Bill targets abusive coaching toxic school sports cultures

BOSTON (SHNS) – Two Newton lawmakers are hoping to begin to stamp out abusive coaching practices and the toxic culture of some middle and high school sports teams with a piece of legislation that would help districts emphasize self-awareness, self-control, and interpersonal relationships as skills that can help students succeed in sports, in their eventual careers and in life. “While sports can be a tremendous source of joy for many, the very structure of the sports team institutionalizes a power imbalance between authoritative coaches and voiceless students that invites abuse,” Mitch Lyons, a youth coach and the founder of GetPsychedSports.org…