’s experience, and also examples from successful coaching from across the US.  Other authors, practitioners and researchers are liberally referenced, which means that the book serves as an introduction to the wider science of development.  The examples come from club-based youth sport in the USA, which means that not all are relevant to school coaches.

For me, the first and, especially the third, sections were most memorable.  They focus on practical mechanisms for developing character through sport, and methods of establishing strong team culture.  The author identifies these as the enduring impact of sport, and values the coaching of the person ahead of the coaching of the team.  There are also practical suggestions for addressing failures of culture, and dealing with problem athletes.  This philosophy is proposed as preferable to a transactional approach to coaching performance outcomes, with a focus on the result.

This book will be of interest both to coaches, especially of youth sports, but also to those people who are responsible for coaching programmes across a school and club.  It is about the lasting impact that coaches can make at an individual level, and the benefits this can bring to both coaches and athletes.