Elite Athletes' Experience of Coping with Emotional Abuse in the Coach-Athlete Relationship.

Abstract

In this paper, we explore the coping strategies used by elite athletes in response to emotional abuse experienced within the coach-athlete relationship. The athletes in this study adopted emotion- and avoidance-focussed coping strategies to manage their feelings in the moment that emotional abuse occurred. Over time, athletes accessed support networks and engaged in sense-making to rationalise their experiences. The potential of coping-level intervention to develop individual resources and to break the cycle of emotional abuse in sport is highlighted. We suggest that as primary agents of ensuring athlete’s protection, sport psychologists need appropriate safeguarding training.