ethics for coaches laurie hubbs, lpc, ncc, acs, bcc ethics for coaches © laurie hubbs, 2014. all...

Ethics for Coaches © Laurie Hubbs, 2014. All rights reserved.

Ethics for Coaches

Laurie Hubbs, LPC, NCC, ACS, BCC


Session One: Ethics and the Coaching Profession

• Syllabus Review

• Class meetings: Aug 14, 21, 28, Sept 4, & 11

• Weekly small group meetings– Discussion– Homework– Divide up into groups


What is this class all about?

• What kinds of things did you think we would discuss in a class about Ethics for Coaches?

• One important rule in this class to remember: In discussion of ethics, there are no wrong answers. Ideas that are shared help us all think through the concepts from different perspectives. So, do not be afraid to share your ideas.


Ethics Defined

• Ethics– moral principles that govern a person's or group's

behavior.– the moral correctness of specified conduct.– the branch of knowledge that deals with moral

principles. – a set of moral principles, especially ones relating

to or affirming a specified group, field, or form of conduct.


Why Do Coaches Need an Ethical Code?

• Define accepted/acceptable behaviors• Establish a framework for professional behavior and

responsibilities• Create a culture of the profession• Promote high standards of behavior• Provide benchmark for members to use for self-evaluation• As a vehicle for occupational identity• As a mark of occupational maturity• A means for self-regulation• A means for self-promotion


Foundations for Ethical Thinking

• Five Approaches to Ethical Decision Making– Utilitarian Approach– The Rights Approach– The Fairness (Justice) Approach– The Common-Good Approach– The Virtue Approach


Utilitarian Approach: Ethical actions provide the greatest balance of good over evil

• Conceived in the 19th century by Jeremy Bentham and John Stuart Mill – to help legislators determine which laws were morally

superior. – 1. Identify the available courses of action. – 2. Ask (a) who will be affected by each action and (b)

what benefits or harms will be derived from each. – 3. Choose the action that results in the greatest

benefits and the least harm. The ethical action is the one that provides the greatest good for the greatest number.


The Rights Approach: Individuals right to choose

• 18th-century thinker Immanuel Kant and others like him.

• Actions are wrong when they violate the rights of individuals; the more serious the violation, the more wrong the action.

• In deciding whether an action is moral or immoral we must ask: does the action respect the moral rights of everyone?


The Fairness (Justice) Approach: How fair is an action?

• The teachings of Greek philosopher Aristotle, who said that "equals should be treated equally and unequals unequally."

• The basic moral question in this approach is: How fair is an action? Does it treat everyone in the same way, or does it show favoritism and discrimination?


The Common Good Approach: An individual’s good is inextricably linked to the good of the community

• Originated with Plato, Aristotle, and Cicero. • Ethicist John Rawls defines the common good as "certain

general conditions that are...equally to everyone's advantage." • Focus on ensuring that the social policies, social systems,

institutions, and environments beneficial to everyone. – Examples of goods common to all include affordable health care, a

just legal system, and an unpolluted environment. • While respecting and valuing individual freedoms, the

common-good approach challenges us to recognize and further those goals we all share.


The Virtue Approach: Strives for the full development of our humanity

• Assumes that there are certain ideals toward which we should strive.

• Focus on developing our highest potential. – Honesty, courage, compassion, generosity, fidelity, fairness

• The virtuous person is the ethical person.

• The Virtue Approach asks, What kind of person should I be? What will promote the development of my character and that of my community?


Small group meeting

• Download worksheet from LaurieHubbs.com

• Complete worksheet

• In small group discuss worksheet and come to class prepared to share your group process

ethics for coaches laurie hubbs, lpc, ncc, acs, bcc ethics for coaches © laurie hubbs, 2014. all...

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