I was asked to review a new coaching textbook over the weekend. An Olympic sport — with the textbook firmly focused on beginner level, first year coaches.

The textbook — as much as I am against damaging any book — is in the rubbish bin heading for the local tip.

Are we ever going to learn?

First 100 pages: physiology, biomechanics, periodisation, skill acquisition... and a lot of the content was straight out of 1980s and 1990s textbooks.

Can anyone explain to me why a coach starting out on their first year of coaching — and most likely their only year of coaching — needs to know what ATP is, how the lactic acid cycle works, how aerobic training increases capillarisation, and the other thousands of useless facts in those first 100 pages?

What does a first year coach actually need to know?

• How to put smiles on faces.

• How to make training sessions fun and engaging.

• How to help kids feel safe — and just enjoy being there with other kids.

• How to show kids you care about them.

• How to build positive, working relationships with families.

• How to teach skills and techniques in an enjoyable, interesting, memorable way.

That's it. That's the first 100 pages.

Connection before content. Relationships before periodisation. Joy before ATP.

If you're a practising coach — tell me: what would YOU write in those first 100 pages for beginner coaches?