List of Coaching Ethical Dilemmas

Coaches can face all sorts of problems. It can be helpful to consider them before they happen to your own team. The catch is–there’s not necessarily a right answer. Ultimately, it’s going to come down to your personal values. Some of these may be a big deal to you, some may not.

Also, when pondering/discussing these, think about something the Marines call hot/cold ethics. Cold ethics are what you’re going to do reading this–you’re going to think about it, have the time to create the optimal answer for the situation. You have the luxury of thinking, refining, and debating the question with others. Hot ethics are what happen in the moment–the point where you need a decision in seconds, when there is no time for debate and discussion, when emotions may be running high. Do you think you would react differently in the moment?

Does thinking about things like this in advance help when confronted by a situation?

*What do you do to a starter who is late for the bus to a match? With her on the court, you are guaranteed victory. Does it matter if the opponent is 3-18? What if it is for a conference title? Does it matter if it is a state/national championship?

*You have a great player who is not a good teammate? Do you nominate her for post-season awards?

*Your star player who will get you to State/Nationals next year has a problem with his grades. He is 0.5% short in one class of maintaining eligibility (either for a key period in HS or the upcoming season in college). Do you say something to his teacher? Would you say something even if you have never done that previously on behalf of an athlete?

*The official calls a ball out that was clearly in, scoring a point for your team. Do you make the honor call? Would it matter if it was in a blowout? What about game point? Taking place in a Region championship? A state/national title game?

*You get to vote on post-season team seeding. If you put CITY HIGH below where they ought to be, your team will get a better match-up. Do you put them where they ought to be or do you help your team?

*You get to vote on seeding. City High went 34-0 but you know they didn’t play any tough teams. Local High went 20-14 but played three teams that were mentioned on ESPN for being awesome and a generally tough schedule. Who do you rank higher?

*By mistake, you play an athlete in too many contests according to your state rules. He played mostly JV and a few points in five varsity sets. No one will ever know there was a violation unless you report it. Do you report it?

*When voting for post-season awards in a conference/region/area, should you permit your opinion of the player’s personality/attitude affect your vote?

*Your hitter needs 10 kills in the last match of the year to reach 1,000 for her career. She finishes with nine. Do you leave her one short of the mark or do you fake your stats to give her the record?

*You get five votes. The five best players are all from the same team. Do you vote for those five? Do you think it’s important to vote for the best single player from multiple schools/diversity on the all-whatever team?

*Your administrator says you need to start Jean instead of Pat. Pat is better than Jean. If you start Jean, you will still win. Who do you play?

*You overhear two players from a different sport badmouthing their coach. Do you say something to that coach? If so, do you keep the comments anonymous or do you tell the coach the player names?

*A player calls you out in front of a group in disrespectful fashion for an error. The player, however, is correct regarding the error. Do you discipline the player for the disrespect? Do you make a correction? If so, immediately or at a future practice?

A player tests positive for drugs. What do you do? Is your response contingent on the drug? Would you ask for a second test to confirm–even though you know the result will be the same–if it means she will qualify you for State/Nationals?

Two of your players have been accused of plagiarism/cheating by a teacher. What do you do? Do you get involved? Do you punish them immediately–or do you tell them to appeal, so they can play for the next week or two/make it to the end of the semester?

Just food for discussion and thought. These may never come up but a coach needs to make sure to plan for many eventualities and with problems like these, some forethought can save a lot of grief down the road because it’s easy to come up with the ‘cold’ solution–but even the best coach may choose a different path (even knowing the ‘right’ answer) when a ‘hot’ situation erupts.

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