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Harassment-free sport and recreation

Active Parent Education Kit Fact Sheet 8

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“Every participant in sport, regardless of the role, has a right to be treated with respect, dignity and fairness, and to participate in an environment that is enjoyable and safe. Harassment, abuse and other forms of inappropriate behaviour in sport deny participants these rights.” 1

Things your child should know

No-one should:2

  • Make you feel unsafe.
  • Ask you to do things that you are not comfortable with.
  • Verbally abuse you or anyone else.
  • Make racist or sexist jokes or comments.
  • Allow offensive pictures or graffiti to be visible.
  • Look at or touch anyone in ways that make them feel uncomfortable.
  • Make uninvited sexual comments that offend, intimidate or humiliate.
  • Discriminate against or harass anyone else.

 

What to look out for as a parent

Be aware of possible danger signs.3

  • Be wary of a club where staff or volunteers:
    • Run private, closed training sessions on a regular basis, and operate independently of the club.
    • Spend time with your child beyond the training session and show favouritism.
    • Discourage parents from watching or becoming involved in training or other activities.
    • Practice rough play, sexual innuendo or humiliating punishments.
    • Allow inappropriate physical contact, excessive discipline and rough language.
    • Have poor communication with parents.
  • Be concerned if one or more children drop out of their sport or recreation activities for no apparent reason.



What to tell your child

Make sure your child is aware of personal safety:3

  • Talk to your child about keeping safe. Encourage them to tell you straight away if they feel uncomfortable or have worries about an adult’s behaviour, whether during sport or recreation activities or any other situation.
  • Tell your child that he or she always has the right to say ‘no’ if an adult is trying to persuade them to do something they feel is wrong, or which makes them feel frightened or uncomfortable, and that you will support them through this.
  • Make sure your child understands their rights to privacy and respect for their body, in order to recognise what is acceptable touching by an adult and what is not.
  • Develop an emergency plan for your child to follow in situations where they may be at risk of harm – for example, when going on overnight or away trips.

Your role as a parent/guardian4

  • Some things you can do to help create a safer environment for your child:
  • Ask your club if it is ‘Working with Children Check’ compliant.
  • Ask your club to provide you with its policy on child protection/member protection.
  • Maintain open lines of communication with your child to ensure that they are aware that they can talk to you about anything.
  • Support the club in implementing its policy and practices relating to child protection/member protection.
  • Be aware of your club’s guidelines for coaches and officials regarding appropriate practices and adopt these practices yourself as a person involved in the club.
  • Report any incident of child abuse to your club’s child protection/member protection representative or another responsible member of the club.
  • Adopt positive behaviours when involved with the sport and as a spectator.



What to do if you see or hear something

Respond to your child’s concerns:3

  • If your child tells you about abuse, discrimination or harassment, respond calmly and stay in control. Ask a few short questions about whether they are worried or distressed, such as: “Tell me what happened?”, “Then what happened?” and avoid questions that have only a yes/no answer.
  • Listen very carefully, and take what your child says seriously. Do not add to their distress.


If you think that you or your child has been abused, discriminated against or harassed, tell someone about it:

  • A club official or contact officer
  • Your State or national association
  • Department of Sport and Recreation
  • Equal Opportunity Commission
  • Australian Sports Commission
  • Child welfare agency

External sources:

  1. Australian Sports Commission. (n.d.). Harassment and discrimination. Retrieved on the 13/11/09, from http://www.ausport.gov.au/supporting/ethics/hfs
  2. Play by the Rules. (n.d.). Fair and safe behaviour in sport and recreation. Retrieved on the 13/11/09, from http://pbtrcms.com/assets/docs/Fair_and_Safe_Behaviour/Brochures/wa_fair_and_safe_brochure.pdf
  3. Play by the Rules. (n.d.). Your roles and responsibilities. Retrieved on the 13/11/09, from http://www.playbytherules.net.au/got-an-issue/appropriate-boundaries/physical-contact-with-children/for-parents
  4. NSW Sport and Recreation. (n.d.). Child protection in sport and recreation. Retrieved on the 13/11/09, from http://www.dsr.nsw.gov.au/assets/pubs/wwcc/cp_parentguide.pdf
 
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