ABSTRACT
This book’s critical analysis of the relationship between coaching, sport and the law is drawn together in this chapter to identify important implications for coaches exercising their duty of care. The chapter discusses some of challenges faced by sports coaches associated with possible excesses of coaching behaviour, the dangers of negligent entrenched practice, the differing environments in which coaches perform their functions and the tendency for the prevailing standards required of coaches to heighten over time. The implications highlighted are of particular relevance when reflecting on the (un)reasonableness of some coaching behaviours, the benchmark of regular and approved coaching practice and the associated Bolam ‘defence’. Since coaching is dependent upon volunteers, largely unregulated, and devoid of a commonality of occupational practice, an assessment of the indicators of coaching competence might sometimes be problematic. This reinforces the significance of formal qualifications as ideal indicators of requisite skill. This chapter’s analysis relates to the full range of the duties of coaches. The chapter concludes by emphasising a number of broader considerations related to coach education, training and development and the role of national governing bodies of sport in adequately preparing coaches so that they can effectively discharge their duty of care.
