Nonviolence and Catholic school sport: recommendations for supporting mission as drawn from a historical case study

Abstract

For centuries, Catholic schools have promoted extra-curricular activity as a means to develop well-rounded students. Sports programming has been a vital aspect of this work, but there is little research into how these programmes can support the combined educational-religious missions of the schools. In response, this paper relies on archival and interview research to present a historical case study of Canadian coach-educator Father David Bauer, who spent his lifetime as a Basilian priest educating through sport in the face of its violent tendencies. We discuss how Bauer, as an educator and prominent international figure in ice hockey, identified difficulties arising from violence over several decades. Influenced by his military experience and his religious community’s educational charism, we see how Bauer drew from a Basilian intellectual tradition and other experiences to push back against several types of violence arising in sport: physical, psychological, structural, media-driven, and others. The paper concludes with seven recommendations of nonviolence for Catholic school sports programmes, where leaders can learn from Bauer’s story and enable programmes of human development and bridge-building, and thereby, positively enhance school mission.