Bullies in the field of play.

• Author: Ferguson, Dave
• Position: ATHLETIC ARENA - Youth sports

A CLOUD OF NEGATIVITY blankets youth sports, as the trend towards abusive behavior is more rampant than we realize. Young athletes who are victims of psychological abuses by amateur coaches are impacted throughout their lives. However, today's parents and coaches accept certain negative behaviors as normal in youth sports and athletics.

About 40% of youth hockey, baseball, and football games contain either direct of indirect abuse, according to Elaine Raakman of JustPlay Sports Services, Inc. Direct abuse can involve a coach threatening a player, inciting violent play, and even demoralizing a young athlete. Indirect abuse may include a coach harassing an official, opposing team, or individual player. Even spectators can be the target of abuse.

Coaches scream and kids yell all the time as part of the excitement of the game, but heightened emotions sometimes can lead to aggressive behavior--and kids who are threatened or intimidated encounter pressure tactics that they may not be able to handle. It is not unusual at practice to see such behavior or to hear obscenities directed at a team. Kids can be intimidated before, during, or after a game.

Yelling, swearing, physical altercations, threats, and throwing items on the playing surface are samples of common behaviors that are becoming less tolerable. There has been a shift in the behavioral model of those involved with sports in the past 20 or so years and the behavior is not positive. Despite the fact that bullying and abuse clinics are offered to most coaches, abusive behavior towards players continues. Some communities have suggested mandatory programs for coaches and parents to teach them how to recognize such behavior and to learn what to do about it.

Coaches are not the only abusers, however. Often, parents and fellow team members are involved in bullying--at times perhaps unintentionally, but no less harmfully, to the targeted young athlete. This behavior can occur during travel, to and from practice in the car, in the team dressing room, and in social situations where players may feel especially vulnerable.

Wherever it happens, bullying can be the main reason for a child to lose all interest. It may be one of the main indicators towards the fact that 70% of kids between seven and 12 years old leave organized sports altogether. Children may not necessarily speak up or even understand the meaning of the word "bullying" but they certainly know when they are a target or when they feel sad...