Being an international student from Brazil, my main objective of coming to the U.S was to get a better education as my first priority then playing soccer comes second. In my scenario of having acquired an injury during one of the matches can be argued out from different fronts basing on both the biblical principles and ethical considerations. In my scenario, it is depicted that I had a knee injury while playing for the school and the MRI results clearly showed that there was an extreme damage. A critical analysis of the facts shows that a lot had been invested in me. The coach could not accept my staying out because of the injury. Additionally, considering my coach’s side, he is expected to produce better results always. Therefore, I being one of the key players in the team, it was very difficult for him to come to terms with the fact that I should stay out for some time to allow the injury to heal.
When looked at from the perspective of ethics, it is professionally ethical that the coach respects the medical report from the medical practitioners. A doctor who can tell how fatal an injury might be and whatever he or she recommends for the player has to be respected in order to avoid more harm to the player (Desbordes and Chadwick 214). Therefore, by trying to force the student to continue playing despite the injury is unacceptable in a manner that could result to more fatal injuries to the player that may affect the team’s performance even the more. It is professionally unethical to force a player with an injury to play. This is because it may end up ruining his or her career if another injury occurs and brings even worse effects to the player. What the coach should know is that as much as his intentions are for the good of the team, the results of his approach might end up ruining the team and bring worse results.
The coach should not at any time force a player to play when the medical report vividly shows that the player has an injury that should be given some time to heal even if its minor (National Soccer Coaches Association of America 117). It is ethical and more human to consider the health of the player first before the interests of the team. Most of the doctors and other medical practitioners interviewed concerning this issue happened to argue in favour of the health of the player before any other interest (Desbordes and Chadwick 231). From the research, they argued that since the player was a valuable asset to the team, it was extremely beneficial that the coach treats him carefully in order to prevent the occurrence of a fatal injury that might see the player out for a longer hence affecting the team’s performance.
In relation to the biblical principle of obedience, the player is answerable to the coach and the coach is the immediate master to him. Therefore, it was against the biblical principle of obedience from the player’s side to disobey the coach’s demands; his was to obey what his master commanded of him (Ephesians 6:5). However, the same Bible goes ahead to give instructions to the masters (coach in this context) to treat their servants well. Therefore, the coach was required to respect the health condition of the player and cease from putting a lot of pressure on the player just because he was more concerned of the short-term performance of the team without acknowledging the fact that this player had also a future to live (Ephesians 6:9).
Works cited
Desbordes, Michel and Chadwick, Simon. Marketing and Football: An International
Perspective. Butterworth-Heinemann Ltd., 2006. Print
National Soccer Coaches Association of America. The Soccer Coaching Bible eBook. Human
Kinetics, 1998. Print
The holy Bible: Ephesians
