7.4 Assessing the seriousness of concerns

1. Athletes being told to reduce their food intake by a coach as they are looking ‘heavy’ and should avoid eating fattening food. The answer is. Persistent or more serious. Explanation. The coach is controlling what the athletes eat as well as using language that could emotionally harm them. 2. After a poor sporting performance, a team manager sends angry phone messages to the athletes, including swearing. The answer is. Less serious. Explanation. This breach of the code of conduct is unlikely to represent a significant risk to the team – unless it becomes a regular pattern, involves racist, sexist, homophobic or other discriminatory language, or is regularly focused on one person. 3. There is a tradition in a team that requires every new athlete to demonstrate their loyalty by skating across the rink naked. All newcomers are forced to do this. The answer is. Possible abuse. Explanation. Although some people may view this as a practical joke, it is very serious. In many countries it could be a serious criminal sexual offence. It is also a serious breach of the code of conduct. 4. A coach in his thirties sends messages to a thirteen-year-old girl athlete. These start as praise for her performance and become more personal over time, progressing to him sending her sexual photos of himself. The answer is. Possible abuse. This is a very serious abuse of the coach’s position of authority and trust, and a clear breach of the code of conduct. This is likely to be a serious criminal sexual offence. 5. A junior player teases a teammate for his unusual haircut and encourages others to join in. The answer is. Less serious. Explanation. Assuming it is not part of a long-running campaign to bully and humiliate the player, this is a low-level breach of the players’ code of conduct. 6. A coach tries to assert his authority over a new training group by making the athletes train until they vomit. The answer is. Persistent or more serious. Explanation. This is a serious safeguarding concern, with the coach deliberately causing suffering among the athletes. Depending on the severity, and if part of repeated behaviour, it could amount to abuse. 7. A staff team member makes a comment to the strength and conditioning coach, suggesting that they should avoid displaying obvious signs they are gay. The answer is. Possible abuse. Explanation. This could be abuse if the team member is saying this because they are homophobic. It could also be to safeguard the coach, if they are playing sport in a context where being gay is illegal – a lot will depend on the context, the words used and the intention behind them.