Confidentiality Ethics When A Teams You Analyse for Plays Against a Team You Used to Analyse For

A CROSSING OF PATHS

I had the pleasure of visiting Team South Wales, the team I analysed for last season, with Polonia IMKA London, the team I currently analyse for this season, in the National Cup.  It was great to see everybody again, including some from Cardiff Celts, the team I coached last season.  Polonia comfortably won in 3 sets and I went home thinking I do miss Cardiff.

THE POTENTIAL ETHICAL DILEMMA

I have intimate knowledge and deep data on both teams.  So what happens if the Polonia (PIL) Coach asks me to do a scouting report of Team South Wales (TSW)?  Specifically, he asks to look at the data and videos I have of them from last season?  Although I didn’t sign a confidentiality contract, I do have an ethical responsibility not to release the data or videos.  This situation is actually an easy answer and I would have respectfully declined and kept the confidentiality intact.  It would be okay if PIL got permission from TSW to use the information or if PIL got a match video of TSW independently and I can do the normal scouting report.

But what happens if the PIL Coach casually asks what the team is like in general?  E.g. who the best players are, what system they play etc.  We do that all the time as volleyball fans talking about volleyball and particularly if we are watching a match live.  However, what I know about TSW is backed up with the analysis I have done for them and coaching sessions I have assisted in.  How can you separate what you know from that and what you know as a casual spectator?

Conversely, what happens if the Team South Wales Coach asks me for the same information, whether specific data and video or casually?  The same ethical issues applies here too.

Thoughts or comments?

Thankfully, neither coach asked me for that type of information so I escaped facing those particular ethical dilemmas.