Importance of an Anti-Hazing Policy in a Sports Program
When an athlete joins an athletic team, he/she needs to feel safe while around the team. Team members should not initiate other members with hazing. Athletes do not want “to submit themselves to mental and/or physical humiliation, degradation or physical punishment” (Crow, Ammon, & Phillips, 2004, p. 15). According to Hoover (1999), hazing is “defined as any activity expected of someone joining a group that humiliates, degrades, abuses, or endangers, regardless of the person’s willingness to participate” (p. 4). Hazing and bullying are not the same. Bullies work alone, or in a small group, but in either scenario the bully wants something from the victim. Whereas hazing is almost always a group event, and the hazers feel they must pass the tradition on to others.
Hazing has been a widespread practice for centuries as a way of initiation. Hazing is comprised of, but is not all-inclusive to the following: being thrown into the water, eating disgusting items, wearing embarrassing clothing, drinking alcohol, being kidnaped, being beaten, or …show more content…
22). Coaches who have an anti-hazing policy can promote mental maturity and discipline in their athletes by letting athletes know hazing is not acceptable in any sports program or life. If hazing does occur, coaches must not use conditioning as a form of punishment because that can have a damaging effect on the athletes’ view of conditioning and training (Wing & McJunkin, 2005). Coaches should utilize conditioning for the right reasons and not as the penalty for unwanted behavior. Coaches must provide athletes “the opportunity for a positive experience through sportsmanship . . . while molding personality, confidence, maturity, and ability to have fun” (Wing & McJunkin, 2005, p.
When an athlete joins an athletic team, he/she needs to feel safe while around the team. Team members should not initiate other members with hazing. Athletes do not want “to submit themselves to mental and/or physical humiliation, degradation or physical punishment” (Crow, Ammon, & Phillips, 2004, p. 15). According to Hoover (1999), hazing is “defined as any activity expected of someone joining a group that humiliates, degrades, abuses, or endangers, regardless of the person’s willingness to participate” (p. 4). Hazing and bullying are not the same. Bullies work alone, or in a small group, but in either scenario the bully wants something from the victim. Whereas hazing is almost always a group event, and the hazers feel they must pass the tradition on to others.
Hazing has been a widespread practice for centuries as a way of initiation. Hazing is comprised of, but is not all-inclusive to the following: being thrown into the water, eating disgusting items, wearing embarrassing clothing, drinking alcohol, being kidnaped, being beaten, or …show more content…
22). Coaches who have an anti-hazing policy can promote mental maturity and discipline in their athletes by letting athletes know hazing is not acceptable in any sports program or life. If hazing does occur, coaches must not use conditioning as a form of punishment because that can have a damaging effect on the athletes’ view of conditioning and training (Wing & McJunkin, 2005). Coaches should utilize conditioning for the right reasons and not as the penalty for unwanted behavior. Coaches must provide athletes “the opportunity for a positive experience through sportsmanship . . . while molding personality, confidence, maturity, and ability to have fun” (Wing & McJunkin, 2005, p.