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Healthy coach-player relationship explored in light of misconduct allegations

Related Topics: Psychological abuse

The national debate surrounding emotional and psychological abuse at the hands of college coaches has been going on for years. Allegations have run the gamut from basketball to football and involved both men’s and women’s programs.

Over the last two months, former Penn State women’s gymnasts and women’s hockey players have come forward with allegations that they were mistreated by their coaches.

In March, several former hockey players alleged coach Josh Brandwene emotionally abused them, saying he went weeks without talking to them and manipulated them into teaming up against one another. Then earlier this month, former gymnasts said their coaches, Jeff and Rachelle Thompson, bullied some women about their weight, pressured them to train through serious injuries and asked women about their sex lives.