Coaching Principles & Ethics Flashcards

An athlete's parent pressures a coach to guarantee their child a college scholarship in exchange for a large booster donation. The ethical coach should:

Answer: Decline to make any guarantees and report the offer to the athletic director

Accepting donations tied to preferential treatment or promises constitutes an ethical violation and must be reported to administration.

Which principle guides a coach in making playing time decisions that are ethically sound?

Answer: Consistency and merit-based criteria applied equally to all athletes

Ethical playing time decisions are based on consistent, merit-based criteria communicated to all athletes and applied without favoritism.

A coach is approached by a local business to sponsor the team in exchange for the coach personally promoting their product to athletes and parents. This situation raises concerns about:

Answer: Exploitation of the coach's position of influence for personal or commercial gain

Using a position of authority to promote commercial products to athletes and families represents an exploitation of the trust relationship inherent in coaching.

What is the ethical framework behind the concept of 'in loco parentis' as it applies to interscholastic coaches?

Answer: Coaches assume a duty of care toward athletes similar to that of a parent while athletes are in their supervision

'In loco parentis' means coaches act in place of parents and bear a duty of care to protect athletes' wellbeing while under their supervision.

A coach wants to cut an athlete from the team mid-season due to a personality conflict. Ethically, what should the coach consider first?

Answer: Whether the decision is based on objective performance factors, not personal bias

Mid-season cuts must be based on objective, documented performance criteria to avoid discrimination and protect athlete rights.

Which of the following best exemplifies a coach modeling ethical sportsmanship after a loss?

Answer: Graciously congratulating the winning team and identifying lessons learned

Modeling sportsmanship after a loss by congratulating opponents and focusing on growth demonstrates the ethical conduct coaches are expected to model.

An athlete's religious observance conflicts with a mandatory practice schedule. The ethically appropriate coaching response is to:

Answer: Work with the athlete and administration to find a reasonable accommodation

Ethical coaches respect religious diversity and work within school policy to provide reasonable accommodations for religious observance.