The Power and Control Wheel: Abuse in Sports

Hello friends! We have another exciting new Mindbuffs Podcast for you, live in high definition video! We are starting another new series this week, entitled the Power and Control Wheel: Abuse in Sport. This series will explore the power dynamics between coaches and athletes, using the Power and Control Wheel to show examples of this dynamic being abused.

As the name implies, The Power and Control Wheel is a diagram we use to demonstrate ways abusers in sports use power to gain and control over athletes. A link to the Power and Control Wheel can be found HERE.

In the world of sports coaches, trainers and other people of influence will sometimes use their authority to threaten and manipulate an athlete. We realize that many coaches genuinely do not realize they are participating in this cycle but it doesn't excuse them from misusing their position as a leader. Abuse may sound like a loaded word but the psychological consequences athletes experience when their careers are in the hands of a person who doesn't understand how wield their power can be severe.

Grooming is a common behaviour in abuse. Abusers use their position of power to slowly gain their victims' trust before systematically breaking down interpersonal barriers between them. It's a longer more subtle process that can have several different motives for the coach.

Other common forms of abuse are Minimizing, Denying, and Blaming. By making light of a situation, shifting the blame, or outright denying that it ever happened, abusers gaslight their victims that the abuse did not happen or that it was a perfectly acceptable part of training.

Remember, abuse can come in many forms. Smaller, everyday incidents contribute to the problem. People will even sometimes invalidate their own experiences by comparing them to more severe stories they may have heard on tv or social media. This is called comparative suffering and no one wins when we do this. Any improper use of control where there exists a power differential can lead to normalization of abuse if the abuser is not held accountable. This culture of minimization can lead to emotional suppression among affected athletes and this, in turn, can lead to a dissociated state that can actually lead to physical injury.

When it comes down to it, as with so many things in life, communication is key to preventing abuse in sports. Coaches are not infallible. Players need to feel comfortable discussing their experiences with their coaches, as well as their teammates, friends, teachers, and families without fear of reprisal and shame. When an athlete does have the courage to speak out they need to be listened to and believed. The vast majority of abuse complaints are real. We need to start by acknowledging and supporting these individuals, encouraging self-advocacy and sharing concerns with a trusted individual.

We hope you join us for the next episode in the Power and Control Wheel series. The next episode will explore the relationship between coercion and isolation and their impact on mental health.