With the extensive press about teenage bullying after the tragic death of Amanda Todd…How do you as a soccer coach prevent bullying?

Children and young adults can be cruel and out of fear follow bullies, the pack mentality.  Many children/young adults are susceptible to becoming targets in school & in extracurricular activities such as soccer.

So my question to coaches is…

How do you prevent it? 

  • Do you talk to your team about bullying?
  • Have a healthy discussion about bullying?
  • Do you ask the parents to have a discussion with their children at home about bullying?
  • Or do you engage both the children and parents in a round table discussion?

What if you suspect bullying going on within your team? 

  • Do you talk to the individual that is the bullier?
  • What about the child who is being bullied?
  • Do you talk to both the bullier and the bullied?
  • Do you instead approach the parents first?
  • Do you get both parents and children together?

I would be very interested in feedback about this very serious situation that has plagued school grounds and soccer fields!

As well would love feedback from Parents of children that are or have been bullied in team sports.  How you dealt with it, both with your child and with the coach.

And how did it negatively affect your child and their view on playing sports and being apart of a team.