Imposing inappropriate expectations on an athlete is an example of what?

Imposing inappropriate expectations on an athlete falls under the category of emotional abuse. This type of abuse can manifest when a coach creates a hostile or excessively demanding environment that affects the athlete's mental and emotional well-being. By setting unattainable standards or pressuring the athlete to perform beyond their capabilities, the coach can cause feelings of inadequacy, anxiety, or low self-esteem in the athlete.

This is particularly damaging because it can lead to a range of negative psychological effects, such as increased stress, burnout, and a lack of enjoyment in the sport. In contrast, physical abuse would involve direct harm or injury, neglect pertains to a failure to provide necessary care or attention, and verbal abuse would involve denigrating or harmful comments directed at the athlete. Though those are serious issues as well, they don't specifically capture the emotional toll caused by imposing unrealistic expectations, making emotional abuse the most accurate classification in this scenario.