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Although sport is often touted as a vehicle for positive experiences, many investigations into sporting cultures \u2013 particularly high performance sport \u2013 have highlighted how predatory or abusive behaviour by coaches can emerge and be tolerated.<\/p>\n
The potential for (and reality of) abuse in youth sport is based on various factors. This includes the reputation of the coach to produce \u201cchampions\u201d, the money medals generate for an organisation, the pressure felt by athletes to endure pain and discomfort as part of training, and a general culture of obedience.<\/p>\n
For those reasons, a robust, sustainable child safeguarding (CSG) policy has become a critical step to ensure New Zealanders \u2013 young and old \u2013 can continue to enjoy their involvement in sport.<\/p>\n
The risk, however, is that these necessary safeguards can inadvertently create confusion and cultures of suspicion between colleagues, parents and athletes. When even a congratulatory high-five or reassuring pat on the back can be misconstrued, we need to ask how we get the balance right.<\/p>\n
Encouragingly, the New Zealand\u2019s Children\u2019s Act (2014) introduced a series of changes over the past few years to enhance the safety of children and adults working with children in a range of settings.<\/p>\n
Although the law is not specifically aimed at the sport sector, Sport NZ \u2013 the crown entity responsible for governing sport and recreation \u2013 has responded with several (online) training modules, and engaged with the sector to safeguard children interacting with adults in sport settings.<\/p>\n
Notwithstanding this progress at home, international research suggests the legal requirements on coaches can cause confusion, spoiling the otherwise healthy and positive relationships coaches can have with parents and young athletes.<\/p>\n
This is especially true of volunteers, who make up such a large proportion of coaching roles generally, and who often struggle to access nuanced CSG training in preparation for their roles.<\/p>\n
Currently, the influence policy is having on coach and athlete experiences is not well understood in Aotearoa New Zealand.<\/p>\n
To begin to address this, we asked 237 coaches from around the country to complete an online survey of their understanding of CSG policy in their sport or club, and how that policy is influencing their coaching.<\/p>\n
While the findings indicated some sport organisations are reaching more coaches than others, overall the results indicated significant uncertainty about what CSG policy exists or what it requires.<\/p>\n
In particular, only 33% of volunteer coaches considered current CSG policy helpful in their roles.<\/p>\n
Many participants (60%) said they had not made any changes to their coaching practice in response to CSG policy. Notwithstanding the commendable efforts made by Sport NZ (and others), this is concerning and suggests much more clarity is needed to ensure safe sporting environments.<\/p>\n
So, what kinds of changes are being made by the remaining 40%? Data from this and other research indicates some coaches and organisations are misinterpreting CSG policy, and consequently making adjustments based on what they think is right.<\/p>\n
For instance, participants said policies in their sport or club aimed to restrict males from coaching females, and encouraged sweeping bans of all physical contact between adults and children.<\/p>\n
However, these reactions are not advocated as the \u201cbest practice\u201d outlined in the Children\u2019s Act or Sport NZ\u2019s training. Rather, it seems the lack of clarity surrounding CSG best practice is sometimes based more on people\u2019s \u201cbest guess\u201d.<\/p>\n
We suggest this is primarily driven by wider, societal anxieties about abuse in sport, and is causing people to make changes that are neither required nor necessary.<\/p>\n
As research in Aotearoa and abroad has shown, this has included \u201cno touch\u201d and gender separation policies that lead to adults and children viewing each other as potentially dangerous.<\/p>\n
This in turn leads to cultures of suspicion rather than positive and sustainable cultures of safeguarding. Equally concerning is the danger of turning good people away from sport if misinterpretations escalate.<\/p>\n
No one wants children exposed to predatory behaviour in sport. But discouraging interaction between males and females, or adults avoiding any physical contact with children, isn\u2019t a solution.<\/p>\n
\nAs the scrutiny of the unhealthy state of gymnastics in New Zealand continues, lawyer Sally McKechnie wants to challenge ideas, guide changes, and ensure children understand what’s right and what’s wrong in their sport. https:\/\/t.co\/rXyyACrVc0<\/a><\/p>\n
\u2014 Newsroom (@NewsroomNZ) November 28, 2021<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n