there’s no room for bullying in youth sports
DESCRIPTION
There’s NO Room for Bullying in Youth Sports. Designing a plan to avoid and eliminate bullying in your youth sports program. Bullying Defined. Takes many forms Physical – violence (higher in boys) Emotional – written, verbal or electronic - PowerPoint PPT PresentationTRANSCRIPT
THERE’S NO ROOM FOR BULLYING IN YOUTH SPORTS
BULLYING DEFINED
Takes many forms Physical – violence (higher in boys) Emotional – written, verbal or
electronic Relational – excluding from
groups/activities (higher in girls) Those involved
Bully, Victim, Bystander How do you define it?
PA DEFINITIONFOR THE SCHOOLS:
"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; and4. that has the effect of doing any of the following:
1. substantially interfering with a student's education;2. creating a threatening environment; or3. 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.
DEFINITIONS AND FACTS
Bullying is: 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:
Academically (160,000 kids miss school each day – U.S. DOJ, Nat. Assoc. of School Psychologists, 2005)
Socially Emotionally With the law
WHAT BULLYING IS NOT
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
WHO GETS BULLIED?
Kid who doesn’t fit – depends on the area/school/team Gender Religion or Ethnicity Disability Social class Sexual orientation Intelligence or lack there of Physical appearance including obesity
Peaks in middle school
WHO DOES THE BULLYING?
Peers – usually in groups (one or more bullies with one or more supporters)
Coaches Parents or siblings Teachers
SPORT TEAMSENCOURAGE
BULLYING? Not always – but certain things
facilitate bullying on a sports team 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
IMPACT OF BULLYING ON YOUTH SPORTS PARTICIPANTS
Short term issues 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 Victims become bullies Higher chance of criminal activity (bully) Often experience loneliness as adults
IMPACT OF BULLYING ON YOUR AGENCY &
PROGRAM Low morale and players
dropping out Risk management
Duty to protect players From each other From coaches or parents
who bully
DEVELOPING A PLAN TO PREVENT & ELIMINATE
BULLYING
Policy Procedure Plan Partners Proving success
ANTI-BULLYING POLICY
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!
PROCEDURES
Procedures when bullying occurs (can model school district’s procedures) Procedure for dealing with bully
Penalties Counseling/workshops/training
Procedure for helping victim Informing parents Counseling
Procedure for dealing with passive bystanders Penalties Counseling/workshops/training
BULLYING PREVENTION &
INTERVENTION Gather data at the beginning
Questionnaire for the players How frequently? What types? Where? Reported?
Spread the word Policies – bullying not tolerated! Procedures – here’s what will happen if…
Strategies for prevention Educate, train, remind, reward – all athletes,
parents, coaches, administrators Strategies for intervention
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
WORKING WITH FAMILY &
COMMUNITY PARTNERS
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
WORKING WITH ATHLETES TO
PREVENT BULLYING 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
EVALUATING YOURANTI-BULLYING
PROGRAM How do we know if it’s working?
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
QUESTIONS AND WRAP-UP
Cool resources: 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