INTERNATIONAL OLYMPIC ACADEMY 7th JOINT - IOA

The principle of
achievement – making no
fetish of achievement
A body ethic suitable for
children/teenagers – not
exploiting the body
My COACH never helps me to make plans
for school and for career.
My COACH sometimes talks to my teacher
in order to coordinate the demands of
school and training.
My COACH never talks to my teachers in
order to coordinate the demands of school
and training.
My COACH never reduces the training
load.
My COACH is happy in competitions
when I do well.
Our training is achievement-oriented and
fun-oriented.
Our training is purely achievementoriented.
When I am physically exhausted in
training, I still have to carry on until the
end of training session.
When I am physically exhausted in
training, I am allowed a short break
during training.
- 390 -
44.2 %
41.7 %
38.3 %
29.8 %
94.5 %
59.7 %
40.3 %
44.2 %
43.6 %
In general, while the majority of coaches are largely guided by
Meinberg’s ethical principles in their work with the young highperformance
athletes, a critical examination of individual principles
also reveals some transgressions. The athletes noted incidences of
behaviour on the part of coaches, which fall short of their ethical
expectations and have to be considered problematic or irresponsible.
Yet it must also be taken into consideration that the statements can be
interpreted differently depending on the situation and the specific
high-performance sport.
Correlations between the kind of sport and the degree of
conformity with individual principles are rare. Sport-specific
differences only occur with the implementation of the principle of
equality, the principle of suitability for children/teenagers, the
principle of participation and a body ethic suitable for
children/teenagers. As far as these principles are concerned, ethical
boundaries are transgressed most frequently by coaches in team
sports. This result highlights that discussions and criticisms of child
and youth high-performance sport should not only be based on sports