I just finished an outstanding book “The Talent Code” written by Daniel Coyle. The book details Daniel’s journey to several talent “hotbeds” to discover what sets these people and facilities apart from everyone else.  The Talent Code Website’s description of the book:

The Talent Code is a book about how to grow talent, skill, greatness, and genius in sports, music, art, and math. It covers parenting, coaching, teaching, education, neurology, the brain, myelin, psychology, motivation, deep practice, ignition, master coaching, and assorted other topics, up to and including the talent growth of Leonardo da Vinci, Tiger Woods, the Bronte sisters, Abraham Lincoln, Demi Lovato, and Albert Einstein (not necessarily in order of importance).

This book should be required for anyone who coaches or trains young athletes. Some of the training techniques described in the book follow what experienced coaches already know, but the book puts them in a new context. Working with athletes over the last decade the key to success is ignition as described in the book. Ignition or passion to succeed has to discovered by the athlete.