Proceedings of the 39th International Academic Conference, Amsterdam

BULLYING AND HARASSMENT IN SPORT: OVERVIEW OF MANAGEMENT INSTRUMENTS

JOLITA VVEINHARDT, VILIJA BITE FOMINIENE, LAIMA JESEVICIUTE-UFARTIENE

Abstract:

Relevance of research. An aspiration to manage bullying and harassment in sport is a part of wider international issues there are solved ethics and integration of such problems as usage of doping, manipulation of competition, safety of events and fair game organization (Mountjoy et al, 2015; Maffulli, 2007; Brackenridge et al, 2011; Kainz, 2015; etc.). The behavior of sport’s leaders and even athletes themselves, such as ignoring, not reacting, and resisting of bullying and harassment prevention, is a challenge while trying to implement bullying and harassment management instruments in sport. The refuse to recognize prevention of bullying and harassment supports the root causes of coercion (Mountjoy et al., 2016). This is an important reason primary concentrate on analyses of existing management instruments of bullying and harassment. Object of research is management instruments of bullying and harassment in sport. Purpose of the research is to make analyses of management instruments of bullying and harassment comparing application of prevention models in sport. Methods of research were scientific research analyses of bullying and harassment prevention programs and their application. Research results. Analyses and comparison of such prevention programs as Olweus Bullying Prevention, KiVa Anti-bullying, Positive behavior support (SW-PBS), Athletic coach-delivered (ARA/SV) prevention, harassment programs called ‘Take care’, and ‘Control program on study skills’, showed that just some of these programs are applied to sport. Research of prevention programs application showed that interactive prevention applying contemporary technologies such as internet, smart phone aps, etc., could be more effective prevention than personal prevention using personal meetings with participant of bullying and harassment prevention. Prevention programs of bullying and harassment should be adjusted separately to the bystanders, participants and victims including differences of gender perception. An important orientation is towards the perpetrator but not to the victim, since only the taken responsibility could help to stop the actions of antisocial behavior. The leaders of sport organizations must initiate and implement the management instruments of bullying and harassment. They supposed to provide training and constructive beliefs to take responsibility of the own behavior and harmoniously improve the changing culture of sport organization. Thus, the management instruments of bullying and harassment should include reviews of law enforcement strategies, culturally tailored training programs, and implement policy and procedures to sport community. Acknowledgement. This research is funded by the European Social Fund according to the activity ‘Improvement of researchers’ qualification by implementing world-class R&D projects of Measure No. 09.3.3-LMT-K-712.

Keywords: bullying, harassment, management instruments, prevention of abuse, prevention of violence, prevention of antisocial behavior

DOI: 10.20472/IAC.2018.039.047

PDF: Download