HAZING And ATHLETICS
The Misunderstandings,
and The Truths in Values!
A Hazing and A Lightning Bolt
Are Synonymous
They Destroy…………..!
THINK
about WHY you got involved
with Athletics !
Did anyone think about being Humiliated,
degraded, or even injured?
I hope NOT, But I am sure you
thought about………
…….the opportunity to play or
perhaps,
The physical challenges
The excitement of competition
The development of friendships
The accomplishment of goals
The sense of pride
The growth of self-confidence
The feeling of community
The fun!
Well……….
•
Hazing permeates diverse settings in our
Society, not just in Athletics.
•
It is deeply imbedded and reflective of
pervasive cultural norms making it difficult to
eradicate.
•
Many have come to accept hazing for a
number of reasons without any perspective
of the resulting consequences.
They Think …….
……….That Hazing
Accomplishes Team building ,
•
Instills needed Humility in newcomers,
•
Establishes a Hierarchy for Decision
Making within the Team and…
•
Allows individuals Free choice regarding
participation !
•
It is Fun, and it’s harmless Tradition
All of the above are misunderstandings or perhaps
the Myths of Hazing
•
Misunderstanding
What is a Myth?
 A Myth is a popular belief or assumption that
has grown up around someone or some concept

Also, an unfounded or false notion.
So, we have Misunderstandings that have become
MYTHS
Some Reasons Hazing Occurs
1. Upperclassmen feel that if you have to prove
yourself Athletically to the Team and coaches,
then it is ok for you to have to prove your are
worthy of being Socially Accepted by us!
2. Student-Victims often feel the consequences of
participating in the Hazing Activities are less than
the social stigma of not being thought of positively
and accepted by the group
Misunderstanding
INITIATIONS are acceptable practices and
HAZING is synonymous with initiation. So it
is ok,right?
The truth: No!
Initiations and Rituals are elements of any culture,
but are associated with CEREMONIAL
significance or SPIRITUAL relevance. They are
MEANINGFUL experiences!
Misunderstanding
TRADITIONS are important to teams and need
to be keep alive!
The Truth : Yes!… but,
Traditions should be Honorable and instill a sense of
Pride in its members! There’s no pride in Hazing
someone !
Would you feel pride in telling your children about the
“time honored hazing incident?”
Misunderstanding
“Hazing is no more than foolish pranks
that sometimes go awry.”
The Truth: Wrong!
Hazing is an act of power and control over others -- it
is victimization. Hazing is pre-meditated and not
accidental. Hazing is abusive, degrading and
sometimes life-threatening.
Misunderstanding
“Hazing is an effective way to teach
respect and develop discipline.”
The Truth: No ,it never happens!
Respect must be EARNED – not demanded. Respect
in athletics is earned through PERFORMANCE!
Hazing breeds mistrust and anger.
Misunderstanding
“As long as there is no malicious intent, a
little hazing should be o.k. It’s fun!”
The Truth: No, never!
Regardless of intent, serious accidents and abusive
actions such as kidnapping and scavenger hunts are
not all in good fun. They do not promote team
development. How many injuries or deaths does it
take to understand ?
Super Misunderstanding
“Everyone participated voluntarily so it
can’t be considered hazing.”
The Truth: Wrong!
You MUST understand this concept !
Willingness to participate has nothing to do with
whether hazing took place!!! It is the creation of an
unhealthy Environment or Climate that is the
determining factor !
Super Misunderstanding
“It brings us together as a team or
group and helps us to bond.”
The Truth: Not meaningful bonding!
Hazing is more likely to divide. A team is brought
together by hard work in practice that leads to
success, or through the lessons of victory and defeat
where you learn to count on each other.
Points to Ponder
1. PASSIVE PARTICIPATION
2. THE PATH OF LEAST RESISTANCE
3. ATHLETIC IDENTITY
4. PARTICIPATION IN ATHLETICS IS
A PRIVILEGE NOT A RIGHT
Understand this!
Hazing is about ….
The Sacrifice of your and your family’s values!
Hazing is about you being involved in something you
KNOW isn’t right!
Hazing is about destroying relationships, the
foundation of every successful team!
Kinds of Hazing
Subtle Hazing: Deception, Deprivation of privileges,
Name calling, Social isolation, etc.
Harassment Hazing: Verbal abuse,Threats, Wearing
Humiliating attire, Sexual simulations, Sleep
deprivation, etc.
Violent Hazing: Forced , Coerced Alcohol use,
Branding, Beating, Nudity, Bondage, Abductions,
Water intoxication,etc.
What you Need to Understand
Athletics is about learning life's Values
The value of………….
Friendships & Cultivating Relationships
The Importance of Community
Appreciating Differences
A Positive Attitude
Trust, Caring, & Commitment
Where does Hazing a teammate fit into These
Values?
Not a Misunderstanding!
The Culture of Hazing must Change!
Do you have the Courage to Start!
Courage comes from the Heart
Values Learned in Athletics
A Value is a principle or human ideal
Questions all Athletes should want to
ask themselves !
What do I expect from this experience?
Does winning accomplish my goals ?
Does Losing equate with failure?
Does reaching my personal goals equal success?
Does Sport teach Character and what is it?
Do I understand what a Team stands for?
What outcomes do I control in my Sport?
You should expect !

The responsibility to establish Learning
Experiences that bring the issue of the
VALUES to the playing fields, lies with
your Coaches, Teammates and
Administrators but………

It is YOUR responsibility to understand,
embrace and demonstrate them daily!
Questions all Athletes should
want to ask themselves !
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What do I expect from this experience?
Does winning accomplish my goals ?
Does Losing equate with failure?
Does reaching my personal goals equal success?
Does Sport teach Character and what is it?
Do I understand what a Team stands for?
What outcomes do I control in my Sport?
You should expect !

The responsibility to establish Learning
Experiences that bring the issue of the
VALUES to the playing fields, lies with
your Coaches, Teammates and
Administrators but………
It is YOUR responsibility to understand,
embrace and demonstrate them daily!
The Value of Friendship
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Friendship from TEAMMATES last!
You will be CARED about!
You will be ACCEPTED For who you are!
You will be RESPECTED …………
Not only because of your talent but because
you are all experiencing the same successes
and failures TOGETHER !
The Value of Cultivating
Relationships
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Learning that Life is built on
RELATIONSHIPS
Relationships are built on TRUST
Good Communication is a Must in
Trusting Relationships
Leadership Must demonstrate Trust at all
times
The Value of
Understanding Community

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Accept individual Responsibility
Understand different Roles
Work together to plan to achieve TEAM
goals before individual ones
Execute your plans( Strategy)
Agree upon Common Goals
The Value of Appreciating Differences
& Respecting Everyone
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Different levels of Abilities ,Cultural
Backgrounds, Beliefs, and Nationalities are
what make a TEAM!
You are simply a …player, a teammate!
Everyone is entitled to be treated with
Dignity and Respect at all times. A MUST !
The Value of Honesty and Integrity

Not being HONEST at all times is a
momentary shortcut to feeling better but
leads to long term Failure & Disrespect

INTEGRITY , Adherence to the Value that
you do what is Right even if it means
defeat!
The Value of Accepting Criticism

Constructive Criticism, along with earned
praise is synonymous with Coaching!

Adversity can lead to success if a Strong
Work Ethic is present!
The Value of Being Responsible for
YOUR Own Actions
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Actions can be Positive or Negative
Negative actions carry Consequences
But…………………………..
An Athlete who is Responsible is less likely
to seek excuses for any shortcomings and
most often looks inward at themselves!
The Value of a Positive Attitude
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Attitude is the outward expression of your
inner feelings
You need to eliminate Negative thoughts to
perform well!
Positive thinking enhances Confidence
Coupled with Enthusiasm, one usually
eliminates immediate disappointments and
moves forward!
The Value of Having Initiative
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Initiative is Recognition of the task at hand
and doing it without a request
A Form of Self-motivation
All you need is to be observant and care
Everyone can develop initiative and will be
admired for it!
The Value of Humility
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All you need to know is that…………
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YOU Win with Humility and
You Lose with Dignity!
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All Contests are games , they are not life
and death!
The Value of Sacrifice
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ATHLETICS is about WE not ME!
Your self esteem needs to be checked at the
Locker room door!
The Greatest Sacrifice in sports
participation is placing TEAM goals ahead
of anything personal! A great lesson in
Life!
The Value of Striving to be
Successful

Working hard to improve needs to be learned
early!
Ability and skill to accomplish the task takes more
than Aspiration
Achievement can be found in small successes

Winning is not the only contributor to Success!
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The Value of Courage
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From the French word “Coeur”
Courage to live up to one’s VALUES
You do the Right thing in the face of Adversity!
Difference in Physical courage and one’s
convictions needs to be taught!
This is the Value of COMMITTMENT
Final comments

Never Ever Sacrifice your VALUES and try to be
cognizant of the lessons that you are learning
through your Athletic experience !

There is no place for Hazing a Teammate that is
justified in any Values
Good Luck in your endeavors, Rick Farnham
A Presentation on the Phenomena of Hazing
The idea for, and Information, in this presentation were originally designed by the
Athletic Staff of the University of Vermont intended to create discussion
amongst its Athletic Teams for the purpose of Hazing Education in 2000-2001.
Resources for data were:
1. Internet – Stop Hazing.org
2. Alfred University NCAA Report 2000
3. Death by Hazing SAE, 1998
4. President’s Committee, UVM, 2000
5. Character Counts, Josephson Institute
Current edition designed by R. A. Farnham (2012)