According to a study conducted through Alfred University, 80% of college athletes have been hazed. And almost 50% of high school athletes have been hazed.
More and more, athletes have been the object of hazing, and this abuse has been in the forefront of the news since 1980.
According to US Legal Definitions, hazing is:
"Any willful action taken or situation created which recklessly or intentionally endangers the mental or physical health of another."
When people think about sports hazing, they think about the athletes being forced to binge drink, having their fat circled, or being physically beated. But there also exists hazing which is mentally and emotionally damaging, as oppose to physically damaging.
Whatever the hazing methods and types, many sports teams use hazing to put the freshman in their place, or to continue a ritual tradition which has been going on for years. Others do so simply to belittle, embarass, harass, take advantage of and abuse their teammates. This is the type of hazing which has people worried the most; the type which is vengeful and cruel without reason.
It is important to remember, however, that no type of hazing is legal, and can have serious ramifications for both teammates and coaches, even if they did not directly participate. Knowing about it and not reporting it makes you equally guilty as those who participated.
"Any willful action taken or situation created which recklessly or intentionally endangers the mental or physical health of another."
When people think about sports hazing, they think about the athletes being forced to binge drink, having their fat circled, or being physically beated. But there also exists hazing which is mentally and emotionally damaging, as oppose to physically damaging.
Whatever the hazing methods and types, many sports teams use hazing to put the freshman in their place, or to continue a ritual tradition which has been going on for years. Others do so simply to belittle, embarass, harass, take advantage of and abuse their teammates. This is the type of hazing which has people worried the most; the type which is vengeful and cruel without reason.
It is important to remember, however, that no type of hazing is legal, and can have serious ramifications for both teammates and coaches, even if they did not directly participate. Knowing about it and not reporting it makes you equally guilty as those who participated.
However, why do athletes still participate in hazing others, and condone others to haze them? Why do athletes believe that being hazed and hazing others is an acceptable way to welcome new members onto a team? Many insist, suprisingly, that hazing brought them closer together with their teammates. What do YOU think? Can hazing ever be a good thing?
Email your responses to: msibley@takkle.com and your voice could be featured in the next blog, and on TAKKLE.
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ESPN has compiled an extensive list of many incidents of hazing on high school and college sports teams since 1980. To learn more about hazing, and to view that list, click HERE.
If you have heard about, witness or been directly involved in hazing of any kind, be sure to report it to your high school or college police immediately.
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