BE-FREE, Team Up for Respect: Promoting Bully-Free Zones in Grassroots Sports

Program: Cooperation partnerships.

Duration of the Project: 24 months.

Coordinator: OSLO ORCAS IF

Partners: SPORT COACHING EUROPE, JUDO ZVEZA SLOVENIJE SLOVENIAN JUDO FEDERATION, ASSOCIACAO DE FUTEBOL DE BRAGANCA AFB, ZAJEDNICA SPORTSKIH UDRUGA GRADA RIJEKE RIJECKI SPORTSKI SAVEZ RIJEČKI SPORTSKI SAVEZ, SPORT SINGULARITY BV SPORT SINGULARITY, SPOR GONULLULERI DERNEGI ASSOCIATION OF SPORTS VOLUNTEERS, HACETTEPE UNIVERSITESI, ISETIA S.C.

Summary of the project:  Bullying in youth sports is a serious and pervasive challenge that undermines the core values of sport and the well-being of young athletes. At its core, the project addresses the harmful behaviours – from verbal taunts and social exclusion to physical intimidation – that many young athletes encounter on the playing field. These bullying behaviours do not just bruise egos; they have profound physical, psychological, and social consequences. Young athletes who are bullied often suffer anxiety, loss of confidence, and even physical symptoms of stress. In the long run, such a toxic environment can strip sport of its joy and camaraderie, leaving lasting scars on a child’s development. The current state of affairs across Europe and neighbouring regions highlights the urgency of this issue. Recent studies reveal alarmingly high rates of bullying and harassment in youth sports. In one EU-wide survey spanning six countries, nearly 65% of youth sport participants reported experiencing psychological violence (e.g. bullying, humiliation or insults) during their childhood sporting years. Team sports, in particular, seem to breed higher rates of peer aggression – one study found that about 26.7% of athletes in team sports had been involved in bullying (as victim or perpetrator), compared to 19.1% in individual sports. These figures suggest that one in every four young athletes may directly face or take part in bullying on the team. The specific objectives are: – Empower young athletes with knowledge and tools to prevent bullying – Build the capacity of coaches and sport staff to create bully-free environments – Equip sports clubs and organisations with effective policies and support structures – Promote a culture of respect and integrity in sport through education and advocacy.

Total value of the project: 400.000 €.