Research Ethics in the NHL

Our reading this week focused on research ethics.  Throughout the chapter it has mentioned that there are a great number of ethical issues that researchers tend to get themselves into.  When doing research, the researcher has to remember that they are dealing with people and that they have the choice to participate in a study if they want or do not want to.  The research process goes as usual.  Once the study is done than it is the researcher’s job to gather and process the data in order to come out with an answer.  Though, the researcher has to make sure that the data is accurate.

A code of ethics is considered to show the good and the right behavior held by a group.  Through researching online, I have found an article about ethics in the National Hockey League and how one coach was studied.  The study was done on Mike Babcock who is the coach for the Detroit Red Wings.  He is often named as one of the best coach’s in the NHL right now and he has also set a new record on the most games won on the road. 

The article reads that effective coaching is not only about technique and tactics but it is also made up of ethical principles.  In fact the Coaching Association of Canada has set up an ethical test or checklist on their website so that they can find out more information about ethical issues and coaching.  The article states four ethical principles that Babcock thinks should form the foundation to becoming the great coach you want to become.  These four principles are: integrity in relations to others, respect for athlete’s, coaching responsibility and honoring sports. 

At the end of the study, Babcock scored 95 out of 100 on the test but just because he did really well on the quiz, he still insists that every coach should take this in order to see what they need to work on.  It seems that a coach is not only a coach but is also a mentor to their players, to their fans and to their staff so if there seems to be something missing than there is no way to perform the way a coach should.  No matter what level you coach in, ethics is very important because it helps develop great people as well as great players.