One of the absolute best books on actual coaching that I have read is "Finding The Winning Edge" by Bill Walsh (with Brian Billick and James Peterson). It 550 pages or pure coaching. While there are parts that are directly related to football and technique, the vast majority of the book deals with teaching and coaching regardless of the sport.For an example, here is just a small sample in a section titled Developing A Standard of Performance.
1. Drive the players to concentrate. Be assertive in your insistence that they focus on the task at hand.
2. Individualize your teaching approach to fit certain individuals, when necessary.
3. Be as precise as possible when teaching. Always use the system's terminology as a common language.
4. Be patient, but demanding. Require your players to adhere to proper techniques at all times.
5. Teach the skills progressively. Adhere to a systematic methodology of teaching that allows players to improve and enhance their level of confidence in your competence and professionalism.
6. Keep your fingers on the pulse of the situation. Be alert to the intensity level of the players. Be sensitive to signs of those factors which can affect the learning curve (e.g., fatigue, enthusiasm of coaches, etc.) Never overlook the fundamental reality of the teaching axiom, "quality repetitions are the mother of all learning."
7. Keep the meetings quality not quantity, oriented. Use a variety of learning tools to enhance the learning environment and to help stimulate the players' level of concentration and focus (e.g., computer graphics, overhead projections, videotape, etc.)
8. Demonstrate the highest of level of knowledge about the subject matter being taught (e.g., position techniques, game strategy, the opponent, etc.)
9. Teach the players in a professional manner. Unless you're trying to elicit a specific emotional response from your players, refrain from screaming and demonstrative behavior. Keep in mind that such behavior seldom, if ever, enhances the learning curve -- particularly if the subject matter involves technical information.
10. Evaluate the players' performance on a daily basis to ensure that they are progressively mastering the techniques required to perform the tasks they are assigned in an effective and efficient manner.
