The Ethics of Sports Coaching by Hardman Alun R.;Jones Carwyn;McNamee Mike J.;Reid Heather;Parry Jim;

Author:Hardman, Alun R.;Jones, Carwyn;McNamee, Mike J.;Reid, Heather;Parry, Jim;
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Education
Publisher: Taylor & Francis Group
Published: 2010-09-15T00:00:00+00:00

Coaching and parent involvement

Much has been said of the ‘ugly parent syndrome’ and its impact on the sport experience; and none of it is good. Parents who abuse their children, the coaches and officials can undermine the potential of junior sport as a social practice to promote the educational and ethical development of young athletes. Yet there are other aspects of parent involvement in junior sport to be wary of or alert to. The following case study illustrates several of these:

Much of a junior State-level track and field competition is being conducted in, or interrupted by, rain, sleet and cold winds. On several occasions, events have been suspended temporarily as children in skimpy uniforms huddle together, whipped by the wind and rain, under flimsy canopies at each event venue. On one such occasion during the long jump, a concerned parent leans across the fence and tells his son to put on his track suit to keep warm. Upon noticing this, the event official issues a warning to the parent that he is ‘coaching’, that is, providing assistance to a competitor against the rules. Another parent weighs in, reminding the official that, after all, these are 10-year-old children who need protection from the severe weather conditions. Another official is summoned, who in turn issues a stern warning that her child too will be disqualified if she persists with her attempt to assist her child in this manner.

Not long after, when the long jump event resumes, a parent is seen taking his mobile phone out from his jacket to make a call. His son, who is marking out the run-up for the long jump, rummages through his equipment bag to take the call. Instructions follow from the father as to where the starting marker should be placed. He is heard to say ‘No, not there; another metre back.’ After the warm-up jump, the father calls his son again to have him make an additional adjustment to the run-up starting marker.

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