PositiveSports.net

Study says coaches can help prevent teen dating violence

A new study conducted in California finds that a structured program delivered by coaches called Coaching Boys into Men is effective for discouraging dating violence—the physical, sexual, and emotional aggression prevalent in adolescent romantic relationships.

The new study was conducted among over 2,000 young male athletes in 16 high schools in four urban school districts in Sacramento County, Calif., between winter 2009 and fall 2010. Eight of the schools were randomly selected to receive the program, while the other eight schools served as comparisons.

The surveys also asked whether the athletes had witnessed any abusive behavior and actually intervened. The young men who had ever dated were asked whether they themselves had participated in any of 10 abusive behaviors including physical, sexual, and emotional abuse toward a female partner in the past three months. Eighteen percent of the male athletes who had ever dated reported perpetrating any abusive behavior toward a female partner in the past three months, with verbal and emotional abuse being most common.

Read the full article from Futurity here.

 

 

Addressing the Issue of Verbal, Physical, and Psychological Abuse of Athletes

Abuse of athletes is a touchy topic. At the bright end of the spectrum, the vast majority of coaches would never even think of abusing an athlete in any way. At the dark end, most of us have experienced or heard of coaches who are clearly abusive.

There is also a grey area in the middle, where coaches with the best of intentions may be perceived as abusive by one or more athletes. In this grey area, what is perceived as 'tough love' from a coach by one athlete could be perceived as abusive by another.

Today it is very important for every coach to be self aware of how his or her behavior may be interpreted. This document from the Women's Sports Foundation provides clear and concise guidelines for defining, preventing, and responding to allegations of abusive behavior. And it is definitely not just for women's sports.

DOWNLOAD THE GUIDELINES FROM THE WOMEN'S SPORTS FOUNDATION

 

How Coaches Can Prevent and Stop Bullying

A recent survey of 22,000 high school students across the U.S. found that 48 percent of the respondents had been targets of hazing--a form of bullying in which kids are humiliated or required to take part in dangerous activities.  In this article from Active.com, two national experts in youth development and sports - Patrick and Lisa Cohn - explain how coaches can prevent, detect, and stop bullying in sports.

Read 'Coach's Guide to Bullying' at Active.com....

 

New study raises questions about alcohol, violence, and sports participation among youth

Source: Medline Plus November 11, 2009

A study of more than 13,000 high school students by Raindow Babies and Children's Hospital in Ohio finds that:

For boys, participation in team sports was correlated with an increased likelihood of fighting, drinking and binge drinking. Rates of depression and smoking, however, seemed to decline.

White girls who were active in team sports reported lower levels of fighting, depression, smoking, marijuana use and unhealthy weight loss practices. Black high school girls reported increased levels of binge drinking.

Correlation does not equal causality. But, the results raise two important questions for coaches and parents:

• Is there something about the youth sports environment which encourages the cited negative behaviors?
• Should coaches and parents more actively discourage athletes to engage in drinking and other risk behaviors?

To learn more, read a more complete summary of the study at Medline Plus.

Mentors in Violence Prevention: An Innovative Program for Athletes

Northeastern University's Mentors in Violence Prevention (MVP) is a leadership training program that motivates student-athletes and student leaders to play a central role in solving problems that historically have been considered "women's issues": rape, battering, and sexual harassment.

Until recently, few campus or community-based programs have encouraged young men to work actively on these issues. The MVP program motivates men and women to work together in preventing men's violence against women.

The mixed gender, racially-diverse MVP Program, composed of former professional and college athletes, motivates men and women to work together in preventing gender violence.

Learn more about this program from the Center for Sport in Society at Northeastern University.

How Dreams Die (from Sports Illustrated)

Sports have been a way out of neighborhood drugs and violence for countless young people.  Being a promising athlete gave a kid enough 'street cred' to sidestep the gangs. In a disturbing trend, that culture may be ending. 

In an important article titled How Dreams Die, George Dohrmann of Sports Illustrated tells how too many athletic dreams die due to gang violence.  The tragic stories about Terrance Kelly and Fred Lawson reminds us of the dangerous reality surrounding so many at-risk athletes - and why we need to strengthen our efforts to help keep young people safe through sports.  Read the full article here...