Freedom and Courage to Grow

This week I had the privilege of being part of some truly meaningful conversations as coaches reflected on their learning and growth over the past year or two.

One programme supported Paralympians into performance coaching roles. The other helped young people with a range of disabilities step into volunteering and coaching within their local communities. I was fortunate enough to be involved in both—and I’ve learnt, and continue to learn, so much from you all: the players, the coaches, the mentors, and the coach developers.

Although working at opposite ends of the player pathway, there were some clear and powerful themes that emerged:

• Freedom to experiment — to try things out, knowing that some ideas worked and others didn’t, and that learning came from them all.

• Courage and confidence — the safety to give things a go and grow through experience.

• Advocacy — not just speaking up for others, but learning how to advocate for yourself.

• Empowering people — those who listened, asked thoughtful questions, and showed up for both the highs and the challenges.

One reflection that really stuck with me was this:

“I now know what coaching is, rather than just what it looks like.”

Thank you all for sharing your journeys. It’s been a privilege to work alongside you over the last year, and I’m excited to see where your next steps take you. I’m also looking forward to welcoming the new recruits and learning with you too.

So here’s my question for you:

How do you empower people to step into coaching?

How do you create the freedom and courage for others to grow?

Let’s keep this conversation going—I’d love to hear your thoughts.

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