Our work begins with a simple but powerful belief: the best coaches don’t just shape performance—they shape people. This belief is at the heart of the SWI Sports Wellness Coaching Certificate Program, and it’s also the core message of Coaching Athletes to Be Their Best: Motivational Interviewing in Sports by Stephen Rollnick, Jonathan Fader, and colleagues.

When it comes to recovering from injuries or managing physical health in sports, two key fields often come to mind: sports medicine and sports wellness. While both aim to support athletes and active individuals, they approach the goal from different angles.

When I first stepped onto the field as a young athlete, I thought sport was all about speed, strength, and competition. What I didn’t realize then—but see clearly now—is that every practice, every drill, and every challenge was quietly teaching me how to grow as a person.

Peak performance isn’t just physical. SWI coaches the whole person—using tools like the Wheel of Life, values alignment, and stage-based behavior change—to help athletes, coaches, teams, and active adults build durable habits, resilience, and results that actually stick.