The Philosophy of Coaching: What is the Democratic Coaching of Hans Lenk?

This paper examine the concept of democratic coaching, which will be able to provide an effective solution to the problem of corporal punishment and athlete’s second career, and examining how this idea could be used to resolve real situations in modern sport. The word “democratic” was first used to describe the coaching style in West German rowing from the late 1950s to the 1960s. The author will examine the term “democratic” not in its most common connotation but by examining real historical cases of democratic coaching in the world of sport. It is concluded two points. First, Lenk’s work has shown us that there is a coaching style that can enhance performance without resorting to corporal punishment and violence. That style is called democratic coaching. Second, it has also shown us how team consensus can be reached through discussion and dialog, which can also help to nurture intellectual activities among athletes. Sport performance and intellectual activities are normally regarded as very different things. However, both qualities may be enhanced through the working of discussion and dialog. This does not contribute to a possession of knowledge. It is the fostering of thinking skills that involves the discovery and resolution of problems. Democratic coaching is ultimately a training method for those thinking skills.