Equal Opportunities Officer
Training
"Sports Equity is about fairness in sport, equality of access,
recognising inequalities and taking steps to address them.
It's about changing the culture and structure of sport to
ensure that it becomes equally accessible to everyone in
society"
Sport England 2000
Session Outline
• Who is disadvantaged in sport?
• Barriers to participation
• Challenging inequitable behaviour
Title with inequitable behaviour
•Slide
Dealing
• Action plan for your role
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Sheffield Hallam University Union of
Students
Sports Union Clubs Model Constitution
8.6.1
ensure that the Club is committed to equality
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of opportunity for all.
8.6.2 To ensure that the club has a clear and
transparent selection policy for team selection or entry
to a club activities.
8.6.3 To liaise with the Sports and Physical Activity
Officer for equal opportunities on any issues.
Who is Disadvantaged in Sport?
Although many different groups of people are disadvantaged in sport. There are
particular groups of people who generally experience discrimination on a more
regular basis
• Disabled people
• People from minority ethnic communities
Slide
Title and girls
• Women
• Economically disadvantaged people
• People of different ages
• Gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people.
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Remember: some people may fall into more than 1 category. These aren't the
only ones. It's important to identify who these people are and seek advice
Barriers to Participation
What do you think could be barriers to participation in your sport?
• Lack of awareness of activities on offer
• Inconvenient times
• Lack of spare time
• Domestic/
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• Inconvenient venues
• Poor facilities
• Lack of transport
• Fear for personal safety travelling to/from venue
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• Expense of participation
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• Previous negativedolor
experiences
at school)
• Lack of motivation
• Parental attitudes and influences
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Equality Strand
Barriers
Session OutlineAssumptions
Lack of informed coaches
Disabled people
Poor communication
Poor facilities
Minority Ethnic Groups
Cultural/ Religious Influences
Fear of discrimination
Unwelcoming environment
Women and Girls
Practical - personal safety, lack of female coaches
Personal - body image, lack of confidence, peer-group pressure
social and cultural -
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People of Different Ages
Economically Disadvantaged
People
LGBT
Attitudes of others
Other commitments
Low self esteem
Poor communication
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Cost of activity
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Inconvenient venue - travel cost
Low self-esteem
Attitudes of others
Low self-esteem
Fear of bullying
Task
• Discuss in your groups the scenario on your table
• What would you propose to do if the situation
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arose at your club?
• How would you approach the situation?
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1 more disadvantaged group
•
•
Does your club have a trial process?
Does your club solely focus on training for competing in BUCS?
You are not being equitable to:
'Low ability' participants or beginners
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Can you be more equitable?
•
•
•
Is there capacity in your club to have development squads?
Can you have more teams (if not entered into BUCS, a local league?
Can you signpost them to other activity at the University?
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Simple questioning at the sports
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filter out
those who should trial,
and those who should be signposted to 'recreation activity'. The way your club
handles this should be done in an equitable way
Task
In your groups..
1. List equitable ways a club could handle
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'low ability'/ beginners
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2. List inequitable
ways
a
club
would
handle
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'low ability'/beginners
Challenging Inequitable Behaviour
As Equal Opportunities Officer you have a responsibility to behave equitably
yourself and promote equitable behaviour among your club members.
Type of Inequitable
Behaviour
Examples
Verbal
•
•
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Racist, sexist or homophobic language.
Ridicule or bullying because of a personal characteristic (e.g being
disabled)
Written
All of the above written in some way (eg mobile phone text, social media)
Physical
Action taken against somebody because of their race, gender, personal
characteristics, sexuality. Examples include:
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o
o
o
o
o
o
o
Pushing
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Punching
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biting
Tripping up and pretending it was an accident
touching somebody inappropriately
stealing or destroying other people's property
excluding somebody from taking part
Dealing with Inequitable Behaviour
• Having a code of practice
• Avoid confrontation
• select the most appropriate time and place to challenge
inequitable behaviour
• Be a good role model
•Slide
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language that is relevant, sensitive and appropriate
• devise a way to punish persistent offenders
• devise a way to reward fair play and equitable behaviour
• Just because one person doesn't take offence, others might point this out.
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If you feel you can't dealdolor
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situation.
Note
down the problem
and speak to Students' Union staff.
Your Role
Action Plan:
• If someone feels discriminated. How can they make
themselves heard?
– Will you introduce yourself as Equal Opps? Be approachable?
– Promote how someone can contact you if they have a problem?
– If you can't deal with the situation, do you know who to go to for help?
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• How will you make sure your club understands equal
opportunities?
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– How are you going to share the information your learnt today?
– What procedures are you going to put in place? already in place?
• Does your
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club have
selection
policy?
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– Is it fair?
– Who makes sure the policy is followed? (you? everyone?)