The 2024 Ontario Coaching Report highlights
86% of coaches agree hazing is a serious issue
TORONTO, Nov. 28,
2024 /CNW/ - The Coaches Association of
Ontario (CAO), with support from
Hydro One Networks Inc. (Hydro One), released its second annual
2024 Ontario Coaching Report which sheds light on the current state
of sport culture and coaching practices across the province. This
year's report delves deeper into the prevalence of hazing and team
initiation practices, along with the broader sport culture in the
province.
The report reveals that while a majority of coaches in
Ontario demonstrate a strong
commitment to positive sport values, one in three are not
consistently coaching in ways that reflects these values. In
addition, coaches aged 18-34 report two to five times higher levels
of hazing behaviours amongst their teams compared to their older
counterparts (35-54 & 55+). Overall, the report concludes more
can be done to support the one in seven adult Ontarians coaching
across all levels of sport in the province.
Additional noteworthy findings from the report include:
- 4 in 10 coaches are aware of hazing within their teams
and 6 in 10 personally experienced it as athletes.
- While 86% of coaches agree that hazing in sports is a
serious issue, only 4 in 10 report having a set of clear
standards on acceptable behavior or intervene when hazing practices
occur.
- 83% of coaches agree that creating a positive sport
culture is essential, yet 40% did not know what values make
up that culture.
- 1 in 10 coaches say that core values like fair play and
athlete health are not important to their coaching.
- 77% of coaches emphasize skill development and progress
over winning.
- 90% of coaches rated fun and skill development as the
most important values in their coaching.
While hazing is often described as a 'harmless tradition', the
opposite is true. From activities such as wearing embarrassing
clothing and using demeaning nicknames to more severe actions such
as vandalism and pressure to consume alcohol or drugs, all of these
leaves lasting emotional, physical and mental impacts on
athletes.
The findings of the report will help connect Ontario sport communities to information and
resources necessary to ensure that coaches, parents and
organizations have the tools they need to make sport safe,
inclusive and fun for everyone.
The Ontario Coaching Report is the first ground-breaking study
that provided a comprehensive look at the state of coaching across
Ontario's diverse sport sectors.
With more than 70 per cent of coaches volunteering their time,
roughly 600 million hours annually, the report is a crucial step to
ensuring the challenges faced by these and all coaches, are
properly supported while fostering positive sport
environments.
This year's report builds on the findings of 2023's inaugural
report, which underscored the positive mental health and life
benefits of coaching but also revealed the issue of hazing within
clubs and organizations.
The Ontario Coaching Report is part of the Safe Sport 101
partnership between CAO and Hydro One. Launched in 2019, Safe Sport
101 is a free virtual hub that provides coaches with the tools and
resources they need to make sport safe, fun and inclusive for all.
The hub includes the Safe Sport 101 Playbook eLearning series,
downloadable resources, and grant programs.
One thousand coaches representing more than 80 sports were
surveyed by Leger for the report, a significant step in assessing
coaching behaviors across all sports and contexts, ranging from
grassroots to club competition and high performance. The full
report is available at safesport101.coachesontario.ca/report.
Quotes:
"Coaches in Ontario are
dedicated to fostering a safe and inclusive environment. Access to
training and gaps in understanding of positive sport experiences
continue to be a challenge. Thanks to the support of partners like
Hydro One, we're working to expand training opportunities and
resources, empowering coaches to better embody the values they
prioritize." – Jeremy Cross,
Executive Director, Coaching Association of Ontario
"A common sentiment in sport is the need to shift the culture.
However, the follow-up question "How?" is often overlooked. This
report provides us with specific insights, bridging the gap between
knowing change is necessary and understanding how to make it
happen. Bravo!" – Allison Forsyth,
Founder, Generation Safe, and former Canadian Olympic Alpine
Skier
"Team building is at the core of creating a positive sport
culture, in all levels of sport. This report emphasizes the need
for a culture shift - one that prioritizes education and inclusive
team-building practices. While many activities are still viewed as
attempts to bond, they actually undermine trust and create division
within teams. Building a culture based on communication, mutual
respect, and a sense of belonging is essential for both individual
and team success, regardless of athletes' age." – Dr. Jay Johnson, leading Canadian hazing researcher,
University of Manitoba.
"Coaches are the lifeblood of amateur sport. They should be
equipped with knowledge, supported with positivity, and recognized
for their invaluable contributions to the development of young
people. The Ontario Coaching Report provides us with valuable
insight as to how all stakeholders of sport can work together to
improve the experience of coaches, which in turn, will improve the
experiences of the most important stakeholder - the athletes." –
Michael Selliah, Basketball Coach
and Performance Programs Coordinator, Ontario Cycling
"The launch of this report calls attention to the needs of
coaches and inspires incredible work by the CAO to put support
systems in place. As an employee at Hydro One, as well as a coach
myself, I know firsthand that safety is a priority, and coaches
play a critical role in building a safe, fun and rewarding
environment for their athletes and teams." – Lorraine Gray, Vice President, Systems
Operations & Stations Service, Hydro One
About the Coaches Association of Ontario (CAO)
The Coaches Association of Ontario is an independent, non-profit
organization that supports coaches from community to high
performance across all sports in Ontario. Providing coach development, funding
opportunities, and events that support, recognize and represent all
coaches across the province.
For more information, please visit www.coachesontario.ca, follow
us on Facebook, Instagram.
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SOURCE Coaches Association of Ontario