CAN I TALK TO YOU? A STUDY OF HOW ATHLETES COMMUNICATE INJURY TO A COACH

This thesis explores the complexity within the communication between an athlete and coach regarding injury and illness, through the theoretical framework of structuration theory. The purpose of this research was to fill a gap in current literature concerning the ways in which athletes communicate with coaches about injury and illness, as well as barriers that limit this interaction. Four research questions were formulated to focus the study on how athletes prepare and approach interactions regarding injury and illness; the ways in which gender influenced communication; the influence communication rules, beliefs, and values in athletic organizations had on injury and illness disclosure; and how communication interactions influenced athletes’ decisions about disclosure. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with current collegiate athletes from a west-coast university. It was discovered that athletes go through a process of various steps before an interaction with their coach occurs. Gender differences did not provide extreme influence on communicative behavior, although there were linguistic differences in the ways injury was discussed. The university rule-system was identified as common knowledge amongst athletes, but was often ignored. Communication interactions amongst teammates, trainers, and prior experience with a coach were found to provide the most influence for injury disclosure. This study further discusses the implications rising from the extent athletes are willing to push their health in order to participate and the problems that can develop when injuries are not disclosed to a coach. This study concludes by offering suggestions for organizational protocols to deal with this phenomenon.