Findings To Guide Sports Integrity Strategy

The research, conducted by the Australian Sports Commission, has identified verbal abuse, excessive pressure placed on athletes by coaches and parents and players going beyond the spirit of the game, as the most important issues facing local and community sporting clubs.

“If we want more kids and adults to take up sport then we need to ensure they have a safe and enjoyable experience,” Senator Arbib said.

“While sport is about pushing yourself to improve and excel, there is no place in sport for these sorts of negative behaviours which cross the line.

“The findings of the Ethics in Sport report are a key part of developing a National Integrity in Sport Strategy.

“The Australian Sports Commission will lead the development of this strategy in consultation with sporting organisations. It will seek to ensure athletes, coaches, officials, volunteers and spectators participate in a responsible and safe manner.

“While Government has a role to play, parents, coaches and sporting organisations also need to take responsibility and take action against inappropriate behaviour.”

Senator Arbib said while professional sports were tackling issues like match fixing and drug use it was equally important to consider the problems affecting school or weekend sporting competitions.

“The Federal Government has been working with international and Australian sporting bodies to tackle issues affecting the integrity of sport, in particular match fixing, but we can’t lose sight of the factors that affect our junior and local club players, coaches, officials and parents,” Senator Arbib said.

“The National Integrity in Sport Strategy will address these issues which affect both professional sport and young players – whether that be match fixing and drugs in sport or abuse of athletes.”

The Ethics in Sport report outlines the findings of a web survey of over 3,700 players, coaches, officials and administrators from local, state and national levels.

Survey respondents were predominantly from grass roots community sport and were surveyed on issues including abuse and violence, inequity and harassment, and anti-social behaviours and attitudes.

Key findings revealed that during the past 12 months:

•       87% of officials surveyed had experienced or seen athletes being pushed too hard by coaches or parents;

•       80% of administration staff surveyed had experienced or seen sledging and negative coaching behaviours and practices; and

•       76% of players surveyed had experienced or seen the issue of ‘going beyond the spirit of the game’.

The development of the National Integrity in Sport Strategy will also guide new and existing programs and initiatives to reduce instances compromising the ethics and integrity of sport.

To date, the ASC has worked with Australian sport to:

•       Promote the Essence of Australian Sport initiative which defines the core principles of sport in Australia;

•       Ensure all sports have an active Member Protection policy;

•       Develop resources and deliver education to assist sport in providing a safe, fair and respectful environment for their members;

•       Partner with key state and federal government agencies to develop the Play by the Rules website, which provides information and online training to sport to prevent and manage various forms of harassment, discrimination and child abuse;

•       Deliver an initiative that promotes gender and sexual diversity in sport, Fair go, sport!, with the Victorian Equal Opportunity and Human Rights Commission;

•       Conduct a cross-cultural awareness education program through the Indigenous sport network;

•       Develop an All Cultures online resource which aims to assist sporting organisations to include people from multicultural backgrounds in sport, and therefore increase participation rates; and

•       Develop a range of resources and tools to assist with the inclusion of people with disability in sport.

To see the full results go to www.ausport.gov.au/supporting/ethics/strategies_and_initiatives/research      

The outcomes of this survey will assist in guiding the Australian Sports Commission and its partners with the development of industry-wide national strategies and solutions.

Touch Football Australia supports the Australian Sports Commission’s National Integrity in Sport Strategy.