Bullying Behaviour in my sport club 

One of the biggest benefits of joining a sports club is that we can make new friends while doing something we love. This experience is meant to be fun, challenging and offer opportunities to learn new things about ourselves. Sadly, young people may experience bullying behaviour at their sports club, often resulting in them quitting or avoiding the activity they love. 

What is bullying behaviour? ‍

At The Diana Award, we define bullying behaviour as

‘repeated, negative behaviour that is intended  to make others feel upset, uncomfortable or unsafe’.

We know that this behaviour must happen more than once and the perpetrator must know the effect of their words or actions in order for it to be bullying behaviour. This behaviour can be verbal, indirect or physical and each type can have an equally negative and long-lasting impact on someone. We also believe that the term ‘bullying’ is used too often and often neglects the fact that bullying is a temporary behaviour choice and absolutely something people can change or decide to stop. 

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‍I’m experiencing bullying behaviour at my sports club. What should I do?‍

No matter where you are and no matter who is exhibiting bullying behaviour, it’s so important that you tell someone. From our interactions with young people across the UK, we know that many experience bullying behaviour and never tell anyone which can make you feel alone, isolated from friends and family and can seriously affect your mental health and feelings of self-worth and happiness. So if you are experiencing bullying behaviour at your sports club, tell a trusted adult like a parent, teacher or sports coach. It is their duty to support your wellbeing and they are there to help you. 

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‍But this is happening outside of school. It’s not my teacher’s responsibility. ‍

Even if your experience is outside of school, your teachers still have a duty of care to support your wellbeing. Whether it’s after school or on a weekend, your teacher is still your teacher - bullying behaviour can affect your health and make you want to skip school or make your grades start to slip. Your teacher can contact your sports coach and your parents and work towards a resolution. Remember that you do not have to suffer in silence - there are people who care about you who are ready to help.  

Finally, we know it can be difficult to talk about your experiences and take the first step towards a resolution, so we have included some helpful contact numbers below where you can receive support. You can also check out further resources in our Resource Centre.  
 
The Diana Award Crisis Messenger provides free, 24/7 crisis support across the UK. If you are a young person in crisis, you can text DA to 85258. Trained volunteers will listen to how you’re feeling and help you think the next step towards feeling better.  
Childline – Call 0800 1111 

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