ABSTRACT

Humanistic coaching sees athletes as thinking, feeling humans with a life outside their sport that has an influence on how they practise and perform in competition. Humanistic psychology is based on the philosophy of existentialism and humanism, which is the case with humanistic coaching and Positive Pedagogy for sport coaching (PPed). Humanism is a philosophical position that emphasizes human agency, interests, values, dignity and faith in humankind, and it is a broad category of ethics, metaphysics, politics and epistemology. In using the term ‘holistic coaching’, it is important to note that PPed sits on certain philosophical assumptions that coaches should be aware of as the basis for making decisions about their coaching and adapting to the practical challenges that arise when coaching. The PPed framework is aimed at encouraging an open, enquiring and reflective disposition toward coaching and to engage readers with ideas that will enhance current coaching, are forward focused and will shape coaching.