The physical danger is only one part of the tragedy.
When a young athlete dies, the emotional consequences can spread throughout the entire skating community.
For teammates, the person who used to share the ice with them is suddenly gone.
For coaches, there may be overwhelming grief mixed with difficult questions.
For parents, the tragedy may create fear about allowing their own children to continue participating.
For fellow competitors, it can make a sport they love suddenly feel frightening.
And for young fans, losing someone they admired can be difficult to understand.
A tragedy can change the emotional atmosphere of an entire rink.
The place that once represented excitement and possibility may temporarily become associated with grief.
Teammates May Need Special Support
Young athletes often develop unusually close relationships with teammates.
They spend hours together.
They travel together.
They celebrate victories together.
They experience disappointment together.
They understand the physical and emotional challenges of training in ways that people outside the sport may not.
When one teammate dies, the others may experience:
- Shock
- Sadness
- Anger
- Fear
- Guilt
- Anxiety
- Difficulty concentrating
- Loss of motivation
- Fear of returning to the ice
These reactions are understandable.
Young athletes should be given permission to grieve.
They shouldn't be expected to immediately return to normal simply because another competition is scheduled.
Coaches May Struggle With Their Own Grief
Coaches often develop deep relationships with athletes.
They may have watched a child learn to skate, experience their first competition, land a difficult jump, overcome failure, and gradually develop confidence.
Losing an athlete can therefore be devastating.
Coaches may also experience guilt.
They may ask themselves:
Could I have done something differently?
Should I have noticed something?
Was the practice environment safe enough?
Those questions can be emotionally overwhelming.
Support should therefore extend to coaches as well as athletes.
A grieving coach is still a grieving person.
