Conduct is a joint responsibility: Former hockey captain
Integrity and credibility are paramount in a trainee-coach relationship. The coach’s character must be above reproach. The interaction between coach and athlete happens at various levels, so if there’s even an element of doubt in the athlete’s mind, communication breaks down.
Everything from conduct to functioning and decision-making prowess comes under the scanner. A coach is supposed to be an inspirational figure. It’s not uncommon for an athlete to play for the coach, but when there is doubt in the mind, the equation changes. It affects the morale of the athlete.
I think conduct is a joint responsibility, as long as both parties involved are adults. There are certain lines that cannot be crossed by both coach and athlete. At the end of the day, you are both professionals, that’s primarily how a coach and an athlete are viewed, irrespective of gender.
I don’t think male coaches will have a problem coaching women’s teams in the future because of what has happened in the last week with the women’s hockey team simply because there are job hazards everywhere and when you take up a job these are not the thoughts that dominate your mind. We are all professionals. Everyone knows what’s right and wrong, you don’t need the world to point that out to you. As long as you are capable of working in an ethical framework, you have nothing to worry about.
I want to make this absolutely clear, I’m not taking a call on the present situation between the Indian women’s hockey team and coach MK Kaushik. That issue is being handled by the concerned people.
(Viren Rasquinha is a former Indian hockey captain and currently COO of the Olympic Gold Quest).