Complaints can be made for a variety of reasons: an upset participant, concerned parent, and carer, from an official, through your governing body. A malicious complaint could be made by someone unhappy with a coach’s decision around selection, coaching practices, how they treat an individual, or opportunities they are providing participants.
It would be naive to think a complaint could never be made against you. Let’s explore, with Daniel Hale and Charles Vasilakakos, law students at Sussex University, what rights you have as a coach if you ever find yourself subject to a complaint and investigation.