Hazing Types: Athletics

This week we’ve spoken about hazing in sororities and fraternities, as well as in high schools. Today, we’ll talk about hazing in Athletics.

Although hazing has often been thought to exist primarily in fraternities and sororities, a 1999 study by Alfred University and the NCAA found that approximately 80% of college athletes had been subjected to some form of hazing. Half were required to participate in drinking contests or alcohol related initiations while two thirds were subjected to humiliating hazing. Additionally, much of the reported hazing in high schools occurs during initiations related to athletic teams with many problems arising during pre-season sports camps. Some of the recent high profile hazing incidents in the news have involved brutal initiations in high school sports. Hazing also occurs among professional sports teams as documented in numerous news media accounts.

According to the Alfred/NCAA study, despite widespread reports of hazing in sport, many coaches and athletic directors did not identify hazing as a problem on their teams. However, many educational institutions and associations are seriously addressing the problem of hazing and athletes. Much education is still needed to eliminate harmful hazing in athletics. Something on which most educators, coaches and advocates agree is the best way to end hazing is to begin by sending a clear anti-hazing message. Then, implement a strong anti-hazing policy, communicate it clearly, and enforce it when incidents occur.

We hope you found our series on hazing helpful! Next week, we’ll tackle Event planning!