ABSTRACT
A substantial body of work exists on the nature of effective coach-athlete relationships generally and in women’s artistic gymnastics specifically. Commonly cited qualities of healthy coach-athlete relationships include closeness, commitment, complementarity, and co-orientation, referred to as the 3C +1 model developed by Jowett and colleagues (Jowett & Cockerill, 2003; Jowett, 2005, 2007). While the 3C +1 model of coach-athlete relationships has been validated through numerous studies, it is curious that these same qualities also arise in studies of athlete maltreatment within the coach-athlete relationship. Female artistic gymnasts have described their relationships with their sexually and emotionally abusive coaches as being characterised by trust, liking (and in some cases, loving), collaboration, and a commitment to common goals – the same qualities used to characterise effective relationships. This chapter will explore this contradiction and ways in which effective coach-athlete relationships may be developed and maintained with a priority of preventing athlete maltreatment.
