Holistic Coaching to the core.

I remember being told when I was young by my father “Whatever you choose to do in life, I'm going to support you.” 

I felt like I could do anything after he told me that. 

Why? 

Why did my father’s words of affirmation mean so much to me? 

Maybe it was because he is my hero. Maybe it was because he was a man of action, not words. Maybe it was because I saw him show up everyday for the family, my mom, sisters, brother, and me. Maybe it was because whenever he said something, I knew it was on a foundation of truth and relentless effort. 

I watched my dad fix everything. Roof leak? Fixed. The car won’t start? Fixed. Need something built? Done. Need a coach to throw batting practice? He’s ready. 

No matter the time, day or night, the man was the guy to call to solve the problem. Any problem it seemed. 

Yeah, when he said he would support me, I knew I could do anything. 

He was my first coach. Anything he said, I listened in. Intently. He wasn’t going to steer me wrong and if there was failure I knew he was going to help me figure it out. 

I knew he truly cared about my well being. He loves me. He wants the best for me. He wants me to succeed more than he ever succeeded. Never a doubt about that. This led me to a life of over achievement in baseball. Little league, travel ball, high school, college, professional, international  … I was able to maximize my potential as a player for a long time, and I believe at the core of it was my father’s support and belief in me. 

“Holistic Coaching”

What is Holistic Coaching?

Holistic coaching is an integrative approach to personal development that considers the whole person ”mind, body, spirit, emotions, and even social connections ” rather than isolating specific issues like career goals or physical fitness. 

Unlike traditional coaching, which might zero in on performance metrics or skill-building, holistic coaching views individuals as interconnected systems. It’s rooted in the belief that true transformation happens when all aspects of life are aligned and nurtured.

Holistic coaching draws from fields like psychology, spirituality, and wellness to foster balance and self-awareness.

In my own journey, as a coach, finding what helps a player depends on if the player truly believes you care for them. This is something you can’t fake, people can see a show from a mile away. 

If a player believes in where your heart is, they will try and listen to your coaching strategies. Giving you the benefit of the doubt, even if they’re uncertain with something they might not understand at that moment. 

“Hey, I have a drill you can do that isolates what you’re struggling with, let’s try it and see what you think.”

Any respectful player is going to nod their head and try the drill. If the player doesn’t believe you have what is best for them at the heart of your coaching then good luck getting buy-in to what you’re selling. 

You might see a player half heartedly try the drill in front of you, nod their head, give you some lip service about “yeah, I can feel it working, thanks” then the next day not even give you the time of day or end up trying something else out completely that they saw on social media from some “aura farming” person that’s in it for the “likes.”

While I was working in the Dominican Republic, I had an opportunity to help a young kid who was struggling to throw strikes during games. He was lights out during bullpens, but as soon as you put him out there with a batter in the box …watch out! The ball is going anywhere but the catcher. 

So many good coaches tried drill packages, constraints, and different pitch usages but nothing seemed to be working. 

One day, after a game where he gave up a lead late and let the team down, he went into his dorm room at the academy and hid. Crying. Everyone seemed to have given up on him. He had even given up on himself. 

After my work day was done, I went and sought him out. Found him in what probably felt like his darkest moment and gave him hope. 

Spoke to him about a process we can try. Told him it is going to be a journey but we are going to figure it out, together. How this isn’t just about baseball, but about life after baseball. We are going to find a way to solve this issue and he will be able to find ways to solve any issues that he may come across in life. 

We went into “Full court press” on regaining confidence to throw the baseball in games, where he wants it to go (not just throwing it in the strike zone). We used some strategies that involved positive self talk, affirmation, simple focus, delivery interventions, timing of target acquisition, drill work targeting athleticism and proper hinge/ loading mechanics while building consistency in his routine with it all. 

By the end of the season he was one of the most trusted arms we had in the bullpen. Upping his strike rate over his last 15 appearances which allowed him to see how good he can be. Turned his summer around and saved him from being sent home early. 

He trusted that the plan would work because he trusted me. 

Key Strategies in Holistic Coaching

1. Mind-Body Connection 

              Definition: This approach focuses on linking a player’s mental focus with physical performance, using techniques like visualization, breathing exercises, or dynamic stretching to sync mindset and body. It’s rooted in the understanding that mental stress can impact physical play (e.g., tight muscles or shaky hands from game pressure).

        Mound visits in baseball are the perfect opportunity to re-center players and get their mind and body back in alignment. “Remember to breathe” is a simple and powerful way to get a player present again while opening up the opportunity for a coach to help with strategy or his delivery to navigate the situation. 

2. Emotional Intelligence 

              Definition: This strategy involves teaching players to identify, understand, and control their emotions, as well as read teammates’ and opponents’ emotions, using tools like focused breathing or mental reframing to overcome emotional hurdles and stay composed under pressure.

I remember a time I was struggling as a player and a coach of mine connected with me about a time he was struggling himself as a player. Empathizing with me and what I was going through. Knowing that I was not alone in this situation gave me some perspective about it. Showing me a command game with throwing a ball to a small target, helping me remember how skilled I was to be able to do something so special. It helped bring me some reassurance in myself which helped manage negative emotion and doubt. 

3. Spiritual Alignment

               Definition: This approach helps players connect with their personal purpose, values, and sense of something bigger (not always religious), using techniques like visualization or reflective downtime to build inner calm, confidence, and direction on and off the field.

              I was working with a player who struggled with immense family pressure that he put on himself. He felt he needed to succeed to help his family put food on the table and pay the bills. He would crush himself and was an emotional roller coaster every time he played. To him it was life or death when it came to on field success. I noticed his belief in God and would remind him before his games that “God is with you, always.” This little reminder became part of his routine on game days and led to us having a strong player-coach relationship. He ended up having his most successful season as a player to date where his consistency was one of his greatest strengths. He was able to control his emotions to a level he was never able to do before. He was able to trust in Gods plan for him and able to let go of some family pressure because of his faith, and a little reminder of it when it mattered the most to him. 

4. Lifestyle Balance 

        Definition: A systematic evaluation of life areas (e.g., career, relationships, health) using tools to identify imbalances and set holistic goals.

        In my own career, balancing being a professional athlete and giving myself the freedom to enjoy “regular” life was a necessity. Building habits that included family meal night, going to church, having a date once a week helped keep my life balanced in a healthy way that allowed for me to optimize my career to its fullest. Having some space outside of baseball to disassociate allowed perspective when back at the stadium. This could be a much needed reset at times for players and coaches. 

5. Intuitive Goal Setting

              Definition: This approach moves beyond strict, measurable goals to focus on a player’s gut instincts and big-picture vision, encouraging goals that feel right and align with their overall growth as athletes and individuals, not just stats or wins.

              Setting goals used to feel like a chore. While I was in highschool, I came across a book ( the book was about the power of the subconscious mind), that had some interesting advice on visioning and executing those visions. It was the first time I really sat and thought about what I wanted in life. It led to some goals of mine becoming clear to me. The things I really wanted in life and how I can make pointed decisions that would help me attain those goals each and everyday. Giving myself clarity in high school led to a college scholarship, a long professional baseball playing career,  playing at the MLB level, and meeting the woman of my dreams. 

Wrapping It Up: Why Holistic Coaching Matters

After traveling the world and seeing it as a player and coach, I have been blessed to see some of the greatest in their fields perform at the top of their abilities. Championship players and coaches are authentic in what they do, who they are, and what they say. To coach holistically, you have to be authentic. There is no short cut or cheat on how to do it. It has to be real and it has to have a foundation of truth. It’s deciding that what’s best for the player is sometimes going into their darkest place with them and helping them figure it out. It’s going to be long days, long nights, some headaches, some heartaches, but in the end, a whole heck of a lot of fulfillment. That’s worth it. 

Hope you enjoyed reading this blog! Let me know of any coaching you did or experienced as a player that changed your life. Send me a message, I would love your story and or feedback!