Bullying is deliberately hurting a specific person either physically, verbally, psychologically, or socially. It can happen anywhere, and it can include messages, public statements and behaviour online intended to cause distress or harm. Furthermore, it can involve a real or perceived power imbalance. Bullying can occur both on and off the court and can involve players, parents, coaches, spectators, or officials.
Hazing is any action taken or any situation created intentionally that causes embarrassment, harassment or ridicule and risks emotional and/or physical harm to members of a group or team, whether new or not, regardless of the person’s willingness to participate. More than half of the players in college have experienced hazing.
A person, especially a child, may not always ask for support when suffering bullying or hazing. They may feel afraid, ashamed, or embarrassed and that the person they tell will think they are weak. Players, parents, coaches, administrators, and sporting organisations all have an ethical (and possibly a legal) responsibility to take action to prevent bullying and hazing occurring in sport and manage it, should it occur.