Is it appropriate coaching or abuse?
Hurting an athlete's body or mind, or any kind of sexual misconduct, is never okay. An athlete's well-being must always come first.
Coaches should know which actions are good to use, and which ones to avoid. Good coaching also depends on the situation. For example, older athletes may understand that a coach speaking loudly is not the same as yelling in anger, but younger athletes may not understand this difference yet. This guide will help you see the difference between abusive behaviour and appropriate (good) coaching.
Physical Behaviour
Abuse
Physical Misconduct
When a coach purposely puts an athlete's body in danger, or clearly threatens to hurt an athlete's body. This is wrong no matter what reason the coach gives.
Examples
Overexertion: Telling players to hold a painful position for a long time because they played badly or had a bad attitude. This can hurt an athlete's growing body, especially if they are already tired, the weather is too hot or cold, or they are already injured.
Dehydration: Not letting athletes take breaks to drink water. This can cause muscle cramps, make the heart work too hard, cause fast breathing, and make the athlete perform worse.
Injury: Telling injured players to go back into the game, even without a doctor's approval.
This can cause a new injury and harm the athlete's health.
Appropriate Coaching
Accountability and Safety
A coach makes sure athletes follow the team's rules, using safe methods that help them improve.
Examples
Clear and Consistent Discipline: Explaining clearly why a coaching decision was made, for example, telling an athlete why they were removed from the starting lineup for breaking a team rule.
This helps athletes understand that certain actions lead to certain results.
Respect: Asking athletes to arrive on time for meetings and practices. This teaches athletes to respect other people's time.
Help, Not Hurt: Helping athletes learn new skills in a safe way. This helps athletes get better without hurting their bodies.
Emotional Behaviour
Abuse
Emotional Misconduct
When a coach often uses harsh words or extreme behavior to control, scare, or put down athletes. This damages how athletes feel about themselves and causes emotional pain.
Examples
Intimidation: Using fear and punishment to make athletes perform. This can hurt athletes, even if it sometimes gets the result the coach wants.
Denying Attention or Support: Not letting an athlete fully join in normal team activities, or often not giving them the same coaching help given to other athletes. Leaving an athlete out like this can hurt them physically, emotionally, and socially.
Demeaning Language: Using hurtful words or nicknames that make an athlete feel bad about themselves. This can cause emotional harm that lasts a long time, and it does not help the athlete perform better.
Motivation and Support
Accountability and Safety
A coach speaks to athletes in ways that build their confidence, trust, and teamwork, and helps them reach their full potential.
Examples
Encouragement: Giving clear instructions during training to help athletes improve their skills. This builds an athlete's confidence and motivation.
Fair Expectations: Setting goals that are possible to reach, which push athletes toward their full potential. This motivates athletes to improve without pushing them too far.
Self-Care: Teaching athletes to pay attention to their bodies, instead of making them feel bad for doing that. This shows athletes that they matter as people, and that their well-being is more important than winning.