Part 3 GLOBAL ISSUES: HARASSMENT AND ABUSE RESEARCH

club. During Interviewee comments reflected this: “ … we all know each other well,
and have done so for years” or “ … there are always other adults present during
training, so it cannot happen here”. Clubs that had experienced cases of sexual
abuse appeared to have a very different and more rational approach.
As shown in Table 3.3, sports clubs with past case histories of abuse were much
more likely to ask coaches for criminal record checks, for personnel
recommendations and to ask about formal qualifications than were clubs without
previous cases. Furthermore, these clubs were less worried that asking for a
volunteer’s permission to obtain a criminal record check would scare away voluntary
coaches.
Table 3.3 Comparison of child protection measures among clubs with and without past
abuse cases
Question – has your club… Clubs with past abuse
cases (N=78)
Discussed norms for verbal and
physical behaviour
Written standards for verbal and
physical behaviour
Verbal or written ethical
guidelines for
coaches/instructors
Discussed the rules for alcohol
or substance use
Discussed procedure for case
handling (of abuse cases)
Written procedures for case
handling (of abuse cases)
All of the above**
Clubs without past
abuse cases* (N=767)
78% 63%
35% 21%
35% 15%
69% 6%
61% 25%
9% 3%
9% 0.5%
* This figure is entirely based on the answers given in the self-administered questionnaire and should
therefore be considered as a minimum figure.
** The figures in this row have been generated from calculations
Reflections
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