ABSTRACT
Death is a reality of life, and the death of an athlete have a profound and lasting influence on any sporting team. Deaths in sport will occur, and it is important to be adequately prepared to support a team in managing the diverse and complex issues that will arise when a teammate dies. There are many examples from around the world of athletes dying suddenly and tragically from illness, accidents, and suicide. Limited information has been written specifically on the management of a death of a teammate in sport; however as grief and loss is a universal experience, it is imperative to look beyond sport psychology literature. Successful adaption to grief results from the interaction of environments, personal resources, the circumstances of the death, and how an individual appraises and copes with the event. Preventative intervention will reduce the likelihood of a complex bereavement outcome. Allow for individual differences in the way athletes cope with and respond to intervention strategies.
