Why Not, Coach? by Gregory Ryan is a coaching program written to help former and current athletes avoid unnecessary emotional strain and to encourage better relationships in sports, whether they are between coaches and players, parents and coaches, or between the players themselves.

When it comes to sports and success, Ryan clearly knows his stuff. Throughout the book, he talks about his own experiences with sports, which serves as a springboard for his discussion on the importance of a partnership between a coach and their players. A good coach utilizes an individual player’s strengths while working to improve their weaknesses. In doing so, the coach also works to strengthen the relationship between players. Since everyone receives equal opportunity to play and consequently equal opportunity to improve, there are no feelings of favoritism or unfairness and a more united team is created. I especially enjoyed that he takes these lessons past the court or practice field and relates them to important life skills like positive thinking, self-discipline, and communication, as well as the fact that he encourages parental support and outlines ways in which parents can do so for their children.

Why Not, Coach? is a wonderful read for anyone who has either been a part of a sports team or who has children who play sports. There is so much that goes into creating a successful team that is more than simply practice and skill and is often lost in translation. Why Not, Coach? focuses on those things, reminding coaches, parents, and players that there is more to a game than simply winning.

According to author Gregory Ryan in Why Not, Coach?, “It does not matter whether a child’s participation in sports is something that is school related or not. The bottom line is that joining sports is by itself a strong and a naturally beneficial activity for people, especially young people.” Ryan strengthens his point of view with valuable statistics collected on the university level. “A study made at Michigan State University showed that kids who were involved in organized sports did better in school, especially in terms of interpersonal and team oriented skills”. This level of research into the benefits of sports-related involvement is difficult to dispute. Ryan further discusses the importance of a strong and supportive relationship between parents and coaches, as well as players and coaches. We have all seen the strong influence coaches have on our children time and time again.

Why Not, Coach? by Gregory Ryan should be on every coach’s required reading list, whether the coach is involved in community volunteer sports or professional league activities. Ryan stresses the importance of positive support in both the schematics of the given game as well as the common courtesy aspect that is often overlooked or left by the wayside. Although Ryan’s ultimate goal in the writing of this book is to encourage athletes to fulfill their dream of participating in a sport, I believe that the author also instructs family members of young athletes on the appropriate conduct to exhibit at sporting events. I commend Gregory Ryan on his positive approach to an often criticized subject.

It's the coach who determines who gets played during a game. But what if the coach doesn’t see the potential in a player and instead decides to let them warm the bench? We all lose, especially the player. Why Not, Coach? Written to Help and Greatly Benefit Others by Gregory Ryan offers some great playing strategies that can help improve the essence of any sport. Gregory Ryan has taken his passion from playing sports into teaching playing strategies that allow every child to get off the bench and participate in the game.

“No player left behind. If any one statement could summarize the reason why I wrote this book and created the website, it would be this one. It is a promise to any player who desires to play on a sports team, that he/she will get that opportunity if the coach follows this coaching and playing strategy. Every player has an equal chance of playing,” says Gregory Ryan. Gregory Ryan further states that if the coach is effective and the parents are supportive, a child can improve as a player. Also, in Why Not, Coach?, Gregory has created a coaching program website that is designed to not only display playing strategies, but to establish a synergy and collective effort to get the whole team involved including the parents. With support and the proper strategies everyone wins, especially the player.

It was great to read Why Not, Coach? and to get the perspective from the players' side. The passion that Gregory Ryan has used to create Why Not, Coach? shows not only some of the issues but some solutions as well. Children with a passion for the sport and the heart to play who are continually benched lose the passion to play as well. Like the old adage says: “Practice makes perfect.” If there are no repetitive forms of practice in different types of scenarios, how can one have the opportunity to perfect it? If you are a parent, coach or even a player that wants to see an improvement in how the game is played, get a copy of Why Not, Coach? by Gregory Ryan.