Every season, a new group of kids shows up looking to you for guidance—not just in the game, but in life. Whether you raised your hand to coach or got “volunteered” in the parking lot, Coaching with Purpose gives you a simple, practical framework to lead with confidence, clarity, and heart. 

Drawing on over two decades of coaching and leadership work, James Leath walks you through five core fundamentals every youth coach needs:

• Get Organized – Build simple systems for schedules, communication, and practice plans so game day feels calm instead of chaotic.

• Set Expectations – Create clear standards for parents, players, and yourself so everyone knows what “doing it right” looks like.

• Believe in Yourself – Quiet the imposter syndrome, build credibility, and develop a coaching philosophy that actually sounds like you.

• Define Success – Go beyond the scoreboard and build a culture where growth, effort, and character matter just as much as wins.

• Think Like a Teacher – Turn drills into lessons, build confidence on purpose, and communicate in ways kids actually understand and remember.

Inside, you’ll find real stories from the field, plug-and-play ideas for practices and game day, sample messages for parents, and mindset shifts that make coaching feel less overwhelming and a lot more fun. This isn’t a book full of theory or complicated systems—it’s a sideline-ready handbook you’ll keep coming back to all season long. 

If you want to run better practices, handle parents with fewer headaches, and give your athletes a season they’ll remember for the right reasons, this book is your starter kit.

You don’t have to be a perfect coach.

You just have to be an intentional one.