Yavapai Inline Hockey Association Anti-Bullying Policy

 

Statement of Intent

 

Yavapai Inline Hockey Association (YIHAAW) is a participant in the Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) and conforms to all of its policies. YIHAAW is adopting its own anti-bullying policy as an additional measure of protection for its players. We consider bullying to be behavior ranging from verbal teasing to physical aggression. It is our position that no amount of bullying is acceptable. We define bullying as any action, be it verbal or physical, that has the intent to cause, or has the effect of causing, distress, and this behavior will not be tolerated. 

 

The YIHAAW Board is committed to providing a caring, friendly, and safe environment for all hockey participants so they can learn the game of hockey and the skills necessary to participate in the game in a fun, safe, and secure atmosphere. Bullying of any kind is unacceptable and will not be tolerated at any practice, game, or other YIHAAW sanctioned event. If bullying is reported to any player or parent, they should immediately report the incident to their coach, team manager, or any YIHAAW Board member, who will ensure that the complaint is investigated and remediated promptly and effectively. 

 

Definitions 

 

1. Bullying: Conduct, gestures, or comments which are insulting, intimidating, humiliating, hurtful, malicious, degrading, or otherwise offensive to a player, a group of players and/or teammates, and which create a hostile or intimidating environment, or which negatively effects a player or players’ performance. 

   1. Examples

      1. Physical Behaviors: Behaviors that include (a) hitting, pushing, punching, beating, biting, striking, kicking, choking, or slapping an athlete; (b) throwing at or hitting an athlete with objects, such as sporting equipment. 

      2. Non-Physical Behaviors (Verbal, Social, Cyberbullying): Behaviors that include (a) teasing, ridiculing, intimidating; (b) spreading rumors or making false statements; (c) using electronic communications, social media, or other technology to harass, frighten, intimidate, or humiliate (“cyberbullying”). 

 

1. Harassment:  A repeated pattern of physical and/or non-physical behaviors that (a) are intended to cause fear, humiliation, or annoyance; (b) offend or degrade; (c) create a hostile environment; or (d) reflect discriminatory bias in an attempt to establish dominance, superiority, or power over an individual athlete or group based on race, gender, ethnicity, culture, religion, sexual orientation, gender expression, or mental or physical disability. 

   1. Examples

      1. Physical Offenses: Behaviors that included (a) hitting, pushing, punching, beating, biting, striking, kicking, choking, or slapping an athlete; (b) throwing at or hitting an athlete with objects, such as sporting equipment. 

      2. Non-Physical Offenses: Behaviors that include (a) making negative or disparaging comments about an athlete’s sexual orientation, gender expression, disability, religion, skin color, or ethnic traits; (b) displaying offensive materials, gestures, or symbols; (c) withholding or reducing playing time to an athlete based on any of the above criteria. 

 

1. Emotional Misconduct: A pattern of deliberate, non-contact behavior that has the potential to cause emotional or psychological harm to an athlete. Non-contact behaviors include, but are not limited to: 

   1. Verbal Acts: A pattern of verbal behaviors that (a) attack an athlete personally (e.g. calling them worthless, fat, or disgusting) or (b) repeatedly or excessively yelling at a particular athlete that serves no productive training or motivational purpose.

   2. Physical Intimidation: A pattern of physically aggressive behvior such as (a) throwing sport equipment, water bottles, or chairs at or in the presence of participants, (b) punching walls, windows, or other objects; or (c) slamming of doors.

   3. Acts that deny attention or support: A pattern of (a) ignoring an athlete for extended periods of time or (b) routinely or arbitrarily excluding participants from practice.

 

Signs and Symptoms of Potential Misconduct 

 

A child may indicate that they are being bullied through various signs and behaviors. While some athletes are prone to report bullying or other discriminatory behavior to their parents, coaches, or other adults, some may not due to fear, intimidation, or other factors. Coaches and parents should be aware of the following possible signs indicating that bullying may be taking place, prompting them to investigate further and/or report their concerns to a member of the Board. 

• Is frightened or unwilling to attend practice,

• Doesn’t care to associate with team members,

• Asks to be picked up promptly from practice,

• Changes their usual routine,

• Feigns illness prior to practice or gametime, 

• Becomes withdrawn, anxious, or lacking in confidence, 

• Start stuttering, 

• Attempts or threatens suicide or runs away, 

• Cries themselves to sleep at night or has nightmares, 

• Begins doing poorly in schoolwork,

• Comes home with missing or damaged equipment or clothing, 

• Asks for money or starts stealing money (to pay bully),

• Has unexplained cuts or bruises, 

• Becomes aggressive, disruptive, or unreasonable, 

• Is bullying other children or siblings, 

• Stops eating,

• Is frightened to say what is wrong, and/or, 

• Gives improbable excuses for any of the above. 

 

Player Education 

 

Coaches are encouraged to discuss the problem of bullying openly with their athletes to promote a speak up culture. Athletes should be encouraged to do the following to stop and discourage bullying tactics: 

 

• Athletes should tell their parents, 

• If an athlete is bullied at a hockey practice and/or game, they should be encouraged to immediately tell a coach. Telling is not tattling and the athlete should be reassured that no consequences will result from them coming forward. If necessary, the athlete should write down what happened, when it happened, and identify who bullied them. 

• If athletes are concerned or nervous about coming forward, they should be encouraged to talk with a friend, teammate, or other trusted party. 

• All players should be encouraged to intervene in any active bullying situation. 

• Athletes should be encouraged to not fight back when confronted by a bully. They should calmly tell the bullying party to stop, or say nothing, and walk/skate away and report the incident to a coach. 

 

Procedures for Players, Parents, Coaches, and Board Members
 

Players or parents should report suspected or alleged bullying using the YIHAAW Bullying Report Form. While the form allows for, and we accept, anonymous reporting regarding incidents, we would kindly ask contact information is provided so that proper follow-up can occur regarding the incident investigation. Lack of information will directly impact our ability to verify the reported incident. 

 

In all cases of reported bullying, parent or guardians of the player who was bullied shall be informed as soon as possible and may be asked to meet with the respective team coach and/or coaching coordinator(s) to discuss the incident. In all cases, strict confidentiality shall be maintained. 

 

The bullying behavior will be investigated by the coaching coordinator(s) and/or the Board. The parents or guardians of any athlete who is reported to be bullying will be contacted as soon as possible by a YIHAAW representative and will be asked to meet to discuss the incident. Depending on the severity, the parents or guardians may be asked to meet with a member of the YIHAAW Board. If the incident is serious, and it is appropriate, police may be consulted. 

 

Consequences of Bullying

 

In all instances in which bullying is substantiated, the wishes of the player and/or parents or guardians of the athlete being bullied will be considered before disciplinary action is administered. 

 

In a first offense situation, an attempt will be made to encourage the bully (bullies) to modify their behavior. The bully (bullies) will be asked to genuinely apologize to those athletes affected, including team members. An attempt will be made by the coach, Board, or parents/guardians to reconcile the situation between the athletes. 

 

In a second offense situation, the offender will lose the right to participate in the subsequent session with their team (whether it is a rec game or travel tournament). 

 

In a third offense is committed by the same offender, that individual will lose the right to participate in the next three team events (whether practices, games, or travel tournaments). 

 

If the behavior persists to a fourth offense, disciplinary action will be taken by the team coach and/or the YIHAAW Board, which may include, but is not limited to, immediate suspension from participating in practices, game, and tournaments for an extended period, removal from the team, or banned from the association. The Board reserves the right to suspend or otherwise discipline any athlete for bullying in addition to any action taken by the coach or the coaching coordinator(s). 

 

YIHAAW reserves the right the escalate discipline, regardless of which occurrence, to a second, third, or fourth offense consequence depending on the seriousness of the incident and/or if the subject is uncooperative. 

 

After the incident(s) have been investigated and resolved, the situation will continue to be monitored by the respective team coach and player parents to ensure repeated bullying does not take place.