Initiations Risk Your Career, Your Participants and Your Club
Article by UK Coaching
What starts as harmless traditions and team bonding can quickly turn dangerous. Initiations put individuals at risk of serious injury and trauma, place them in unsafe situations, and expose coaches to prosecution, civil lawsuits and dismissal. Identify the dangers and remove the risk before it is too late.
Managing athlete safety when travelling: A coach’s responsibility
When travelling to competitions and games, participants can often undertake foolish and dangerous activities, especially at the beginning of the season or when someone new joins the team. This can be problematic in terms of individuals feeling pressured and in terms of their overall safety. Therefore, it is crucial that a coach knows what good practices to employ to prevent these dangers.
For example: On the way to a game, young participants are standing up, singing and cheering on the bus whilst it is moving; encouraging new participants to stand on a seat and sing their favourite song. What should the coach do and say to them?
A coach’s duty in managing team culture: When does behaviour cross the line?
Coaches often overhear conversations and planning of different forms of hazing and initiation ceremonies but are not directly involved or told. However, if a coach is aware then this makes them complicit in the situation. To ensure participants are safe and can perform to their best, the coach must intervene and step in to resolve and stop these situations before they occur.
For example: A coach overhears senior players taunting the other players about their ‘initiation ceremony’ after their first-team debut. What should they do about what they have heard and how should they act?
A coach’s role in managing participants beyond the practice and competition
A lot of initiations and hazing practices occur outside of the training ground, practice sessions and competition. As a coach wanting to create and maintain a safe environment of care and promote a positive culture, it is important to deter this behaviour and encourage alternative ways for the team to bond.
For example: At the clubhouse, older team members mention ‘the boat race’. A younger participant whispers to another new member, ‘I’m not old enough to drink, please help me’ (looking visibly unwell). The coach overhears the exchange. What should they do?