Holistic Coaching—Taken to a New Level

“Holistic coaching” has become a buzzword in football. More and more clubs, coaches, and academies are talking about supporting the whole player—not just their technical skills or physical performance, but their mindset, wellbeing, and personal development. It’s a welcome shift. But it’s often misunderstood.

Holistic support isn’t just adding a few yoga sessions or mindset workshops. It’s about recognising that players are people first. And one of the most powerful—yet underused—ways to support a player holistically is to engage with their interests beyond football.

Too often, personal development is treated as an afterthought. Something to bring in when a player gets injured or nears the end of their career. But the best time to start is now—when players are active, curious, and building habits that will last far beyond the pitch.

This doesn’t mean forcing players to sit down and create a Plan B or choose a second career. It means building a culture where it’s normal to ask questions like:

• What else are you interested in?

• What excites you outside of training?

• Have you ever thought about how football connects to other things—like media, business, or design?

These conversations matter. Not just for the future, but for the present. Players who feel seen as whole people—whose passions and identities outside football are valued—perform better. They feel more confident, more connected, and more motivated. They see themselves not just as performers, but as builders of their own path.

That’s what true holistic coaching looks like. It’s not about creating distractions. It’s about building depth. Helping young people understand that football is part of who they are, but not all of it. That they can develop transferable skills, explore new ideas, and stay curious—without that meaning they’re giving up on their dream.

And when we make space for those conversations, we unlock something powerful. We prepare players not just for transitions, but for long-term success. Whether they make it to the top or pivot into something else, they’re more prepared, more self-aware, and more in control of their journey.

Holistic coaching isn’t a box to tick. It’s a mindset. One that says: we value you as a person, not just a player. We’re interested in your future, not just your form.

So let’s take holistic coaching to a new level.

Let’s support the whole player—not just when things go wrong, but while things are going right.