One of the key takeaways that I share in every presentation that I do is the importance of making it safe to fail and from all forms of harassment, in this post I will expand on the latter.

Below is a summary of survey results of a study that True Sport posted in their 2008 report where respondents stated what they felt the most serious issues facing youth sports.

BONUS – Download a Free Copy of this Blog in PDF Format HERE  

 

 

 

 

Source: 2008 True Sport Report

1.  38% of those surveyed stated that the most serious issue facing community sports was Harrassment.

 

This includes bullying, cyberbullying, sexual harassment and hazing.

 

Sadly, I have either dealt with various forms of harassment personally as a parent or coach, or heard thru various colleagues who have.  The biggest challenge that we all have is many parents don’t know the differences nor do they know how they can escalate to the point where it can cause serious psychological, even physical harm to those who are victims of harassment.

 

Several initiatives have evolved the last two decades to remove harassment from sport but we still have so much work to do to educate coaches, parents and sports administrators what the various forms of harassment are and what we can do to remove for sport.

 

• Respect Group – formed by Sheldon Kennedy in 2004 as a result of the physical abuse he suffered while playing junior Hockey. They are responsible for the respect in sport program that parents, coaches, officials must take and now take refresher online course every few years.

Website:  www.respectgroupinc.com

• Erase Bullying – Established to eliminate bullying from sport.

Website:  www.erasebullying.ca

Here is a great video from some of sports icons in British Columbia in partnership with ViaSport

 

• Prevnet – Canada’s authority on research and resources for bullying prevention

They provide resources as well as links to all the other initiatives in Canada that are working on eliminating bullying from sport.

Website: www.prevnet.ca

• Stop Hazing – A Leading Resource for Hazing Research and Prevention

Website:  www.stophazing.org

Facebook: Make Hazing Stop

Hazing has traditionally been the right of passage for those pledging for universities and collegiate sports programs, but is now happening in youth sports.

Hazing differs from bullying as it is more about inclusion to participate (making the teams) vs. excluding individuals and it can start with subtle hazing (rookies having to pick up the pucks in practices) to hazardous hazing including drinking excessive alcohol, having to digest chewing tobacco and other vile substances or various forms of sexual harassment.

In 2005, one of Canada’s most prestigious universities, McGill, scrapped their football season due to a hazing incident and since that time there has been 40 other reported hazing incidents in Canada and the USA.

The biggest issue with Hazing, is that majority of incidents are NOT reported as the victims do not want to be the whistleblowers and jeapordize their opportunities to be included or accepted on the teams they are rookies on.  Some even feel that going thru hazing is the right of passage and any identifying marks they receive are “badges of honour”.

Below is another recent example where rookies on the Vancouver Whitecaps had their heads shaved (badge of honour) by their team mates;

 

If you go to the original tweet and review the comments, approximately 100 people tweeted and all but a few were beside themselves that rookie initiations like this were still happening.

2. The second most serious issue by 29% of the respondents was intolerance or racism.

Many organizations have developed campaigns to address the intolerance towards minorities, LGBT or those with disabilities.

Here are just a few that are doing great work

• ViaSport                         Website: viasport.ca
• Play By the Rules       Website: https://www.playbytherules.net.au/
• Right to Play                 Website: http://www.righttoplay.ca/Pages/default.aspx

Here is a short clip from Team Canada Athletes standing up for inclusion in sport

 

3. The 3^rd most serious issue (23%) was the lack of fair play, click here to read prior post how lack of fair play policies are one of the reasons why kids are quitting sports.

It still amazes me how one of the most serious issues facing youth sports contributing to the 70% drop out rate by age of 13 how few NSO/PSO or Regional/Local sporting associations don’t have fair play policies.  Even when they do, will turn a blind eye or sweep under the rug vs. disciplining towards coaches that breach the policies.  The argument that I receive all the time is it is so hard to get coaches to volunteer so associations would rather have challenges with retention than removing coaches who violate fair play policies?

In my third year coaching minor hockey, I found out that a player who was on our “team” (initiation no formal games played) who was 5 years old was sat on the bench for all games in his second year as the coach (who did not return to our association) sat him “because he was too small to play”

HE WAS 6 Years old!!!

The following year I reached out to his coach to do what he could to get him back on the horse, ensure he got playing time in games (which he said was a no brainer) but he quit hockey as too much damage was done the prior year.

Almost every year thereafter I heard similar stories, kids being deprived the opportunity to contribute to the outcome game after game and as a result, would quit a sport they once loved.

4. 18% of those surveyed stated injuries that kids were sustaining in youth sports.

This I believe is due to the early sport specialization phenomena that has arisen over the last decade where private business reach out to parents of kids are early as 7 years old to invest in private instruction, equipment and play year round to chase the dream of a NCAA scholarship or playing professionally.

Click here to read prior post on how early sport specialization does more harm than good

5. The fifth most serious issue from 18% of the respondents was focusing on winning/competition.

In the last couple of weeks two instances have arisen in the USA that we shared on our Facebook page.

The first was when the coach of little league world series team consisting of 12 year players agreed to accept a 2 game suspension in lieu of permitting one of his players bat when it came his turn in the batting order.  Really?  The kids were 12!  The little league world series is just that, LITTLE LEAGUE.  Another example how adults are competing with other adults thru kids.

Click Here to read the article

The second how a California High School Baseball Player is suing his former coach for $150,000, claiming that benching him was bullying.

Click here to read the article

Bullying Definition: The abuse and mistreatment of someone vulnerable by someone stronger, more powerful.

His lawyer is arguing the player was benched in 14 games over the course of 4 months as a result has not had an opportunity to demonstrate his offensive or defensive capabilities …“is an abuse of the coach’s discretion.”

Is it bullying or is it a coach having a fall-out with his player (AKA in the doghouse)?  Does it warrant the player filing a lawsuit for $150,000?

It has created a lot of debate amongst those in the youth sports space where in fact it is bullying or not.  Also if it warrants suing his head coach but only time will tell if it does go to court, and if so, it will be a precedent setting case for either side of the argument.

If you are a coach, administrator or the parent of a youth sports athlete, please do your research to understand the various forms of harassment affecting youth sport today so that we erase all forms so kids don’t suffer psychological or physical harm.

In lieu, provide them the opportunity to be included in a positive environment and instil the love of the game so they come back each year ultimately with a big smile on their faces and are active well into their adulthood.

Let’s work together to bring the game back to the kids … where it belongs.