T HERE ’ S NO R OOM FOR
B ULLYING IN Y OUTH
S PORTS
B ULLYING D EFINED
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Takes many forms
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Those involved
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Physical – violence (higher in boys)
Emotional – written, verbal or
electronic
Relational – excluding from
groups/activities (higher in girls)
Bully, Victim, Bystander
How do you define it?
FOR
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PA D EFINITION
THE S CHOOLS :
"bullying" shall mean an intentional electronic,
written, verbal or physical act, or a series of acts:
1. directed at another student or students;
2. which occurs in a school setting;
3. that is severe, persistent or pervasive; and
4. that has the effect of doing any of the
following:
1.
2.
3.
substantially interfering with a student's education;
creating a threatening environment; or
substantially disrupting the orderly operation of the
school; and "school setting" shall mean in the
school, on school grounds, in school vehicles, at a
designated bus stop or at any activity sponsored,
supervised or sanctioned by the school.
D EFINITIONS
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FACTS
Bullying is:
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AND
Repeated pattern
Deliberate with an intent to harm
Power imbalance (real or perceived)
Widespread and serious (nearly 30% school aged
children involved somehow – Peckham, 2007)
Bullying will often lead to problems:
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Academically (160,000 kids miss school each day –
U.S. DOJ, Nat. Assoc. of School Psychologists, 2005)
Socially
Emotionally
With the law
W HAT B ULLYING
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IS
N OT
Just teasing or joking around
Right of passage
Needed for initiation to group or team
Boys being boys or girls being girls
Natural competition
A way to toughen up kids
Survival of the fittest
The same as conflict, which is a difference of opinion
that can lead to positive change and understanding
Something that can be dealt with using conflict
resolution or peer mediation
Something that kids should deal with on their own
W HO
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Kid who doesn’t fit – depends on
the area/school/team
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GETS BULLIED ?
Gender
Religion or Ethnicity
Disability
Social class
Sexual orientation
Intelligence or lack there of
Physical appearance including obesity
Peaks in middle school
W HO D OES
THE
B ULLYING ?
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Peers – usually in groups
(one or more bullies with one
or more supporters)
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Coaches
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Parents or siblings
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Teachers
S PORT T EAMS
E NCOURAGE B ULLYING ?
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Not always – but certain things
facilitate bullying on a sports team
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Competition against each other for
position, playing time, being favorite of
the coach
Bullying generally happens in groups –
supporters make it seem like more
acceptable/normal behavior
Often kids get “put” in sports by parents
in order to learn to fit in – but that takes
time
I MPACT O F B ULLYING O N
Y OUTH S PORTS PARTICIPANTS
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Short term issues
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Reduced enjoyment of sport or quit sport
Low team morale for all athletes
Low self-esteem
Health issues
Substance abuse
Depression
Suicidal thoughts/acts
Long term implications
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Victims become bullies
Higher chance of criminal activity (bully)
Often experience loneliness as adults
I MPACT OF B ULLYING ON
Y OUR A GENCY & P ROGRAM
 Low morale and players
dropping out
 Risk management
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Duty to protect players
 From each other
 From coaches or parents
who bully
D EVELOPING A P LAN TO
P REVENT & E LIMINATE B ULLYING
 Policy
 Procedure
 Plan
 Partners
 Proving success
A NTI -B ULLYING P OLICY
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Where does your agency/youth
sports program stand on bullying?
How do you define bullying? Be
specific so there are no doubts!!!
Just because the school district has a
policy doesn’t mean you are off the
hook
Can model the school district’s policy
or create your own
Take a firm stand!
P ROCEDURES
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Procedures when bullying occurs
(can model school district’s procedures)
 Procedure for dealing with bully
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Procedure for helping victim
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Penalties
Counseling/workshops/training
Informing parents
Counseling
Procedure for dealing with passive
bystanders
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Penalties
Counseling/workshops/training
B ULLYING P REVENTION
& I NTERVENTION
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Gather data at the beginning
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Questionnaire for the players
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Spread the word
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Policies – bullying not tolerated!
Procedures – here’s what will happen if…
Strategies for prevention
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How frequently? What types? Where? Reported?
Educate, train, remind, reward – all athletes,
parents, coaches, administrators
Strategies for intervention
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Make reporting easy and safe and timely
Give coaches the tools to intervene and guidance
to know when to report to admin. and/or police
W ORKING WITH FAMILY &
C OMMUNITY PARTNERS
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Contact school district for resources,
ideas, copies of their program!
Get parents involved at the planning
level – task force
Contact local youth organizations for
resources, guidance
Contact local legislators to inquire
about funding
W ORKING WITH ATHLETES
TO P REVENT B ULLYING
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Pep rally/party/kick off - to bring
attention to anti-bullying program
Post definition and rules and send home,
to coaches, to volunteers, to officials
Work the program as outlined in your
procedures – be consistent!
Keep in touch with parents
At the end of the season – evaluate
program and adjust policies and
procedures accordingly
E VALUATING Y OUR
A NTI -B ULLYING P ROGRAM
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How do we know if it’s working?
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Observed bullying decreases – coaches & parents
Perceived bullying decreases – athletes
Perceived relationships improve – A’s/C’s/P’s
Attitudes towards each other improve – athletes
Attitudes about program positive – A’s/C’s/P’s
Increased reporting – data
Increased bystander intervention/reporting –
athletes and data
What are we currently doing that is working?
Training of coaches – regularly
Educating of parents – regularly
Educating of athletes – regularly
 Ease of reporting
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Q UESTIONS
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AND
W RAP -U P
Cool resources:
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www.herointhehallway.com
www.stopbullying.gov
www.safe4athletes.org
www.highmarkhealthyhigh5.com/bullying/index.shtml
www.bullypolice.org
www.pacer.org/bullying & www.pacerkidsagainstbullying.org
www.olweus.org/public/bullying.page
www.standtogether.tv
www.kidsareworthit.com
www.stopbullyingnow.com
www.tolerance.org