When you think about ethical coaching, what comes to mind? Who gets to decide what are best practices? What should happen to those who cross the line?
Federations, clubs, Olympic Committees and International organizations will never agree. The lowest common denominator marks the spot and then the rest just falls away. There are huge differences between countries and different sports. Witnessing those differences is heart breaking.
Far too often, the good guys are the ones who are forced out because when your goal is to be the best, anything else just feels wrong. That is the reality.
If you have never considered what is important to you, then take a look below. No matter what is officially the standard where you are and for what you are doing, always know that you can expect higher performance of yourself and then set the example for others.
- Ageism
- How old are your clients? What considerations do you make for them? After experiencing a team selection based on age, I know the National Team Selection can be heavily biased. Thankfully the court agreed.
- Study of athlete ages by Centre for Excellence
- Anti-doping
- WADA World Anti-Doping Agency Prohibited Substances
- Speak Up to report any anti doping violations
- Therapeutic Use Exemptions – be careful with everything you put into your body
- ARTICLE 17 STATUTE OF LIMITATIONS is 10 years
- World Archery states Roles and Responsibilities of Athlete Support Personnel 35.22.2.4 To disclose to his or her National Anti-Doping Organization and to WA any decision by a non-Signatory finding that he or she committed an anti-doping rule violation within the previous ten years.
- Certifications
- A coach is not good just because of a piece of paper.
- Always keep learning. Improve those areas of interest.
- Become a coach of coaches if you can.
- Child Protection
- Any coach that assaults a child or any other person of any age, should never be allowed to coach ever again. If you you know something about anyone with this kind of evil background, then report it officially. Never hide the truth.
- As kids leave training sessions, there have been many times when just waiting with them until their ride came made a difference.
- If a youth wants to talk with you about something, know that you may be required to report to the police and/or youth services.
- Go and meet with the police when you start coaching to see what issues exist in the community
- Perspective-on-coaching-and-bodily-contact/
- TBI – “Today, we recognize that no concussive hit to the head is benign.”
- Coaches’ Contracts
- Money, time, residence, travel, interactions, meetings… get everything in writing. Have the contracts reviewed. Never doubt that some people want to take advantage of the situation so have enough emergency funds and a way out if needed. Report anything illegal to Immigration and Police.
- You do not have stay silent. NDAs do not cover when something is against the law.
- Confidentiality
- You will be told many things. Foreigners have a special way of bringing new perspectives to any situation. Why have some athletes dropped out, how is money allocated, how are ‘stars’ treated, what happens when complaints are made… As a/the coach, your role may be to find solutions to anything that comes up but you have to know the truth of what is happening.
- Once someone trusts you enough to tell you what is really going on, then you must keep that trust even if you are the one that has to leave.
- Your reputation is everything.
- Lotto Funding
- As a main supporter of many sports in many countries, lotto funds are a necessity. Learn how the system works. Call out the cheaters. But be careful… certain players will do anything not to be caught.
- Media Relations
- Some journalists are amazing. Other suck.
- Do not waste your time with those who are looking for headlines instead of having the guts to dig and make the situation better for the public.
- Ombudspersons
- Thankfully, many countries have fully independent persons who can investigate issues when organizations have failed. Keep records of everything even if it is good on day one. You never know when or who will try to get you to lower your standards.
- Police Checks
- Those with visas must complete Police Checks just to move to a new country and start their jobs.
- Locals need to have checks done depending on their countries’ laws but if no law exists then the club can have their own rules.
- Sponsorship
- Never sell out.
- Advise your athletes to review every contract.
- The money from a brand will never be worth your reputation.
- Sportsmanship
- Win or lose, the treatment of others matters. Yes there are idiots out there and it sucks that they are even in the same space, but your words and actions matter at all times. Shake hands and leave.
- Team Selection
- Whose decision is it? Is the criteria fair? What happens when the selection is not matching what you are seeing in practice?
- Travel Conduct
- Representing a nation should be a huge honour. When athletes, coaches or Federation members behave in a disrespectful manner then the Sports Courts are obliged to step in.
- Tax payers have funded those trips. Never accept behaviour which tarnishes your reputation.
- Always lead by example on the field and off.
- Women’s Sport
- You are allowed to have opinions on this but you must obey the law. Know your rights as a coach and always stay safe.
- Women’s Sport must be protected. Federations set the standard not the IOC (exceptions due to politics do not change what the true basis is between male and female sport classes) Further details on some issues can be found here.
- Youth Development
- The average age of the Olympians in Rio was 26. Study by Centre for Excellence
- Demanding youth to reach Elite levels while their bodies and minds are under constant stress is a recipe for disaster. Learn to recognize the triggers and empty eyes of those just trying to get through the day without loading up heavy sessions and causing even more stress to those not yet ready for higher level demands.
- Here is a great article by John O’Sullivan
- Prior to age 12: 80% of time should be spent in deliberate play and in sports OTHER THAN the chosen sport!
- Age 13-15: 50/50 split between a chosen sport and other athletic pursuits
- Age 16+: Even when specialization becomes very important, 20% of training time should still be in the non-specialized sport and deliberate play.
Building up links is a constant process. As feedback continues, keep checking back for more, but I do hope that these you started to think about what you believe is the right thing to do.
Kelea Quinn 