I think this is actually a more astute analogy than you realize, because the only reason a coach would be asked that question in the first place is because there are questions about the player’s ability to perform—-as the sibling comment here notes.

Similarly, you don’t ask tech companies if they’re doing layoffs when the sector is booming.

That the question is even asked probably shoots the probability of benching/layoffs up to some ridiculous amount to begin with.

I agree, but I think the sports analogy is even more on point when it comes to sports management giving a vote of confidence to coaches. You only ever have to say anything like that when there are questions.

Coaches and players... they talk about each other a lot.

"Every banker knows that if he has to prove he is worthy of credit, in fact his credit is gone." -- Walter Bagehot

I've heard it called the Kiss of Death when general managers or owners publicly say similar things about their coaches.

In sports or in Irish politics were the Taoiseach might have to state he has "full confidence" of whatever individual in his administration when there are "irregularities" that have come to light.

https://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=taoiseach%20has%20full...

Might be true in other countries but I'm old enough to see this pattern play out a few times.

Didn’t know this had to look it up. This is one of the reasons why I’m on HN. TIL as a service.