Teaching Athletes To Prevent Bullying

Content Warning: This video contains mentions of bullying.

Hi, my name is Candice Vering, and I am a TrueSport parent. While sports are a great way to build confidence in children, unfortunately, it’s also common for youth athletes to be bullied. Up to 50% of them, in fact, according to a recent study. This can be an intimidation tactic from those competing for the same spots on the team as your child or as part of hazing rituals toward new team members. When your child joins a team, make sure their new coach has zero tolerance for bullying behavior. Also make it clear to your child that bullying is something they can open up to you about, and if they do make the situation aware to their coach or teacher, it’s also important to support your child by teaching them how to respond to the situation. Teach them to stay calm and to project confidence by standing up tall and strong. Encourage them to follow their instincts and to talk to their coach or teacher if they’re dealing with a bully. And last but certainly not least, remind them to ignore cyber bullying.

People may still try and bully your child from time to time, but if they keep these tips in mind, they’ll be able to deal with the situation like a TrueSport champ, calm, cool, and confident.