As the school's fall sports season comes to a close and the winter sports season begins, I thought I would take a moment to talk about an often-overlooked aspect of bullying - bullying in sports. With so much emphasis on team-building and the benefits of participating in sports, it often comes as a surprise to most people that bullying in sports even exists. But it does.
When someone mentions bullying and sports in the same sentence, most people visualize a clique of football players who stick together and bully others in school. But this type of bullying is only a small percentage of the bullying in sports problem. In fact, bullying takes place inside the locker room just as much as outside of it.
There are a variety of types of bullying that kids on sports teams may experience. For instance, some teams have hazing rituals where they "initiate" the newer, younger members. Meanwhile, some athletes will bully other members of their own team. These bullies might try to intimidate or ostracize the team's best player or they might single out the weakest or smallest player on the team and engage in name-calling or other put downs. The reasons that bullies target others vary. But it is clear, that it's a growing area of concern for schools.
The best way for coaches to address bullying in sports is to develop a sports bullying prevention program upfront, prior to the start of the season. This program should include team-building ideas and methods for empowering young athletes to stand up to bullying. It also should contain a component that clearly outlines what the school and the coach expect from the players. Lastly, it should contain a component that addresses why bystanders on the team might remain silent.
Fortunately for me, my daughter has not been a victim of bullying while participating in sports. And, I have not witnessed any sports bullying personally. But I have heard others talking about bullying issues in all types of sports at my daughter's school and it troubles me.
Participating in sports is so important to a young person's health and development. It's also a great avenue for building self-esteem, perseverance and resiliency. And, empowering athletes to stand up to school bullying can be extremely effective. But when parents, coaches and schools aren't addressing the possibility of bullying upfront and cultivating an attitude of respect on the team, then problems will arise.
Athletes are competitive by nature. They know how to persevere and they want to win. And these are great qualities. But young athletes can take things too far if they are not mentored by adults who stress treating others well.
If your child has plans to join a sports team this season, be proactive when it comes to bullying. For instance, organize a team bonding party at your house or a local establishment. This is a fun way for the team members to get acquainted and build a relationship. Kids are less likely to bully one another if they have developed a friendship.
For more ideas on how to address bullying in sports, check out 6 Mistakes Coaches Make About Bullying, 8 Ways Parents Can Address Bullying in Sports, 4 Reasons Why Empowering Athletes Can Prevent School Bullying and 8 Ways to Empower Athletes to Prevent Bullying.
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