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Post by dubber on Jan 27, 2007 18:43:59 GMT -6
We recently had a problem with some upperclassmen (and I use the term 'men' loosely) hazing some of our incoming freshmen. Doing stupid things like body slamming them, humping them (pseudo-homosexual acts), and other things to embarass/intimidate the young pups. One kid told his dad who got the AD who got the HC (whose finishing up his last season of BB coaching-----he just got the promotion this winter to HC) involved. I came late to weights b/c I had a class that day. I AM PISSED! We need ever kid we can get (we rolled with 32 last season including freshmen!), and this just hurts the team. I want to suspend these kids for a month from all football activity, and if it happens again I'd like to send them their walking papers. In my day, the freshmen carried hand shields and ball bags out to the field------besides getting waxed on scout team, that was it.
Hazing is a mindless, sadistic activity that doesn't build anything. It is used by those who need to feel better about themselves by putting others under them.
Football is about winning. If we don't keep score why play. But it is not solely about winning. It is not life, but it is a lot like it. Young men can become resilant and tough and disciplined and learn how to work with others. Football players can become better people long after their days are over. And it infuriates me that someone would try to take this away.
Thanks, I vented.
How do you guys deal with hazing?
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Post by djwesp on Jan 27, 2007 19:50:35 GMT -6
How do you guys deal with hazing? When our staff was trying to turn around our program (we had just arrived), we had a group of guys "oil checking" (as they referred to it) underclassmen. That is where you take two fingers, and shove them where the sun doesn't shine (thankfully clothed). For legal reasons, we had to remove them from the team and it was handled on an administrative/legal level. Hazing, in all forms, sees glorification in movies like Animal House and other media---and translates itself into a graphic reality. It is really sad, not only that a young man would do that kind of thing to another, but that by many actions like this in fraternities and sports groups is considered acceptable. In this case, and many situations. It had been allowed previously, not accepted, but definitely not handled how it should have been. I'm not sure why some people think for one second that this is acceptable, but we addressed the matter on a team level and with the overall rise of the discipline of the program we have had no more problems. Have you had an open forum with the team discussing the issue, and why it is unacceptable? I'm sure that you are a disciplinarian, and if they realized you and your staffs stance on the issue (or at least had it repeated) that maybe they will think twice next time. |
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Post by averageblkmale on Jan 28, 2007 8:44:59 GMT -6
We had an incident at football camp with one of our "captians" hazing a sophmore. He was removed from the program by the school baord, so he transfered to another school and helped them win a state championship.
What justice!
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Post by touchdowng on Jan 28, 2007 9:45:36 GMT -6
how do you handle it?
you handle it head on and as directly as you've ever handled anything.
you get your admin on board. you speak with your parent group. you educate yourself and your staff on the subject and you educate your players. You must be very explicit about the ramifications for any involved (perpetrators or victims). many times the victims will protect the group.
been through this and what you must keep an eye on is that this stuff doesn't go "underground."
be vigalent as hell and be ready to eliminate some kids because if you keep some of them around, it won't matter how many kids you have out for football - it will never go away.
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Post by coachcb on Jan 28, 2007 12:51:26 GMT -6
In today's marvelous age of "The Law Suite", I think we all have to carefully consider these situations and their impacts. I mean, simple things like seniors making the freshman get water last during practice can (and will) be viewed as hazing by the right mommy. We had a situation in our locker rooms seveal years ago. One of the freshman stole one of the senior's cowboy collars and got caught by the seniors. There was some yelling and shoving, but nothing serious until one of them urinated in the freshman's football locker.
We had the situation under control; we didn't know who pissed in his locker, so we punished the whole team. The freshman was punsihed for the theft and the seniors left him alone But, the kids dad got a lawyer involved and the situation becamse very, very, sticky. The problem ended fairly quietly because our AD handled it very well. However, if we had known which senior vandalized the locker, he would've gotten tossed off of the team for sure.
Personally, if I found out that my upper classmen were "checking oil", I'd kick them off the team with out question. Where do these kids come up with this sh-t??? They don't learn this crap from coaches or teachers, so I've got to assume mom and dad have never spanked them.
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Post by djwesp on Jan 28, 2007 14:02:21 GMT -6
Personally, if I found out that my upper classmen were "checking oil", I'd kick them off the team with out question. Where do these kids come up with this sh-t??? They don't learn this crap from coaches or teachers, so I've got to assume mom and dad have never spanked them. NOT a clue. It sat us back a long way athletically, but getting rid of them was the right thing to do on a moral and legal level. Sometimes compeition is outweighed by common sense (and this was one of those situations). Former coaches turning a blind eye towards that sort of thing in the program previously, helped it balloon out of control. Knowing the kids, they really didn't realize the implications of their actions. (which still makes it nowhere near acceptable). The group was pretty diverse, some with good parents, some with---well, you know. Poor, rich, religious, punks, hicks. The problem was more of peer pressure and blind eye being turned previously. (and for those boys sake, i hope their backsides were black and blue) |
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Post by djwesp on Jan 28, 2007 14:06:12 GMT -6
Here's something we have posted on the Weight room door.
If you have to stop and ask yourself if an activity is hazing or not, it is. To further clarify though, here are six broad questions to ask yourself about an activity:
Will the activity achieve one or more of the predetermined goals of the football team?
Would you be willing to perform the activity in front of a school administrator?
Would you feel comfortable if the players parents were present during the activity?
Would you be prepared to go to court to defend the merit of this activity?
Would you be willing to share a written description of this activity for other teams and the state athletic association to use?
Would boosters and Alumni approve of such an activity?
If the answer is "no" to any one of these questions, then it's hazing. Don't do it.
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Post by jaspercoach on Jan 28, 2007 15:04:38 GMT -6
Here's something we have posted on the Weight room door. If you have to stop and ask yourself if an activity is hazing or not, it is. To further clarify though, here are six broad questions to ask yourself about an activity: Will the activity achieve one or more of the predetermined goals of the football team? Would you be willing to perform the activity in front of a school administrator? Would you feel comfortable if the players parents were present during the activity? Would you be prepared to go to court to defend the merit of this activity? Would you be willing to share a written description of this activity for other teams and the state athletic association to use? Would boosters and Alumni approve of such an activity? If the answer is "no" to any one of these questions, then it's hazing. Don't do it. Good Post. Great idea posting in on weight room door or in lockerroom. |
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Post by airman on Jan 28, 2007 18:03:18 GMT -6
We recently had a problem with some upperclassmen (and I use the term 'men' loosely) hazing some of our incoming freshmen. Doing stupid things like body slamming them, humping them (pseudo-homosexual acts), and other things to embarass/intimidate the young pups. One kid told his dad who got the AD who got the HC (whose finishing up his last season of BB coaching-----he just got the promotion this winter to HC) involved. I came late to weights b/c I had a class that day. I AM {censored}! We need ever kid we can get (we rolled with 32 last season including freshmen!), and this just hurts the team. I want to suspend these kids for a month from all football activity, and if it happens again I'd like to send them their walking papers. In my day, the freshmen carried hand shields and ball bags out to the field------besides getting waxed on scout team, that was it. Hazing is a mindless, sadistic activity that doesn't build anything. It is used by those who need to feel better about themselves by putting others under them. Football is about winning. If we don't keep score why play. But it is not solely about winning. It is not life, but it is a lot like it. Young men can become resilant and tough and disciplined and learn how to work with others. Football players can become better people long after their days are over. And it infuriates me that someone would try to take this away. Thanks, I vented. How do you guys deal with hazing? those boys should be charged with sexual assult. |
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Post by wingman on Jan 28, 2007 21:21:22 GMT -6
At least in Socal, you better make it clear to the player sthat you don't tolerate hazing and if someone gets reported, you will tell the administration to do whatever they would do to anyone else. Tell them hazing will get you fired so you will not back them up. I tell some guys their goal should be not to have every underclassman think they're an a**hole when they graduate. And I will say anyguy who wants to stick anything in another guy's rear has some serious issues.
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Post by coachveer on Jan 29, 2007 8:17:27 GMT -6
Great list DJ...
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hoggles
Probationary Member
Posts: 11
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Post by hoggles on Jan 29, 2007 22:49:08 GMT -6
zero tolerance. Administration immediately notified to handle the situation.
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Post by saintrad on Jan 29, 2007 23:49:30 GMT -6
we had that same issue this last year at our junior high where several of the 9th graders mobbed several of my 8th graders, held them down and "pink bellied" them (slapped their stomachs repeatedly until extremely red and sore)...the 9th grade HC and I heard about the possibility two days before and I had one of my assistants in the locker room before and after practice. On the day of the attack one of the 9th grade assistants mentioned to the 9th graders that we (the 8th graders) kept taking all the footballs and the "should do something about it". He then went on to tell my assistant that I needed him on the field to deal with a player issue and then the attakc occurred. By the time we figured out what had happened several of our players we headed out to tell us what had happened. The 9th grade HC said it had "slipped his mind" and the assistant urged us to take care of it in house. Needless to say I was livid and went to the principal immediately to deal with the situation..he only wnated to sweep it under the rug so our APs rail roaded him to justice.
Regardless of the reasons, hazing is degrading and immoral. How can it ever "build a team"?
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Post by dubber on Jan 30, 2007 9:23:14 GMT -6
Exactly, it only serves to divide. I wonder how many future varsity players quit because they were hazed? More importantly, these young men who do quit are deprived the rich lessons football teaches.
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Post by coachmathis on Jan 30, 2007 9:28:53 GMT -6
We have so few kids that hazing is not an issue here, at least not to my knowledge.
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Post by donaldduck on Jan 30, 2007 9:38:43 GMT -6
Remember that not only kids suffer, but also the coach in charge can face some problems. A neighboring district had a problem similar to this and a very successful coach got canned along with two assisstants. Our staff takes turns monitoring the dressing rooms after practice and make sure we are visible before practice. Prevention probably stops alot of crap from happening.
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