A new study shows a disconnect between how hazing is perceived on Canadian sports teams and the reality of the toxic culture.
The Ontario Coaches Association, with support from Hydro One, commissioned a survey from Leger and released the results Thursday. CAO had five speakers speak about the report at a conference at Toronto Metropolitan University before hosting a series of workshops.
We surveyed 1,000 coaches across the state representing more than 80 sports.
One of the most surprising findings was that although 86% of coaches agreed that hazing is a serious problem in sports, only 40% of respondents had clear standards for acceptable behavior or would intervene when hazing occurs.
City Hall | Hazing continues to be a problem in Ontario.
A new report highlights how hazing continues to be a problem in Ontario sports. The Coaches Association of Ontario notes that hazing is difficult for many people to define, which often leaves the problem unresolved. CBC’s Ali Chiasson has the story.
“People often ask specifically about hazing, ‘What’s going on?’ The answer is, ‘Well, who stopped it?’” says Allison Forsyth, founder of Generation Safe and former Canadian Olympic alpine skier. People think that if they implement a hazing policy, the behavior will suddenly and miraculously disappear, but they don’t educate or respect where the behavior came from in the first place.
The survey also found that while six in 10 coaches have personally experienced hazing during their playing days, four in 10 respondents are aware of hazing on their teams.
Forsyth, one of five speakers at the CAO conference, said coaches, parents or volunteers have heard of worse things they’ve experienced as athletes.
The Coaching Association presents eight core values.
“Hazing can range from pranks to criminal acts, and our job is not to decide, as human beings with our own biases and experiences, ‘That’s not bad.’ It reflects our own experiences,” he said. . “What we need to do is eliminate the conditions under which something really serious can happen.”
The Coaching Association of Ontario has outlined eight core values that sports organizations should promote in Ontario. fun; skills development and learning; performance and results; fair play and ethics; safe sport and respect; mental and physical health of athletes; participation and inclusion; It also allows for connection and community building.
But Leger’s research uncovered another disconnect with these values.
The survey also found that there is a wide range of definitions of hazing and what constitutes hazing.
“From a CAO perspective, what we can do is continue to talk about what hazing is while providing resources to help coaches explain, define and understand what actually constitutes hazing,” said Jeremy Cross, executive director of CAO. “It will,” he said. “As we delve deeper into these questions, it appears that it is unclear what coaches actually consider to be hazing and what is not.
“Team building is really important, but how can we provide solutions that are different from some of the activities we’re currently doing?”
Fill-in-the-blank results from across Canada
There was hope in the report.
Until CAO’s investigation was completed, there was a general lack of research on the topic of hazing. Cross said the report’s findings fill some gaps, not just in Ontario, but across Canada and in other countries.
“This report builds on the work we want to do to advocate for coaches and shows that we need more support to reach more coaches and do more,” Cross said.
Forsyth said the report also shows substantial evidence of an ongoing problem with hazing.
“I think the coaches answered honestly,” Forsyth said. “If you think about it, people who respond to surveys often want to make a good impression.
“I think we’ve gotten a lot of honest answers from coaches. The positive thing about the report is that there’s evidence that there’s a problem. Now let’s address it.”
Anyone who has suffered sexual harassment can apply. This gives you access to crisis lines and local support services. Canadian Government Website or Canadian Association to Stop Violence Database. If your safety or the safety of someone around you is imminent or threatened, call 911.
