Examining Coaches’ Perception of How Their Stress

Influences the Coach-Athlete Relationship

Legal Brief #1

Citation:
- Thelwell RC, Wagstaff CRD, Chapman MT, Kenttä G. Examining coaches'
perceptions of how their stress influences the coach-athlete relationship. J
Sports Sci. 2017 Oct;35(19):1928-1939. doi: 10.1080/02640414.2016.1241422.
Epub 2016 Oct 8. PMID: 27719269.

Facts:
- One individuals stress can affect how others feel
- Athletes who perceive that their coach is stressed show negative effects
- It is harder to perform or do a job when dealing with feelings of stress

Issues:
- Does a coaches stress have any positive impacts on their athletes and how well they do
their job?

Ruling:
- Some coaches believe that their stress has some positive impacts on their athletes. Maybe
they are willing to work hader, compete with more energy, try to take some stress off of
their coach. The overwhelming consensus is that this is not true. Stress causes stress.

Rationale:
- Emotions are often easy to perceive, especially if you know the individuals well. Stress is
easy to see and affects how well a job is done.

Conclusion
- A Coach is a leader. Athletes are constantly looking to them to see how they should act.
If a coach is portraying that they are stressed and not visibly attacking the stress and
trying to work through it the athletes will catch on. Attitudes are contagious, so if the
athletes show up to practice and are not welcomed into a positive environment things can
become very difficult very quickly. Without a positive mindset it is difficult to be very
successful.
 School, Coach Sued for Negligence in Runner Injury
Legal Brief #2

Citation:
- https://www.athleticbusiness.com/civil-actions/middle-school-coach-sued-for-negligence-
in-runner-injury.html

Facts:
- A student was injured on school property
- The students parent filed a negligence claim, saying the coach didn’t provide a safe
environment
- A ministerial act is a duty performed in a prescribed manner with the exercise of
judgement or discretion. The coach was required to perform coaching duties and
therefore it was a ministerial act.

Issues:
- Was the students injury due to the coaches bad judgement or discretion?

Ruling:
- The coach was found not guilty, the act was deemed non-ministerial.

Rationale:
- The School handbook stated that the coach must ensure a safe environment and creating
safeguards. It did not say exactly how the coach should act or what the coach needs to do
to ensure a safe environment. It leaves it up to each coaches discretion and what their
team might need.
- The coach can not protect the athlete from every injury or possible harm they may
endure.
- Most sports can be physically dangerous and most schools will have you sign a blanket
waiver claiming you know the risks that you are taking by participating.

Conclusion:
- Injuries happen, even in a non-contact sport like running. We live in a time where more
and more legal cases are being brought about for things that aren’t anyone's fault and
don’t really have an explanation. It is important to do everything you can to protect
yourself and your colleagues from legal ramifications. While still doing your job to the
best of your ability and providing the best experience for your athletes.