Violence for Transcendence: Its Intersection with Sport Coaching

Abstract

This paper aims to (1) show the role of the violence done by coaches, which is referred to as corporal punishment within sport coaching, and (2) clarify the influence of this violence on players. For aim (1), the author examined the stages of sport coaching, they were connected to Bateson’s theory of leaning. The results revealed that in coaching, there is a stage involving an attempt to release players from their existing views and habits and make them transcend those views and habits. In this paper, this stage is prescribed as “transcendence II.” For the second aim, this paper considered the meaning of violence in human beings from the viewpoint of Bataille’s theory of violence. Referring to that theory, the author showed the condition and role of violence within sport coaching and its influence on players.

In conclusion, it is demonstrated that violence done by coaches is part of the “transcendence II” stage in sport coaching. Moreover, this paper finds such violence by coaches shatters player’s existing views and habits and can force players to change their view on sport. Therefore, the violence done by coaches should not be seen as unrelated to sport coaching but must be understood as part of the work of the “transcendence II” stage. This study points out that future solutions and ethical discussion of this issue should be carried out based on this understanding.