Content Warning: This video contains mentions of bullying.
Colorado College Head Volleyball Coach Rick Swan shares three easy ways you can create a bullying-free environment your athletes will love being a part of.
Video Transcript
Content Warning: This video contains mentions of bullying.
Hi, my name is Rick Swan and I’m a TrueSport Coach. Being bullied is an unfortunate common experience that most of us can probably relate to. According to the organization, teaching tolerance, one in five students report being bullied at least once every school year.
Bullying is a very big problem in youth sports, where about half of the athletes report being a target at some point. Despite being in the same team, bullying can occur when teammates are competing for the same positions or on hazing incidents where a new member is initiated to the group.
As a coach, it’s important to cultivate a no tolerance environment for bullying. There are three simple tips to help make practices and games a safe place for your athletes. Number one, encourage cooperation amongst all team members and practices and games as a way to prevent cliques from forming. Number two, address any bullying that does occur and re-emphasize that it is not tolerated. And number three, always remember to be a great role model by treating each and every one of your athletes with the respect they deserve. Following these simple tips will help you create a safer team environment that your athletes will love being a part of.
