Hockey parents rattled by yet another abuse scandal can press sports organizations about what theyB次元官网网址檙e doing to keep young athletes safe, say experts, as accusations swirling around the Chicago BlackhawksB次元官网网址� renew concerns about player safety.
North Vancouver native Kyle Beach has come forward as one of the accusers at the centre of an investigation into how senior leaders of the NHL team mishandled sexual assault allegations against an assistant coach.
Beach was a 20-year-old minor leaguer called up in case the Blackhawks needed help in the playoffs at the time of the alleged assault in 2010.
The CEO of the Sport Dispute Resolution Centre of Canada says BeachB次元官网网址檚 story shows how athletes at every level can fall prey to abuse.
B次元官网网址淚f it can happen to an adult B次元官网网址� imagine how vulnerable children are in sport,B次元官网网址� said Marie-Claude Asselin. B次元官网网址淚f this is what happens to a professional hockey player, then what happens in the community arenas and rinks?B次元官网网址�
Gretchen Kerr, the dean of University of TorontoB次元官网网址檚 kinesiology and physical education program, said sexual misconduct is often underreported, so itB次元官网网址檚 hard to gauge how pervasive it is in sports. But she said research suggests itB次元官网网址檚 one component of a systemic problem of abuse against athletes.
B次元官网网址淪exual abuse does occur, but not nearly as frequently as the psychological forms of harm,B次元官网网址� said Kerr. B次元官网网址淭here are strategies used to develop talent in young people that can be potentially harmful psychologically.B次元官网网址�
The burden shouldnB次元官网网址檛 fall to parents to prevent sexual abuse, said Kerr, but there are precautions they can take to help hold athletics organizations accountable.
B次元官网网址淭he onus is really on the sport organizations to ensure the safety of young people,B次元官网网址� said Kerr. B次元官网网址淚 think thatB次元官网网址檚 where the questions should be focused.B次元官网网址�
Lorraine Lafreni猫re, CEO of the Coaching Association of Canada, encouraged parents to ask sports organizations about their sexual abuse prevention policies.
She suggested questions such as: What type of training is available to the coaches and athletes? Is there a way to report complaints to an independent party? Does the organization have a B次元官网网址渞ule of two,B次元官网网址� meaning there should be at least two adults and two children present at all times?
B次元官网网址淲e need to look at questioning the policies of a club not as questions of suspicion, but simply questions about a shared responsibility in healthy sport for all participants,B次元官网网址� said Lafreni猫re.
Signy Arnason, associate executive director at Canadian Centre for Child Protection, urged parents to be on the lookout for inappropriate interactions between coaches and young athletes, such as physical contact, sexual jokes, excessive attention or attempts to isolate a child.
Arnason said parents should engage their kids in discussions about healthy behaviour and boundaries, and how they can get help if they feel uncomfortable. But she said these conversations need to be age-appropriate and not rooted in fear.
B次元官网网址淭his actually isnB次元官网网址檛 about sport,B次元官网网址� she said. B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 about these environments where individuals are going to have access to kids, and ensuring, as adults, weB次元官网网址檙e putting all the appropriate systems in place to address these types of concerns.B次元官网网址�
B次元官网网址� Adina Bresge, The Canadian Press, with files from The Associated Press
