Abstract
This review focuses on what has been referred to as ‘violence’ used against children taking part in activities connected with sport in a number of countries around the world. Suggestions for standard definitions of ‘sport’ and ‘violence’ are given, as are examples of practices that show that the perpetrators of this ‘violence’ are not limited to any particular person or sport. Recommendations for, amongst other things, further academic research, data collection, monitoring, education and training in a number of areas regarding abuse of children connected with sporting activities are also made. This an interesting report, with the potential to be a foundation stone for more discussion on the values adults place on the participation, and use, of the children they encourage to participate in sporting activities.
Highlights
The Review suggests that coaches can be as neglectful to a child’s needs as can parents and carers. It becomes apparent from the quotes of child athletes that coaches are held responsible for the majority of cases of sexual exploitation perpetrated against them
[M]any of the studies reported...do not distinguish...between grades of violent behaviour...[and] some do not differentiate between child athletes and adult athletes; some use legal definitions while others adopt everyday norms as threshold measures; and some do not differentiate on the basis of gender (p7)
[w]hile the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the Convention on the Rights of the Child set out principles pledging protection of all adults and children against violence, there is no universal agreement about the most effective measures to prevent violence, either in or beyond sport. (p17)
Summary
[w]hile the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the Convention on the Rights of the Child set out principles pledging protection of all adults and children against violence, there is no universal agreement about the most effective measures to prevent violence, either in or beyond sport. Examples of some of the roles child athletes live in include the ‘family, peer and school, 10 relationships, sport relationships, a wider sport community and, beyond that, society in general’ (p17).
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