ABSTRACT
Although the value of holistic coaching has been increasingly recognized in recent times, this has tended to remain at the level of abstract thought and generalized support. The ambiguity surrounding what the concept actually means has, not surprisingly, been accompanied by a lack of suggestions about what holistic strategies look like and how one could be implemented. To avoid a similar oversight, we begin this chapter by defining what we mean by the term ‘holistic coaching’. A dictionary definition of the term ‘holistic’ is a ‘consideration of the complete person, both physically and mentally’ (Collins 2003). Even though this sets us on our way, we would like to be more wide-ranging in our definition in asserting that the person is more than just the aggregate of mental and physical attributes, as he or she is also an emotional, political, social, spiritual and cultural being. To coach holistically then, is to coach with all of these considerations in mind. Although this inevitably leads to discussion about appropriate and workable boundaries for the coaching role, we consider that if such factors affect athletic performance and enjoyment then they should warrant consideration within the coaching remit.
