CIC Coaching Principles & Ethics 5 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A coach discovers that a competing school falsified an athlete's age to gain eligibility. Under coaching ethics principles, the appropriate response is to:
- Publicize the violation on social media to warn other coaches
- Document the evidence and report it to the appropriate governing body (Correct answer)
- Challenge the athlete's eligibility directly at the next competition
- Do nothing since it does not directly affect your team's record
Correct answer: Document the evidence and report it to the appropriate governing body
Reporting eligibility fraud through proper channels protects competitive integrity and upholds the coach's duty to the broader athletic community.
Question 2: Which of the following is the MOST important reason coaches must maintain clear professional boundaries with athletes?
- To comply with union regulations governing teacher-athlete relationships
- To prevent the misuse of the inherent power imbalance in the coach-athlete relationship (Correct answer)
- To ensure athletes do not become too emotionally dependent on each other
- To limit the coach's legal liability for team outcomes
Correct answer: To prevent the misuse of the inherent power imbalance in the coach-athlete relationship
The power differential between coach and athlete makes boundary maintenance essential to prevent exploitation or harm.
Question 3: A coach suspects that an athlete is being abused at home. According to coaching ethics and law, the coach must:
- Investigate independently before making any report to avoid false accusations
- Report the suspicion to child protective services or a designated school official immediately (Correct answer)
- Speak with the athlete's parents to give them a chance to explain
- Monitor the situation for two weeks before deciding whether to report
Correct answer: Report the suspicion to child protective services or a designated school official immediately
Coaches are mandated reporters and must immediately report suspected child abuse without conducting their own investigation.
Question 4: An athlete asks a coach to write a college recommendation letter. The coach does not feel the athlete is ready for the program they are applying to. The ethical action is to:
- Write a glowing letter to support the athlete's dream regardless of honest assessment
- Decline to write the letter or write an honest letter that reflects the coach's true assessment (Correct answer)
- Write the letter but privately warn the college admissions office separately
- Agree only if the athlete acknowledges they may not be admitted
Correct answer: Decline to write the letter or write an honest letter that reflects the coach's true assessment
Writing a dishonest recommendation letter violates the coach's integrity; declining or writing an honest letter are both ethically sound options.
Question 5: Which of the following scenarios represents an appropriate coach-athlete physical interaction?
- A celebratory hug in a private locker room after a championship win
- A congratulatory handshake or team celebration in a visible, public setting (Correct answer)
- Adjusting an athlete's posture by touching their waist without asking
- Massaging a fatigued athlete's shoulders after practice without consent
Correct answer: A congratulatory handshake or team celebration in a visible, public setting
Appropriate physical contact between coaches and athletes is public, consensual, and contextually appropriate to the sport or celebration.
Question 6: A coach uses a drill that has been reported in the coaching literature as having a high injury risk. Continuing to use it without informing athletes or parents most directly violates which ethical principle?
- Program efficiency
- Informed consent and duty of care (Correct answer)
- Competitive equity among teams
- Institutional loyalty to the school
Correct answer: Informed consent and duty of care
Using a high-risk drill without disclosing known dangers violates both the duty of care and the principle of informed consent.
Question 7: An interscholastic coach who consistently models ethical behavior, respects opponents, and prioritizes athlete development is best described as demonstrating which leadership style?
- Authoritarian coaching leadership
- Transformational and values-based leadership (Correct answer)
- Laissez-faire coaching philosophy
- Transactional performance-only leadership
Correct answer: Transformational and values-based leadership
Transformational and values-based leadership prioritizes developing the whole athlete, modeling ethics, and inspiring through integrity rather than authority or rewards alone.
CIC Coaching Principles & Ethics 5
A coach discovers that a competing school falsified an athlete's age to gain eligibility.
Under coaching ethics principles, the appropriate response is to: