A typology of coaching, revisited — what is coaching (4a)?

As a follow-up to my attempt at a typology of coaching, I took a look at how CIMSPA — the Chartered Institute for the Management of Sport and Physical Activity — define the “Coach Practitioner”.

Coach Practitioners improve a participant’s experience of sport and physical activity by providing specialised support and guidance aligned to their individual needs.

CIMSPA

And that definition of a coach as someone who provides “specialised support and guidance aligned to their individual needs” pretty much nails it, for me.

Not explicitly technical, or tactical, or physical, or psychological — just “specialised support and guidance”, which could be “any of the above”, or something else, entirely.

The full definition of a Coach Practitioner, taken from the Membership application page, further emphasises the coaching environment over tech/tac/phys/psych interventions.

Coach Practitioners improve a participant’s experience of sport and physical activity by providing specialised support and guidance aligned to their individual needs.

• You have an inspirational effect on individuals, groups and communities.
• You lead the planning, preparation, delivery, continuous evaluation and review of a series of sport and/or physical activity sessions.
• You ensure the culture and environment is designed to meet a participant’s welfare needs and allow them the opportunity to achieve their goals and meet their aspirations.
• Your activity’s central focus is the participant’s development as a person.
• You tailor and adapt to the participant’s needs whilst taking an inclusive approach.
• You work with participants, other coaches, colleagues, volunteers, parents, teachers, youth workers and health professionals, to ensure the experience is the very best it can be.