What is Purposeful Play?

As part of UK Coaching Week, we’re exploring Purposeful Play. It's a powerful coaching approach that supports learning, development, and enjoyment for participants of all ages.

Play can mean different things to different people. We've spoken to coaches of varying backgrounds and practices. What’s clear is that play helps people develop physically, socially and cognitively. Yet opportunities for true play are increasingly harder to find.

Purposeful play is about being intentional. It’s using play to create meaningful experiences that build skills, confidence and connection. Experts and coaches including Joel Enoch, Gareth Williams, Andrew Telfer, and Gill Erskine share how play can be shaped, supported and sustained within coaching environments.

These resources include videos interviews, session ideas and reflections to help you bring play into your next session.

Open them here to understand how you can create space for purposeful play in your sessions, and why it matters more than ever.

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Understanding Purposeful Play

Find out what purposeful play really means and why it matters. Hear from Andrew Telfer, Gill Erskine and Gareth Williams as they share how play supports learning, wellbeing and long-term development across all ages.

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Purposeful Play Coaching Skills

Discover the coaching behaviours that bring purposeful play to life. From learning design to questioning and flexibility, learn how to create engaging environments that support deeper learning and development in your participants.

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Developing Play in Your Sessions

Ready to play? See practical ways to introduce fun into your sessions and overcome common barriers. This guide will help you design engaging, participant-centred experiences that drive development and, crucially, enjoyment.

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