Ever wondered how a team wins the World Cup or a tennis player can win over 20 Grand Slams? Aside from their hard work and dedication, they also have incredible coaches.
And that's where The Playbook focuses its attention. In this short docu-series of five episodes, The Playbook takes five of the world's greatest coaches to discover what it is that gives them the winning edge.
Doc Rivers
The first episode looks at Doc Rivers. He was the head coach of the Orlando Magic, Boston Celtics, and Los Angeles Clippers, winning the NBA Finals with the Celtics in 2008. Through the highs and lows of his career, he outlines the rules the embodies in his teams.
Jill Ellis
Next up is Jill Ellis, the head coach of the women's USA soccer team. From her roots in the UK to her struggles with deciding between her passion and a paycheck, Ellis takes us on a coach's journey of how to win back-to-back World Cups. All the while battling her own personal issues as well as the fight for equal pay for her athletes.
Jose Mourinho
Jose Mourinho is the focus of episode three. Unlike the other interviewees, Mourinho doesn't credit anybody else with his success. He refuses to talk about this youth or any influences. Instead, he outlines the strategy he used at each club and how difficult it was to leave and move on each time.
Patrick Mouratoglou
From being a youngster who couldn't speak a word out of pure anxiety, Patrick Mouratoglou became one of the most successful tennis trainers in the sport. From his first success with Marcos Baghdatis through to his multiple Grand Slam wins with Serena Williams, this is a guy who relies more on body language and psychology than any of the other coaches.
Dawn Staley
The fifth and final episode follows Dawn Staley, the transformative coach of the USC women's basketball team. From her own failure to win a Championship as a player through her drive and determination to win it as a coach, this is probably the most insightful and relatable. Open and honest with her struggles in university to the impact of losing the biggest game of her life, Staley is as formidable as she is inspirational.
Overall The Playbook is a really good watch. The episodes don't delve too deeply into the nitty-gritty of day-to-day coaching. However, what they do is give an overview of the rules the coaches live by and how those rules made them champions. There's a lot of solid advice and wisdom which we could probably all benefit from following in our own lives.
