The Playmaker’s Advantage

Sports consultants Leonard Zaichkowsky and Daniel Peterson assert that athletes’ mental and emotional training is as crucial as their technical training. They examine top athletes in hockey, basketball, football, soccer and other sports to determine what makes someone a “playmaker,” the team member who can see the field and make quick, effective decisions. The authors focus on developing team athletes between 10 and 20 years old and discuss how neuroscience explains what makes someone a truly elite athlete. They draw from detailed, complex research as they debunk multiple myths of child-adolescent coaching practices. While their text can sometimes be dense, their stories and athlete interviews make the academic elements relatable. Their main messages include: Don’t yell at your kids from the sidelines; if you want soccer stars, introduce your kids to many sports; and achievement in team sports correlates with achievement at school and in the workforce.