Team Chemistry: 30 Elements for Coaches to Foster Cohesion, Strengthen Communication Skills, and Create a Healthy Sport Culture

“To become the best decathlete in the world, you must surround yourself with coaches who think outside the box and who are ready to do things differently. If you don’t, chances are, you will end up like your competitors. This book is all about that; it dives into concepts beyond traditional coaching methods. Team Chemistry represents very well how my coaches operate: keep an open mind, challenge the status quo and get creative to find a competitive edge.” — Damian Warner, Decathlete, 2020 Olympic Gold Medallist

“Lachance and Ménard show us that building team chemistry one athlete, one staff member, one practice, and one day at a time is about more than just the results on the scoreboard. It is a skill that coaches at any level can learn and their book provides the tools to do so. Team Chemistry will become a trusted resource for coaches in every sport.” — Danielle Goyette, three-time Olympian, eight-time World Champion, Player and Coach, HHOF 2017

“Creating a healthy culture goes hand in hand with developing how you play, your tactics and strategies, and might even be the most important part of a coach’s job. Just like the players we work with, coaches can always improve. Team Chemistry enhanced my thinking in this space and provided me with new ideas for creating the best environment for my players, my staff, and myself.” — Bev Priestman, Head Coach, Team Canada Women’s Soccer, 2020 Olympic Gold Medallist

“I can’t say enough about this excellent book. Having coached and managed collegiate and professional football players for almost 30 years, I know how important it is to put as much energy into building a positive team culture as I spend on the X’s and O’s. Team Chemistry provides the tools that anyone in a sports leadership role — on the sidelines or in the front office — can use to make their team better.” — Danny Maciocia, Vanier Cup and Grey Cup championship-winning coach, GM, Montreal Alouettes, CFL

“As coaches we dream of our teams playing in perfect harmony. But to get our athletes to reach their potential and for the group to work in unity it takes the common and concerted effort of so many. Team Chemistry offers valuable tools to help coaches orient their work and save time and energy by enabling strategies to maximize the rendement of everyone involved in developing a culture of excellence.” — Glenn Hoag, Head Coach, Team Canada 2020 Olympic Men’s Volleyball

“Sport leaders play such an important role to ensure team success. My favourite coaches weren’t only great technicians and tacticians; they communicated clearly, instilled confidence and cared about the players. Team Chemistry will be a valuable part of a coach’s toolkit.” — Laurent Duvernay-Tardif, guard, New York Jets, Super Bowl LIV champion

“I have been fortunate enough to work with and observe many talented coaches, the vast majority of them possessing great content knowledge and ability to teach their craft. However, the highly successful coaches were the ones who also invested their time and bandwidth in building a truly superior culture. Team Chemistry provides the tools and techniques to help sport leaders foster an elite culture, a culture of respect and responsibility that will in turn help players and staff reach their optimal performance. A terrific book that both aspiring and veteran coaches should read and put to use.” — Kai Correa, Coach, San Francisco Giants, MLB

“For as long as organized team sports have been around, coaches have asked the same questions — how can I encourage a group of individuals to value a set of standards, and how can I create an identity that is unique to our team and our environment? How can we win, not just this game or this year, but sustained success over time? Team Chemistry provides important insights and strategies on the complexities of these age-old questions and simple solutions to make your team and culture more robust. A must-read!” — Derek Johnson, pitching coach, Cincinnati Reds, MLB

“Transitioning from an Olympic figure skater to a coach is a challenging feat. It is important in my new role to educate myself and train my skills, just like I did as an elite athlete. Because Team Chemistry is filled with practical tools, it will become a go-to resource for years to come.” — Scott Moir, Figure Skater and Coach, three-time Olympic and World Champion

“The life of a coach surprises you every day and the tools in Team Chemistry empower the sort of communication, cohesion, and cooperation that can help all sport leaders achieve their goals and realize their potential. Whether selecting staff, finessing a team towards better cooperation, seeking better ways to present ideas, or searching for a different way to approach an underperforming player, this book provides answers. There is wisdom on every page … I urge you to read it.” — Ric Charlesworth, Olympic and World Cup gold medal-Winning Coach, Australian National Men’s and Women’s Field Hockey