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The focus of any coaching endeavour, first and foremost, should be the people. Coaches do not play or compete, the athletes do. It is of utmost importance that as adults and leaders we understand that the experience that athletes have should be theirs, truly personally meaningful. Adult structured sport has dominated athletes' experiences and it is time that we, as leaders of sport, ensure that athletes are treated as individuals and that we promote growth and development and enjoyable learning experiences.

As Ben Lombardo says in the preface, "[I] do not pretend to have all the answers. In fact, concepts, theories, and activities [are] presented with which the reader will take issue. If this does take place, then I shall have achieved one of my purposes in committing these thoughts to paper. My hope, however, is to move coaches to reflect on athletics and sport in a different manner and, at the very least, come to a clearer understanding of an approach to athletic coaching and sport which centers on the person within the experienced and which embraces the concept of humanism. If this occurs, then my efforts must be deemed fruitful."