Implementing trauma-informed approaches to coaches’ workplaces in sport to enhance their safety and wellbeing: A critical commentary

Journal article

McMahon, J., McGannon, J. and Brighton, J. 2025. Implementing trauma-informed approaches to coaches’ workplaces in sport to enhance their safety and wellbeing: A critical commentary. Sports Coaching Review. 21 (2), p. e70036. https://doi.org/10.1080/21640629.2025.2487754

Publication dates
Authors	McMahon, J., McGannon, J. and Brighton, J.
Abstract	Although safe sport strategies have focused on protecting athletes, coaches’ wellbeing and safety has received less attention. Given recent safe sport directives have been expanded to include all members involved in sport being protected from harm, coaches should not be left out of the discourse. In this critical commentary, we focus on coaches’ potential exposure to adverse events in their workplace, which may lead to them experiencing trauma. To underscore our commentary to include coaches, we draw on composite vignettes and media excerpts focusing on traumatic events experienced by coaches across sports and levels. Examples include coaches being threatened with, or being the recipient/s of violence, witnessing abuse, witnessing traumatic injury or death, and being bullied/cyber bullied, all of which have been linked to trauma. These examples support a case for why trauma-informed work environments should be prioritised by sport organisations to support coach wellbeing and enhance coach safety.
Keywords	Coach-trauma; Re-traumatisation; Workplace safety; Vignettes; Media
Year	2025
Journal	Sports Coaching Review
Journal citation	21 (2), p. e70036
Publisher	Taylor & Francis
ISSN	2164-0629
	2164-0637
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)	https://doi.org/10.1080/21640629.2025.2487754
Official URL	https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/cl2.70036
Print	11 Apr 2025
Publication process dates
Accepted	26 Mar 2025
Deposited	14 Apr 2025
Accepted author manuscript	File Access Level Restricted
Publisher's version	Implementing trauma-informed approaches to coaches workplaces in sport to enhance their safety and wellbeing A critical commentary.pdf License CC BY 4.0 File Access Level Open
Output status	Published
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