Coach – Protect Yourself!

Most people will now be aware of the ethical mess that some National Governing Bodies (NGBs) get themselves into when the media publicly denounce sports coaches accused of abusive behaviour. In the UK we have seen high profile cases involving football, gymnastics and swimming to name but a few. However, rather than stand firm by their coaches it is not uncommon for the NGB to, metaphorically speaking, take a ‘swift step backwards’ or ‘throw the coach under the bus’. It is evident that in many cases there is a presumption of guilt rather than innocence.

When a serious formal accusation is made the NGB is forced into suspending the sports coach and launching an inquiry, often internal to begin with but one which can result in an external independent investigation if the police become involved. Rather than admit to their own wilful blindness, especially in elite sport, they will seek to protect their reputation and image often at the expense of the coach. All sports coaches, therefore, need to recognise that NGBs may be extremely reluctant to come to their aid at the very time of their greatest need.

So what can a sports coach do to protect themselves? First and foremost ensure that you are protected by insurance, ideally through an independent professional body that represents sports coaches. A recognised professional body can often offer expert support and represent you should any legal claims or accusations of abuse be made. A reputable professional body for sports coaches is the guardian of sport coaching standards that you sign up to and which include the ethical dimensions of the role. But is this enough? – No.

Assuming that you are a health and safety conscious sports coach, who is concerned for the welfare of your athletes, the greatest potential risk you face will be complaints made against you for some form of abuse, and we are all at risk. The four types of abuse can be classified into Physical, Emotional, Neglect and Sexual (PENS) as shown in Fig. 1 Categories of Abuse. These four components are all interrelated. For example bullying, which is sometimes added to the list, often involves both physical and emotional abuse.

What seems to be a sensible act or jovial comment made by a coach may turn out to be very damaging viewed from an alternative perspective. I remember an incident at the Essex County Swimming Championships in the UK where a respected swimming coach was suspended for six weeks when he intervened in a fight between two swimmers. He only stepped between the boys, as a referee might do in a football match, to stop the fight but a malicious father of one of the boys reported him for physical abuse. The swimming coach was later cleared of the charge but handed in his notice shortly after his hearing and the sport lost a good coach.  

Although a hug, an arm around the shoulder or a pat on the head is acceptable under normal circumstances, care should be taken with any form of physical contact. Too much contact, especially with an athlete that might be considered to be a favourite, can place the coach at very high risk. Conversely, an athlete who is neglected may become a source of complaint. We all know that being continually ignored can have a strong emotional impact. Accusations of abuse can come from the most unexpected sources the reason being, of course, is that competitive sport by its very nature will always involve varying degrees of conflict.

The old adage ‘no pain no gain’ highlights the requirement for sports coaches to progressively overload an athlete and challenge them to reach higher standards in order that they can achieve. Disillusioned athletes will often reframe their historic experiences and cite the sports coach’s challenging behaviour as bullying. Even the best of athlete-coach relationships can break down and when they do a negative reframing will inevitably take place. That gentle pat on the buttock then evolves into the worst case scenario – accusations of sexual abuse.

 A well-known sports coach once revealed to me an incident that had the potential of destroying his career. He was approached by one of his female athletes who wanted some advice on using free weights. The two alone entered the gym at which point she removed her top leaving her wearing only a brassiere. Acting very quickly the coach immediately left the room and sought out one of his female assistants to accompany him into the gym. The point I am making here is that there may have been no complaint from the athlete at the time but what if at a later date the relationship breaks down and the athlete complains of sexual abuse – what then?

I would advise all sports coaches to conduct a personal Potential Problem Analysis (PPA) in each of the categories of abuse. First think of all the worst case potential problems and what might happen. Imagine even your best athletes turning against you, what could they say – “I was in the changing room alone when…” For each potential problem identify the likely cause and from this evolve a personal strategy for preventing complaints. Plan for the worst and hope for the best, as it is said.

Finally don’t expect too much support form an NGB or any committee – their track records are not too good. Join a professional body that has clear standards of behaviours and policies on ethics and who can support you in the event of complaints made against you. Contract with your athletes and committee, openly and honestly, regarding your sports coaching philosophy (as detailed in my previous article – Emotional Connections). Take care when working in areas where you are at serious risk such as changing rooms, toilets or even your own home or car. Be careful with physical contact, but at the same time don’t become a ‘hands off’ nervous coach – enjoy the relationships and express your emotions. Conduct a serious PPA and look after your own interests. Remember we are all at risk and anyone can raise a complaint against you, even the most loyal and trusted athletes can turn negative – so sports coaches please protect yourself!