Discrimination, Harassment, and Unsportsmanlike Conduct

Injury during sports can come in many forms, and most participants are aware that there is inherent injury associated with sport. Primarily the injuries we think of are related to game or practice contact, either with an object or another player that causes bodily harm. What we don’t always think of is the emotional and mental side of injury that comes when playing sports. What words and actions can do to a player’s psyche, to their game awareness, and their overall worth as a person and as an athlete.

The Back Story

The first weekend of June, I was involved in one of these such incidents that involved discrimination, harassment, and unsportsmanlike conduct at a youth lacrosse tournament. Having been a lacrosse coach and player for close to 20 years, unsportsmanlike conduct is nothing new. It has however evolved to the point of it not only happening on the field between players, but now involves parents, coaches, and even referees, towards each other and towards athletes.

What really affected not only myself being in the height of the altercation, where a grown man, about a foot taller than me was in my face screaming obsenities and false claims, but also my team of high school girls and my coaching staff, was that all of this was predicated by adults!

Two different clubs, with multiple adults, making false claims on a child, all because of her playing ability, and that she looked different, thus presuming she, and our club was in someway cheating. Read the full story here.

The look on this athlete’s face, and the words that came out of her mouth as she was sobbing, “What did I do wrong?” are unfortunately one’s that I have heard, and said in the past.

How to Overcome Injury

Unfortunately, this was not just a story that you read about somewhere else and think it could never happen to me. Discrimination comes in many shapes and sizes, from race to religion, from gender expression to appearances. Small comments, microaggressions, and seemingly “innocent” words or questions, can be detrimental to our society and each other.

There is no change that can be made without fear or discomfort. It was very difficult for our lacrosse organization to go public with our story and what happened not only to our athletes but to our staff and parents as well. We fear retaliation, but at the same time, know and understand that we have to speak up, no matter how much our voice shakes. Because hurting anyone, hurting athletes, and especially hurting children IS NOT OK!

Myself and my coaching staff have been in similar situations growing up and playing sports where we didn’t fit the mold, where we looked or played different. But what parents, coaches, refs, and even other players fail to see is that there is NOT one way to play a sport, or one way to be an athlete, and that is what makes sports great!

But as the adults on the field, in the stands, on the sideline, courtside, or wherever you may be watching,

WE MUST DO and BE BETTER!

Adults, we must be the examples that we want our kids to follow. We can’t expect them to respect others if we ourselves are not doing that. Organization heads and directors you have to instill this culture in your group, you have to hold those accountable that are not following your guidelines and above else

WE MUST NOT TOLERATE DISCRIMINATION OF ANY KIND IN ANY SPORT!

If I can be of any help or assistance to any adults, coaches, or athletes out there please reach out or leave a comment below. Please share this story and share your commitment to standing up for what is right!