Bullying Behavior by Athletic Coaches

Nancy L. Swigonski; Brett A. Enneking; Kristin S. Hendrix

doi:10.1542/peds.2013-3146

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Unfair characterization
Keith J. Loud

Published on: 28 February 2014
Unfair characterization
Keith J. Loud

Published on: 24 January 2014

Published on: (28 February 2014)

Unfair characterization
Keith J. Loud, Associate Professor of Pediatrics
As a practicing sports pediatrician, I was discouraged that the journal published this opinion piece which singles out athletic coaches among all adult authority figures who might bully. While I acknowledge that some coaches use "demeaning, shaming, and name-calling," such techniques are unfortunately also utilized by teachers in dance and other competitive endeavors. Without demonstrating that the rate of bullying (whi...
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As a practicing sports pediatrician, I was discouraged that the journal published this opinion piece which singles out athletic coaches among all adult authority figures who might bully. While I acknowledge that some coaches use "demeaning, shaming, and name-calling," such techniques are unfortunately also utilized by teachers in dance and other competitive endeavors. Without demonstrating that the rate of bullying (which readers cannot easily verify for themselves at PubMed as the authors seem to cite secondary rather than primary source references) is greater among athletic coaches than other adults, it is unfair to characterize such behaviors as "frequent."
Conflict of Interest:
None declared
Show Less

Competing Interests: None declared.
Published on: (24 January 2014)

Unfair characterization
Keith J. Loud, Associate Professor of Pediatrics
As a practicing sports pediatrician, I was discouraged that the journal published this opinion piece which singles out athletic coaches among all adult authority figures who might bully. While I acknowledge that some coaches use "demeaning, shaming, and name-calling," such techniques are unfortunately also utilized by teachers in dance and other competitive endeavors. Without demonstrating that the rate of bullying (whic...
Show More

As a practicing sports pediatrician, I was discouraged that the journal published this opinion piece which singles out athletic coaches among all adult authority figures who might bully. While I acknowledge that some coaches use "demeaning, shaming, and name-calling," such techniques are unfortunately also utilized by teachers in dance and other competitive endeavors. Without demonstrating that the rate of bullying (which readers cannot easily verify for themselves at PubMed as the authors seem to cite secondary rather than primary source references) is greater among athletic coaches than other adults, it is unfair to characterize such behaviors as "frequent."
Conflict of Interest:
None declared
Show Less

Competing Interests: None declared.