Final answer:
A coaching philosophy should be developed primarily by reflecting on your own past experiences, embracing values you find important in coaching and using critical introspection alongside learning from other sources.
Step-by-step explanation:
A coaching philosophy should primarily be developed by reflecting on your own past experiences. This process involves critical introspection and considering what values, strategies, and methods you believe are important in coaching.
Developing a philosophy isn't solely about imitation or prescriptive methods from books, nor is it solely based on athletes' opinions, though these can inform your perspective.
Philosophers such as Confucius hint at the nobility of wisdom gained through reflection: "By three methods we may learn wisdom: first, by reflection, which is noblest; second, by imitation, which is easiest; and third by experience, which is the bitterest."
Reflective practice is also encouraged in philosophy, where it is crucial to read like a philosopher and employ metacognition to engage with concepts deeply.