Why Modern Coaching is Failing to “Do No Harm”: And What to Do About It

Primum non nocere. Do No Harm.

While this principle originated with Hippocrates around 400 BC and remains part of modern medicine’s Hippocratic Oath, it wasn’t fully realized in healthcare until Florence Nightingale emerged as a volunteer nurse during the Crimean War from 1853 to 1856. She encountered not only the pressures of wartime medical care but also the disastrous state of nursing and healthcare. The practices of nurses and doctors were not just ineffective; they were harmful. Despite good intentions, they lacked the necessary knowledge to effectively treat patients, leading hospitals to actively contribute to deaths.

Nightingale was more than just a generous volunteer caring for the sick—she was intelligent, curious, and revolutionary. She invested time in learning best practices in nursing, focusing on hygiene, sanitation, and statistical analysis to improve hospital conditions. She didn’t just reform nursing; she transformed healthcare. For instance, during World War II, 80 years later, the Army Medical Services were still using the accounting system she designed.

Among her many contributions, her greatest legacy—and the reason she is known as the founder of modern nursing—is the training she introduced for nurses. She established the first scientifically based nursing school at St. Thomas' Hospital in London in 1860. By setting high standards, she reduced the death rate by two-thirds.

Nightingale’s approach offers valuable insights for sports administrators, coaches, and parents. While sports participation is often linked to reduced anxiety and depression, advancing to higher competition levels can increase the risk of mental health issues, including burnout, substance abuse, and identity challenges. As for character, research shows sports may develop performance traits like grit and goal-setting, but their impact on moral traits such as empathy, integrity, and teamwork is less clear. Sports can often foster aggression and a "win at all costs" mentality.

The reality is, we don’t need research to tell us what we already know and have experienced as athletes, coaches, parents, administrators, and fans. In many cases, sports are harming young people due to the pressures of social media, scholarships, overtraining, toxic team cultures, and negative coaching and parenting behaviors.

To address these issues, we need to do more than require coaches to complete safe sport training or talk about mental health. Like Nightingale, we need to address the entire system. We must study, research, and discover better ways to coach, parent, and organize leagues and competitions. Then, we need to advocate for change—just as Nightingale did. And like her, we need to train coaches on these best practices and hold them accountable.

For too long, coaches have had too much autonomy in how they run their teams. Standardizing methods, processes, and procedures is essential if we want to improve sports outcomes. Recently, when speaking with a club director overseeing 30 teams, 60 coaches, and 500 athletes, he said, “There are many ways to coach, and honestly, who am I to judge how anyone else coaches? As long as they’re getting results, it doesn’t matter how they do it.” This wasn’t the first time I heard this argument. Another common argument is, “Coaching is an art, not a science.” That’s not true—coaching is both.

While nurses may have different bedside manners, there are best practices for tasks like drawing blood or washing hands, based on evidence and standards that ensure patient safety. It’s not just about personal preference; it’s about following proven methods for the best outcomes.

Similarly, in coaching, evidence-based practices create better conditions for athletic performance, character building, and mental health. To improve sports, we need to adopt a more aggressive approach, like Nightingale’s—setting high standards and training coaches to meet them. Like healthcare, coaches who fail to meet these standards should be removed.

What Can You Do?

1. Educate Your Coaches
   Like Nightingale trained nurses, you need to train your coaches. The argument that coaches don’t have enough time is outdated. The way they coach is costing everyone—team culture, athlete performance, and mental well-being all suffer when coaches aren’t trained in best practices.

I’m passionate about providing coach education that improves the most critical aspects of their work. That’s why I’ve developed a suite of coaching courses offering practical education and resources (step-by-step guides, scripts, and templates) to simplify the coaching process. Here are online courses you could offer your coaches:

• Foundations of Coaching (1 Hour)
• Transformational Coaching & Culture Certification Levels 1, 2, and 3 (Approximately 3 hours per level)
• Working with Sports Parents (35 minutes)
• The Playing Time System (35 minutes)
• The Competitive Cauldron (30 minutes)

Fill out this form if you're interested in purchasing for your organization at a significant discount. Coaches worldwide are taking these courses through their schools, clubs, and associations. Recently, associations like the Coaches Association of Ontario and the Colorado High School Activities Association have mandated our Foundations of Coaching Course for all new coaches in the state.

2. Create a List of Standards and Expectations for Your Coaches
   These should include behavioral standards (e.g., taking an interest in each athlete) and behaviors you will not tolerate (e.g., shaming or tearing down athletes). Expectations around processes for building a strong culture, creating a supportive environment, and developing character should also be included.

In the organizations I’ve worked with, I’ve co-created these lists with head coaches to align them with the club’s mission and values. Coaches sign this agreement yearly, share it with parents and athletes, and commit to meeting these standards. Coaches who repeatedly fail are let go.

3. Coach Your Coaches Through Development Plans
   Every coach needs coaching. Sit down with them before the season to set goals for team culture and leadership, identify areas for improvement, and establish commitments. Ask, “What can I do to help you be successful?” and document it. Check in with them at least once mid-season and again at the end. These aren’t performance reviews but supportive conversations.

Should We Work Together?

I’m a certified executive coach and facilitator, specializing in team culture, leadership, and character development in sports since 2017. I consult with teams, athletic departments, clubs, and NGBs committed to improving their coaches and developing team culture. My consulting packages include online courses for coaches, on-site facilitation, and 1:1 coaching for leaders. If you’re interested, schedule a call to see if you’re a good fit for TOC.

P.S. I often speak at conferences for coaches and administrators. If you think I might be a good fit for your next event, feel free to reach out here.