HAZING And ATHLETICSHAZING And ATHLETICS The Misunderstandings,The Misunderstandings, and The Truths in Values!and The Truths in Values!

A Hazing and A Lightning Bolt Are Synonymous

They Destroy…………..!

about WHY you got involved with Athletics !

Did anyone think about being Humiliated, degraded, or even injured?

I hope NOT, But I am sure you

thought about………

THINK

…….the opportunity to play or perhaps,

The physical challenges

The excitement of competition

The development of friendships

The accomplishment of goals

The sense of pride

The growth of self-confidence

The feeling of community

The fun! Well……….

• Hazing permeates diverse settings in our Society, not just in Athletics.

• It is deeply imbedded and reflective of pervasive cultural norms making it difficult to eradicate.

• Many have come to accept hazing for a number of reasons without any perspective of the resulting consequences.

They Think …….

……….That Hazing• Accomplishes Team building ,• Instills needed Humility in newcomers,• Establishes a Hierarchy for Decision Making within the Team and…• Allows individuals Free choice regarding participation !• It is Fun, and it’s harmless Tradition

All of the above are misunderstandings or perhaps the Myths of Hazing

Misunderstanding What is a Myth?

A Myth is a popular belief or assumption that has grown up around someone or some concept

Also, an unfounded or false notion.

So, we have Misunderstandings that have become MYTHS

Some Reasons Hazing Occurs

1. Upperclassmen feel that if you have to prove yourself Athletically to the Team and coaches, then it is ok for you to have to prove your are worthy of being Socially Accepted by us!

2. Student-Victims often feel the consequences of participating in the Hazing Activities are less than the social stigma of not being thought of positively and accepted by the group

MisunderstandingMisunderstanding

INITIATIONS are acceptable practices and HAZING is synonymous with initiation. So it is ok,right?

The truth: No!

Initiations and Rituals are elements of any culture, but are associated with CEREMONIAL significance or SPIRITUAL relevance. They are MEANINGFUL experiences!

MisunderstandingMisunderstanding

TRADITIONS are important to teams and need to be keep alive!

The Truth : Yes!… but,

Traditions should be Honorable and instill a sense of Pride in its members! There’s no pride in Hazing someone !Would you feel pride in telling your children about the “time honored hazing incident?”

MisunderstandingMisunderstanding

“Hazing is no more than foolish pranks that sometimes go awry.”

The Truth: Wrong!

Hazing is an act of power and control over others -- it is victimization. Hazing is pre-meditated and not accidental. Hazing is abusive, degrading and sometimes life-threatening.

“Hazing is an effective way to teach respect and develop discipline.”

The Truth: No ,it never happens!

Respect must be EARNED – not demanded. Respect in athletics is earned through PERFORMANCE! Hazing breeds mistrust and anger.

MisunderstandingMisunderstanding

“As long as there is no malicious intent, a little hazing should be o.k. It’s fun!”

The Truth: No, never!

Regardless of intent, serious accidents and abusive actions such as kidnapping and scavenger hunts are not all in good fun. They do not promote team development. How many injuries or deaths does it take to understand ?

MisunderstandingMisunderstanding

“Everyone participated voluntarily so it can’t be considered hazing.”

The Truth: Wrong!

You MUST understand this concept !

Willingness to participate has nothing to do with whether hazing took place!!! It is the creation of an unhealthy Environment or Climate that is the determining factor !

SuperSuper MisunderstandingMisunderstanding

“It brings us together as a team or group and helps us to bond.”

The Truth: Not meaningful bonding!

Hazing is more likely to divide. A team is brought together by hard work in practice that leads to success, or through the lessons of victory and defeat where you learn to count on each other.

Super MisunderstandingSuper Misunderstanding

Points to PonderPoints to Ponder1. PASSIVE PASSIVE PARTICIPATION

2. THE PATH OF LEAST RESISTANCE

3. ATHLETIC IDENTITY

4. PARTICIPATION IN ATHLETICS IS A PRIVILEGE NOT A RIGHT

Understand this!

Hazing is about ….The Sacrifice of your and your family’s values!

Hazing is about you being involved in something you KNOW isn’t right!

Hazing is about destroying relationships, the foundation of every successful team!

Kinds of Hazing

Subtle Hazing: Deception, Deprivation of privileges, Name calling, Social isolation, etc.

Harassment Hazing: Verbal abuse,Threats, Wearing Humiliating attire, Sexual simulations, Sleep

deprivation, etc.

Violent Hazing: Forced , Coerced Alcohol use,

Branding, Beating, Nudity, Bondage, Abductions,

Water intoxication,etc.

What you Need to UnderstandAthletics is about learning life's Values

The value of………….

Friendships & Cultivating Relationships

The Importance of Community

Appreciating Differences

A Positive Attitude

Trust, Caring, & Commitment Where does Hazing a teammate fit into These

Values?

Not a Misunderstanding!

The Culture of Hazing must Change!

Do you have the Courage to Start!

Courage comes from the Heart

Values Learned in Athletics A Value is a principle or human ideal

Questions all Athletes should want to

ask themselves !

What do I expect from this experience?

Does winning accomplish my goals ?

Does Losing equate with failure?

Does reaching my personal goals equal success?

Does Sport teach Character and what is it?

Do I understand what a Team stands for?

What outcomes do I control in my Sport?

You should expect !

The responsibility to establish Learning Experiences that bring the issue of the VALUES to the playing fields, lies with your Coaches, Teammates and Administrators but………

It is YOUR responsibility to understand,

embrace and demonstrate them daily!

Questions all Athletes should want to ask themselves !

What do I expect from this experience? Does winning accomplish my goals ? Does Losing equate with failure? Does reaching my personal goals equal success? Does Sport teach Character and what is it? Do I understand what a Team stands for? What outcomes do I control in my Sport?

You should expect !

The responsibility to establish Learning Experiences that bring the issue of the VALUES to the playing fields, lies with your Coaches, Teammates and Administrators but………

It is YOUR responsibility to understand,

embrace and demonstrate them daily!

The Value of Friendship

Friendship from TEAMMATES last! You will be CARED about! You will be ACCEPTED For who you are! You will be RESPECTED …………

Not only because of your talent but because you are all experiencing the same successes and failures TOGETHER !

The Value of Cultivating Relationships

Learning that Life is built on RELATIONSHIPS

Relationships are built on TRUST Good Communication is a Must in

Trusting Relationships Leadership Must demonstrate Trust at all

times

The Value ofUnderstanding Community

Accept individual Responsibility Understand different Roles Work together to plan to achieve TEAM

goals before individual ones Execute your plans( Strategy) Agree upon Common Goals

The Value of Appreciating Differences & Respecting Everyone

Different levels of Abilities ,Cultural Backgrounds, Beliefs, and Nationalities are what make a TEAM!

You are simply a …player, a teammate!

Everyone is entitled to be treated with Dignity and Respect at all times. A MUST !

The Value of Honesty and Integrity

Not being HONEST at all times is a momentary shortcut to feeling better but leads to long term Failure & Disrespect

INTEGRITY , Adherence to the Value that you do what is Right even if it means defeat!

The Value of Accepting Criticism

Constructive Criticism, along with earned praise is synonymous with Coaching!

Adversity can lead to success if a Strong Work Ethic is present!

The Value of Being Responsible for YOUR Own Actions

Actions can be Positive or Negative Negative actions carry Consequences

But………………………….. An Athlete who is Responsible is less likely

to seek excuses for any shortcomings and most often looks inward at themselves!

The Value of a Positive Attitude Attitude is the outward expression of your

inner feelings You need to eliminate Negative thoughts to

perform well! Positive thinking enhances Confidence Coupled with Enthusiasm, one usually

eliminates immediate disappointments and moves forward!

The Value of Having Initiative

Initiative is Recognition of the task at hand and doing it without a request

A Form of Self-motivation All you need is to be observant and care Everyone can develop initiative and will be

admired for it!

The Value of Humility

All you need to know is that…………

YOU Win with Humility and You Lose with Dignity!

All Contests are games , they are not life and death!

The Value of Sacrifice

ATHLETICS is about WE not ME! Your self esteem needs to be checked at the

Locker room door!

The Greatest Sacrifice in sports participation is placing TEAM goals ahead of anything personal! A great lesson in Life!

The Value of Striving to be Successful

Working hard to improve needs to be learned early!

Ability and skill to accomplish the task takes more than Aspiration

Achievement can be found in small successes

Winning is not the only contributor to Success!

The Value of Courage

From the French word “Coeur” Courage to live up to one’s VALUES You do the Right thing in the face of Adversity!

Difference in Physical courage and one’s convictions needs to be taught!

This is the Value of COMMITTMENT

Final comments

Never Ever Sacrifice your VALUES and try to be cognizant of the lessons that you are learning through your Athletic experience !

There is no place for Hazing a Teammate that is justified in any Values

Good Luck in your endeavors, Rick

Farnham

The idea for, and Information, in this presentation were originally designed by

the Athletic Staff of the University of Vermont intended to create discussion amongst its Athletic Teams for the purpose of Hazing Education in 2000-2001.

Resources for data were:

1. Internet – Stop Hazing.org

2. Alfred University NCAA Report 2000

3. Death by Hazing SAE, 1998

4. President’s Committee, UVM, 2000

5. Character Counts, Josephson Institute

Current edition designed by R. A. Farnham (2012)

A Presentation on the Phenomena of Hazing