The coach is always right: Examining abusive coaching and criminal negligence in women’s sports

• In Event: Poster Session

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to examine the perpetuation of abusive coaching tactics in women’s high school and college sports. To do this, a media analysis was performed to explore sport culture supporting the “coach is always right” and normalizing grooming behaviors among coaches which perpetuates a toxic environment that can lead to abuse of athletes and a decline in athlete mental health and wellness. Our initial findings suggest that the mentality of the “coach is always right” perpetuates abusive behavior by coaches. There is often a gender dynamic whereby male coaches use misogyny and sexual abuse to maintain control of womens high school and college teams. Mental health and fair treatment of female athletes are two of the biggest issues in sports. The framing of abusive coaching in the media has the potential to put female athletes at risk. Best practices for institutions to curb these types of behaviors are suggested.

Authors

• Jennifer Hartsfield, Bridgewater State University

• Gwendelyn Nisbett, University of North Texas