CBC Manitoba: High school hockey team iced from post-season as RCMP probes hazing allegations
But while sport organizations have been educating players, coaches and parents about hazing for years, studies show it’s still happening, said jay johnson, a kinesiology professor at the University of Manitoba who has been doing research on hazing in sport for 25 years.
“We had a nationwide study that we conducted in 2018 where we surveyed athletes in youth sports across Canada and we were surprised to find that still two-thirds of those athletes were still reporting hazing taking place.”
There are things teams can do to reduce the chances of it happening, including drafting clear and concise policies around hazing and the consequences, and then following through.
Reports of hazing at the high school or club level are increasing because parents are speaking out, johnson said.
Still, he acknowledges, it’s a challenge for athletes to come forward because they’re part of the culture of the team.