The first step in preventing hazing on your team is to understand what it actually means. Many people think of “hazing,” only in its most extreme forms, such as pressuring new players into dangerous activities as initiation to the team. Some coaches feel pressure to maintain such traditions. Players say things like, “I had to do these things when I was a freshman, and now it’s their turn.”

 

For those who maintain that hazing brings athletes closer together and helps with team bonding, we share an Alfred University study reporting that 71 percent of students subjected to hazing report negative effects, such as getting into fights; being injured; doing poorly in school; having difficulty eating, sleeping, or concentrating; or feeling angry, confused, embarrassed or guilty.

Regardless of your team’s traditions, it is important to prevent hazing. In the moment, find the courage to be an “up-stander,“ who stands up for teammates who are being hazed and ends any humiliating or harmful treatment. If you feel at risk confronting the hazing alone, seek help (most often from an adult) as soon as possible.

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If you’re looking for a positive way to initiate new team members, here are four tried-and-true techniques:

1. Pair new members of the team with more senior members to create a “Big-Brother” or “Big-Sister” program

2. Create a tradition around new players getting their uniforms

3. Kick the season off with an unusual whole-team activity

4. Engage in activities outside of your sport together.

For more explanations on these suggestions for team initiation, as well as more on why it’s so important for you to prevent hazing on your team, check out Positive Coaching Alliance’s pcadevzone.org!

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