Table 3

Physical abuse: classifications, constituents, and examples in sport

Relational maltreatmentClassificationsConstituentsExamples in sport
Physical abuseContact physical abuse
  • Punching, beating, kicking, biting, shoving, striking, shaking, throwing, stabbing, choking, burning, spanking, slapping, whacking, hitting with a stick, strap or other object

  • Punching, beating, kicking, biting, shoving, striking, shaking, throwing, stabbing, choking, burning, spanking, slapping or whacking an athlete

  • Hitting an athlete with sporting equipment out of anger or frustration

Non-contact physical abuse
  • Washing a person’s mouth with soap

  • Washing an athlete’s mouth with soap

  • Requiring an individual to remain motionless or in a seated position without a chair

  • Requiring an athlete to remain motionless in a seated or plank position for an unreasonable period of time (eg, beyond reasonable training demands) as punishment for unsuccessful performance

  • Forcing an individual to kneel on a floor grate

  • Forcing an athlete to kneel on a harmful surface (eg, gravel track)

  • Isolation in a confined space

  • Isolating an athlete in a confined space (eg, locking an athlete in a storage room)

  • Denying an individual’s use of the toilet

  • Not allowing an athlete to use the toilet during a training session

  • Denying access to needed water, food or sleep

  • Denying an athlete access to needed water, food or sleep

  • Withholding needed water, food or sleep as a training incentive

  • Forced physical exertion

  • Forcing an athlete to train extra or at a higher intensity as a form of punishment/out of anger or frustration (eg, forcing an athlete to train until they throw-up, demanding an athlete run extra laps because they did not perform well)

  • In order for the described behaviours to be defined as relational maltreatment, they must occur within a critical relationship.