Academic views: Authors' definitions

The extraordinary results approach (Whitmore).

To understand the magnitude of the profession, it is vital to analyze how the great theorists have defined it.

John Whitmore (2002), one of the fathers of modern coaching in Europe, defines it as an ongoing professional relationship that has a clear objective: that people produce extraordinary results in their lives, careers, businesses or organizations.

Whitmore emphasizes "extraordinariness," suggesting that coaching is not about maintaining the status quo, but about breaking glass ceilings.

Through this process, the athlete not only improves their performance, but also deepens their learning and reinforces their quality of life, understanding that sporting success should not be detrimental to mental health or personal wellbeing.

Overcoming barriers and peak performance (Dilts).

From a perspective more focused on Neurolinguistic Programming (NLP), Robert Dilts (2004) defines coaching as the process of helping individuals or teams to perform at the top of their capabilities.

For Dilts, the key is to "draw strength". The coach does not put in the strength; he extracts it, channels it and organizes it.

His definition underscores the importance of helping athletes transcend their personal barriers and limitations. It is not just about tactics, but about identity and beliefs.

It also adds a vital systemic dimension: facilitating the individual to perform as effectively as possible as a member of a team, recognizing that in modern sport, individual talent must be at the service of collective synergy.

Change and professional standardization (O'Connor and ICF)

On the other hand, O'Connor and Lages (2005) provide a vision focused on the dynamics of change. For them, coaching is about navigating change.

They use the metaphor of the "magician": the coach takes the cards the player has (his current skills, his physique, his situation) and helps him to play them better, or even to change the rules of the game to find a winning strategy.

Finally, the International Coach Federation (ICF), the most important regulatory body, standardizes the definition as a thought-provoking and creative partnership.

According to the ICF, through this process, the client deepens his knowledge, increases his performance and improves his quality of life, establishing coaching not as a correction of deficits, but as an empowerment of existing resources.

Summary

John Whitmore defines coaching as a relationship for extraordinary results and breaking glass ceilings. He emphasizes continuous learning and reinforcement of the athlete's quality of life.

Robert Dilts, from neurolinguistic programming, proposes to extract and channel the strengths of the individual. His systemic vision integrates personal talent at the service of collective synergy and high performance.

Finally, organizations such as the ICF standardize the process as a partnership that provokes creative thinking. It focuses on leveraging existing resources, enhancing internal knowledge and achieving the highest possible performance.