ABSTRACT
This chapter offers guidance to those wishing to develop a philosophy of coaching. Coaching philosophy is one of the core topic areas and focus for discussion in sports coaching. Philosophy has a part to play in structuring a coach’s practice, so understanding philosophical enquiry in sports coaching is worthy of attention. Despite a coaching philosophy being positioned as underpinning coaches’ practice, coaches, as Lyle and Cushion suggest, get on with the business of coaching focusing on more tangible aspects of coaching practice, such as session content and organisation. If coaches had a clear separation between a technical and tactical model and their philosophy of coaching, including an awareness of their practice, it could allow them to make informed situational coaching decisions based on their individual environment and player needs. Philosophy has a part to play in structuring a coach’s practice, so understanding philosophical enquiry in sports coaching is worthy of attention.
