Beyond the Scoreboard: Building Champions for Life Through Holistic Coaching

As an award-winning Sports Education organisation, we share a powerful vision: ‘Transform sport and physical activity through empowering and inspiring people’. Our mission? To deliver solutions that add value and drive positive change, reflecting the diverse needs of everyone who wants to participate in sport. 

This philosophy extends far beyond the field. We believe in the transformative power of holistic coaching. This practice develops in all aspects of life and goes beyond technical skills to nurture well-rounded individuals who excel on and off the pitch. Holistic coaching is about unlocking one’s full potential.  

Our team is passionate about sport, and many dedicate their free time to coaching the sport they love. Here's why they do it: It's clear that Amy, our Senior Education Manager and Lead Artistic Swimming Coach at Hatfield Swimming Club finds reward in helping to develop valuable skills that will benefit her athletes both in the sport and throughout their lives. Amy expresses that “A key part of my role as a coach involves understanding and supporting my athletes to develop key life skills such as resilience, problem-solving, social skills, communication skills and setting achievable goals. Knowing the impact, I can have on the children I coach and watching them grow up and develop their skills, both sport-specific and life-skills, is a privilege and something I am very proud to be able to do.” 

Our Apprenticeship Tutor Gill Prince "When working with elite hockey players" noted that another coach said "...they should never fail for not knowing." This philosophy highlights the coach's responsibility to equip athletes with the knowledge and tools they need to thrive. But holistic coaching goes a step further. It acknowledges that athletes are multifaceted individuals, and development extends beyond technical expertise. By encouraging a collaborative environment, coaches can learn from each other's approaches to support the whole athlete – their physical capabilities, mental well-being, and emotional intelligence. This creates a space where individuals can not only understand "what they need to do," but also develop the self-awareness and confidence to translate that knowledge into action, ultimately achieving their full potential.

The benefits of holistic coaching extend far beyond sport and physical activity. We've heard from the coaches themselves, but what about the athletes? We caught up with some of our employees to understand the impact great coaches have had on their journey, here’s what they’ve experienced:   

“My first coach practically changed my life…” are the words of National Table Tennis Player Abhishek Sudhakar, as he expresses that "All my coaches... have not only helped me become a better athlete but more importantly a better person." While Lucy, shared thanks to her football coaches over the years, who have helped her develop as an individual both on and off the pitch, "I'm grateful for the coaches who... pushed me to keep playing... playing sport is both a mental and physical game… with the support of my teammates and coaches, I’ve not only developed my game but my inter-personal skills and built on my confidence. These are all things I can take forward into any challenge of life, and for that, all I can say is thank you."

That phrase, not all heroes wear capes, well it's important to note, that not all coaches come in the form of sports, just like Sarina Haddock’s driving instructor who personalised their approach to Sarina’s learning and helped her pass her driving test in her 40s! Sarina added “My instructor was really good at adapting lessons to suit me as an individual. He understood when I was getting frustrated and would cut the lesson short or if I was doing well extend the lesson. He really supported me to achieve - I don't think I would have continued (or ever passed my test) if he had not made my learning so personal to my individual needs.” 

But lessons last a lifetime and our interim Managing Director, Ross, reflected on the lessons he learned from playing football at a young age, noting “I’m lucky some of my coaches taught me about the importance of attributes like honesty, integrity and kindness which are important for life beyond the football pitch. I vividly remember as a 12-year-old a conversation with my coach relaying that attitude was far more important than ability. Great life lessons at such a young age.” This perfectly demonstrates how coaches, even in the sports we may leave behind, can leave an imprint on our values and character that continues to shape us long after the final whistle blows. 

At Sport Structures, we believe in the power of coaching and the impact great coaches have on the holistic development of those they coach. We’ve developed innovative learning methods and embedded this into our delivery of the 1st4sport Level 2 Certificate in Coaching qualification. Our experts, Kath Percival and Jobeth Hamilton designed the programme with a strong emphasis on understanding the person being coached, marrying key coaching skills with the technical elements of the sport. Our passion for high-quality, accessible coach education opportunities has been recognised by CIMSPA, The Chartered Institute for the Management of Sport and Physical Activity who recently awarded us their top grade of being an ‘Enhancing’ Training Provider. CIMSPA is committed to supporting, developing and enabling professionals and organisations to succeed and, as a result, inspire our nation to become more active. This recognition acknowledges Sport Structures as having the most prestigious and highest possible CIMSPA trust mark of quality which reflects the provision of the highest quality education.  

Join us in creating a world where sport and physical activity empower and inspire, by becoming a coach yourself. Visit our courses and apprenticeships to discover more and together, we can transform lives, one game, one lesson, one person at a time.