Linda Sandel Pettit, EdD

I’ve had the privilege of assisting in the editing and evolution of PlayFreely®, and I can say with certainty that this book’s wisdom will continue to reveal itself long after the reader has read the final page. I’ve shared the spiritual understanding Denise Holland points to for more than twenty years, yet her intimate voice and strong writing—clear, uncluttered, and deeply wise—opened fresh portals in me. Her insights didn’t just deepen my understanding; they reanimated it.

I’m not much of a sports gal, to be honest, but I love PlayFreely®. I can say with certainty that it’s not just for athletes, coaches, or sports fans. It’s for anyone drawn to living with more joy, clarity, and freedom. The game Denise refers to is, ultimately, life itself. And PlayFreely® equips you to play it with more gusto, grace, and delight.

Spiritual truth, plainly put, breathes psychological strength into every word. PlayFreely® will take its rightful place among the most impactful works on the Three Principles understanding and those exploring the connection between the inner game and the outer game of sport.

It’s a book to return to—not just for insight, but also for the felt reminder that flow, clarity, and joy are always available in all arenas.

Matt Roberts

“A book written with love—for the human behind the athlete.”

Peak performance can feel like a mystery for athletes who struggle—so close, yet frustratingly out of reach. Traditional methods offer glimpses, but the experience is often inconsistent and incomplete.

In PlayFreely®, Denise gently turns the tide. She helps us see that true performance flows when we’re aligned with our natural design. With rising levels of anxiety and well-being concerns in younger generations, this book arrives as a powerful and timely reminder: we are not broken.

What better vehicle than sport to uncover not only how to play freely but also how to live freely too?
Thank you, Denise.

Dr Bill Pettit

In PlayFreely®: The Spiritual Key to Athletic Excellence, author Denise Holland boldly illuminates a profound truth often overlooked in the world of sport: that human beings are, first and foremost, spiritual beings. She reveals how our psychological, physiological, and behavioural experiences are created—one thought at a time—through the formless gifts of Mind, Thought, and Consciousness.

Much like Viktor Frankl’s assertion in The Doctor and the Soul that a physician who neglects the spiritual dimension of a patient risks reducing their role to that of a veterinarian, the same principle applies to the realm of athletic performance. Coaches and players who overlook the spiritual foundation of the human experience miss the true essence of growth, excellence, and fulfilment in sport.

As both an elite athlete and national team coach, Holland brings a rare and credible voice to this exploration. Through compelling stories, memorable insights, and heartfelt reflections, she not only makes a robust case for the spiritual core of athletic excellence but also shares her own transformative journey. Her vulnerability and wisdom remind us that behind every celebrated performance is a human being—striving, learning, and awakening to the innate guidance system of love and wisdom that resides within us all.

This book is a gift to athletes, coaches, and anyone seeking to live—and play—with greater grace, clarity, and compassion.

Stuart Lancaster

PlayFreely® captures the essence of what so many athletes and coaches seek: clarity, presence, and the freedom to perform at their best. Denise supported me during a pivotal transition in my career, helping me to understand how to free my mind and reconnect with what truly matters. Her approach is both insightful and practical, and PlayFreely® offers a powerful message for anyone navigating the high-performance world.

Mary Ann Cosgrove

PlayFreely® is such an interesting, insightful, and inspiring read—not only for sports coaches and performers, but also for anyone curious about the deeper spiritual dimension of life.

It’s a beautifully crafted book in which Denise shares her story with openness and honesty, offering a glimpse into the journey that led her to unlock her true potential.

At the end of each chapter, she gently invites us to reflect on our own lives and discover the possibility of connecting to a deeper energy—one that can inspire a life of love, joy, and meaning.

As a sports coach, I’ve long used psychological techniques to enhance performance, but after reading PlayFreely®, I now have a clearer understanding of the spiritual connection behind optimal performance—and of how embracing it can transform both sport and life.

—Mary Ann Cosgrove, former Scotland internationalist, Scotland national coach, Netball Scotland performance director, and current lead tutor of coach education

Andrew Moss

Reading PlayFreely® felt like being handed the spiritual playbook I never knew I needed. Like Phil Jackson in Sacred Hoops and John Wooden in They Call Me Coach, Denise Holland reveals a deeper truth: sport is not just about competing and winning—it’s about waking up. She invites us to move beyond the grind and to enter into a relationship with flow, presence, and purpose that transcends performance. This isn’t just a book about sport; it’s a map showing how those in pursuit of their own full potential might live, lead, and love more freely. Every coach, athlete, and parent should read this beautifully crafted guide.

George Pransky, PhD

PlayFreely® offers a refreshing perspective on sports through the lens of the Three Principles approach, emphasising mental clarity, resilience, and the joy of the game. With insightful reflections and practical wisdom, it challenges traditional mindsets, inviting athletes and coaches to embrace a more natural, pressure-free way of performing—a must-read for anyone seeking deeper fulfilment and ease in their athletic journey.

Ankush Jain

Reading PlayFreely® felt like meeting a kindred spirit. Denise has written a book that speaks not only to athletes and coaches but also to anyone hungry to live from a place of clarity, joy, and presence. Her story is honest, courageous, and profoundly human. As someone who’s walked the Three Principles path for years, I found myself reawakened by her simplicity and grace in sharing timeless truths. This is far more than a book about sport—it’s a book about coming home to who we are. Denise has made a powerful contribution to the evolution of performance, and I believe PlayFreely® will ripple far beyond the arena. I’m deeply grateful this book exists.

Julanne Dalke

As a spiritual teacher and creative, I’m drawn to books that explore life principles in action. I discovered Denise Holland through the Hay House writing community and was immediately struck by her philosophy on high performance, mastery, and inner freedom.

In PlayFreely®, Denise blends deep spiritual insight with elite coaching experience, guiding readers to know themselves more fully and thrive. Each chapter ends with powerful reflections that make the insights both personal and practical.

This book is for anyone who’s faced performance anxiety—on or off the field—and wants to reconnect with their innate brilliance. It’s also a captivating journey with a national netball coach whose wisdom and heart shine through every page.

—Julanne Dalke, author of Your Eternal Identity, contributor to the international bestseller The Art of Connection: 365 Days of Gratitude, artist: JulanneDalke.com

Henrik Rasmussen

Working with Denise and the principles behind PlayFreely® has been deeply impactful for me as a coach and for the athletes I lead. As the national team coach for powerchair football in Denmark, I’ve grown in clarity and confidence. More importantly, I’ve seen our players begin to understand the natural ebb and flow of performance and realise they don’t need to fear their experience. As Denise says, you can “perform even when your thinking isn’t cooperating”.
PlayFreely® is an extraordinary gift to the world of sport. It reminds us of the brilliance of being alive—beyond diagnosis, beyond limitation, beyond identity. Every athlete deserves to know this truth.

Lesley Corte

Denise has opened her heart not only to the world of sport but also to anyone navigating the deeper journey of life. She weaves the professional and personal with grace, illuminating the reality we all face today—that each of us must find our own path forward. The old models no longer serve us. To find a guide like Denise is a true treasure.

Dr Dicken Bettinger

Whether you are an athlete, a coach, a parent, or simply someone looking to show up as your best self, Denise’s book PlayFreely® can awaken a fresh sense of joy and purpose within you. She reveals how anyone can tap into their inner wisdom, creative potential, and natural capacity to meet challenges with presence and authenticity. Denise’s friendly, open, and honest storytelling makes it feel as if a trusted friend is whispering caring truths in your ear. Her gift is in demystifying our connection to a deeper spiritual source and showing how, when recognised, this connection can lift our spirits and guide us effortlessly through sport and beyond. I highly recommend this groundbreaking new book.

Nick Inge

Creating safe environments—whether in teams, organisations, or society—starts with understanding ourselves better. PlayFreely® shines a light on how clarity and presence can transform leadership, communication, and culture. Denise offers a powerful yet gentle reminder that when people feel grounded and connected, they’re better able to speak up, support others, and lead with integrity.

Cheryl Baker

I’ve known Denise for nearly three decades, and the transformation I’ve witnessed in her life is nothing short of remarkable. She’s gone from someone who carried the weight of the world to a woman who is full of vitality, joy, and wisdom. Her energy is infectious, and her insight is profound. I once told her I wouldn’t mind living in her mind! PlayFreely® is a reflection of the freedom and clarity she now lives with. It’s truly inspiring.

Barbara Patterson

PlayFreely® beautifully illustrates the spiritual dimension of performance on or off the court. Through Denise’s heartfelt personal journey and the stories of athletes, we discover that our greatest potential isn’t something we need to earn or force; it’s already within. When we see this, we access a powerful inner resource for every area of our lives.

Rachel Halley, BSc Hons, MRICS MBA

I highly recommend Denise’s book PlayFreely® to anyone, whether or not you have a connection with sports. Through compelling personal stories, Denise brings her insights to life with honesty and depth. She bravely shares not only her moments of clarity but also the challenges and hard-earned lessons that shaped her journey. This book will change the way you think and bring calmness and clarity to your interaction with life.

Dr Richard Pybus

What a gift PlayFreely® is to those seeking to understand the foundations of all human performance, from the athlete to the student, parent, employee, and business owner. Denise Holland is the real deal. Having been an elite athlete and then transitioning into a successful international coach, she not only brings the experience of performing in those rarefied environments and the learning that ensued, but she also looks deeper and finds, through her courage and curiosity, the one true answer to all performance.

She challenged me as a coach to look beyond what I thought were the building blocks of what we do as coaches, helping to ground me in this truth. This led me to become a more authentic coach—slowing down, being less outcomes-based, and being more present. Not only did it change me as a coach, but also it changed me as a person, much for the better.

I don’t want to give too much away in this testimonial, as the joy and curiosity that the reader will experience while reading this work are gifts that the reader must discover personally. This isn’t just a book for sport; it’s a book for navigating life in a way that is easier, is lighter, and brings more joy. Thank you, Denise.

Mark Faulkner

Working with Denise profoundly shifted how I show up in my leadership development business. Her guidance helped me see how to play freely—bringing a new sense of lightness, joy, and freedom to my work.

In this powerful book, Denise gently invites us into a deeper understanding of our true human potential—our innate ability to access clarity, wisdom, creativity, and resilience from within.

PlayFreely® is far more than a book about athletic excellence; it’s a deeply insightful guide to the spiritual nature of the human experience. The Seven Discoveries to Play Freely are just as transformative in the workplace as they are on the track, court, or field. And just as the world of sport is ready for a new paradigm, so too is the world of business.

I encourage leaders, managers, coaches, and HR professionals to read this book with curiosity and to consider how the insights within could transform not only their work but also their lives.

Natasha Swerdloff

In PlayFreely®, Denise Holland shares the wisdom of years in elite sport and the light of deep spiritual insight. Her words carry the power to free athletes from the inner battles they were never meant to fight. This book is not just about how to perform—it’s about how to live. It’s a gift for the next generation and for all of us who care about their well-being.