Electric Athletics (EA) is committed to providing a caring, friendly and safe environment for all athletes so they can participate in cheerleading in a relaxed and secure atmosphere. Bullying of any kind is unacceptable. If bullying does occur, all athletes, parents/guardians, volunteers and coaches should know that incidents will be dealt with promptly and effectively. Anyone who knows that bullying is happening is expected to tell the Director / Head Coach (Becky Whittle electricathleticsuk@gmail.com ), Safeguarding Officer (Tori Bould safeguarding.electricathletics@gmail.com) or the team’s lead coach, who will pass it on to the Welfare Team.
Objectives of this Policy
This policy aims to ensure that all coaches, volunteers, athletes and parents/guardians:
- Have an understanding of what bullying is
- Know what the club policy is, how to report any issues and how to deal with any issues that have been reported
- Have an understanding of the signs and indicators of bullying
- take bullying seriously and have the appropriate policies and procedures in place
- are assured they will be supported if bullying is reported
- are aware bullying will not be tolerated by EA members
What is Bullying?
Bullying is the use of aggression with the intention of hurting another person. Bullying results in pain and distress to the victim. Bullying can be:
- Emotional, such as being unfriendly, excluding individuals, tormenting, hiding belongings, threatening gestures
- Physical, such as pushing, kicking, hitting, punching or any use of violent behaviour
- Racism
- Sexual, such as unwanted physical contact, using sexual or suggestive language or sexually abusive comments
- Homophobia
- Verbal, including name calling, sarcasm, spreading rumours, teasing
- Cyber, including all areas of the internet, such as email, social media, message boards, instant messenger. Cyber bullying also includes the misuse of cameras, video cameras or mobile phones
Why is Reporting Bullying Important?
Bullying hurts. No one deserves to be a victim of bullying. Everybody has the right to be treated with respect. Individuals who are bullying need to learn different ways of behaving. EA has a responsibility to respond promptly and effectively to issues of bullying. All individuals involved in EA have a responsibility to report any issues of bullying to the Club Welfare Officer or another appropriate person, such as a coach.
What are the Indicators of Bullying?
A person may indicate that he or she is being bullied by certain signs or by displaying certain behaviours. Adults should be aware of these possible signs and should investigate if an athlete:
- Says he/she is being bullied
- Is unwilling to go to training sessions or competitions, especially if they used to enjoy these activities
- Becomes suddenly withdrawn, anxious or lacking in confidence
- Feels ill before training sessions or competitions
- Comes home with clothes torn or belongings damaged
- Has possessions go ‘missing’
- Asks for money or starts to steal money (to pay the bully)
- Has unexplained cuts or bruises
- Is frightened to say what’s wrong or give improbable excuses for any of the above
Or in more extreme cases, if they:
- Start stuttering
- Cry themselves to sleep at night or have nightmares
- Become aggressive, disruptive, or otherwise unreasonable
- Stop eating
- Attempt or threaten suicide or running away
The above signs may indicate other problems; however, bullying should be considered a possibility and should be investigated.
What to do if You Suspect Bullying is Taking Place?
Report bullying incidents to the Club Welfare Officer, the athlete’s lead coach or a member of the EA coaching staff.
- In cases of serious bullying the matter should be referred to the EA Safeguarding Team immediately (Tori Bould)
- Parents/guardians, if applicable, should be informed and be asked for a meeting to discuss the issues
- If necessary and appropriate, the Police should be consulted
- Any allegations of bullying should be investigated thoroughly and speedily and the acts of bullying stopped quickly
- An attempt should be made to help the bully (or bullies) change their behaviour
- If mediation fails and the bullying continues, the club should initiate disciplinary action
Recommended Club Action
If we at EA decide it is appropriate for us to deal with the situation in house, we will follow the procedure outlined below.
- Consider reconciliation – it may be that a genuine apology can solve the problem
- If this fails or is not appropriate, a small panel (including the Club Welfare Officer) should meet with the athlete and their parents / guardians, if applicable, alleging bullying to get details of the allegation. Minutes should be taken which should be agreed by all parties
- The same panel should meet with the alleged bully and their parents/guardians, if applicable, so they can give their views on the allegations. Once again minutes should be taken and agreed
- If the panel believe that bullying has taken place, the individual should be warned and put on notice that any further incidents may lead to a temporary or permanent suspension from the club
- Consideration should be given as to whether a reconciliation meeting between the parties is appropriate
- The Club Welfare Officer and other members of the committee should monitor the situation to ensure bullying does not reoccur
- All coaches involved with the individuals concerned should be made aware of the situation and what to do if bullying is observed. Serious cases of this nature will be dealt with under the Safeguarding procedure or may be referred to Police and / or Social Services if appropriate
- The Club will refer to the Code of Conduct, which includes acceptable standards of behaviour for all athletes, parents / guardians, volunteers and coaches
- All athletes, parents / guardians, volunteers and coaches will receive a copy of the constitution / code of conduct upon joining the club or at the start of each season if appropriate
- The Club Welfare Officer will raise awareness of bullying and why having a robust anti-bullying policy is important, and if issues of bullying arise in the club, consideration will be given to meeting with all athletes, parents/guardians, volunteers, and coaches to discuss the issues openly and constructively – although with no specific reference to individual incidents
- The Club will display a copy of the EA Anti-Bullying policy somewhere within the training facility and where it is easily accessible.
What is Cyberbullying?
Cyberbullying is the use of communications technology to deliberately upset someone. This is an extension of face-to-face bullying and should be treated just as seriously. Cyberbullying can take place via mobile phones, emails, internet chat rooms, message boards or instant messaging services.
How can it be prevented?
- Children’s use of technology should be monitored to prevent inappropriate usage, if applicable
- Those involved should be made aware of the repercussions their actions may have – what may be seen as a joke at one end may not be received as one because the sender cannot see the impact of their message
- ‘Blocking’ the bully or removing from ‘friends’ lists so that the bully cannot send messages to the individual concerned
- Advising the individual being bullied not to reply or retaliate
- Advising children to set their profiles on social networks to ‘Private’ so only their approved friends have access.
What is Racist Bullying?
Racist bullying is motivated by a prejudice against a particular race, nationality or religion. Racist bullying can be physical, emotional, verbal, physical or sexual. Do not assume that Caucasian children cannot be the victims of racist bullying.
How can it be prevented?
It should be made clear that racist bullying, like all forms of bullying, will not be tolerated. The Club should make it clear that racist language will not be tolerated at any time. EA strives to create an atmosphere where all athletes, parents / guardians, volunteers, and coaches know that racist language is inappropriate and feel comfortable to report incidents. All athletes should be educated regarding different nationalities, races, cultures, and religions. Most prejudices are the result of ignorance.
What is Homophobic Bullying?
Homophobic bullying occurs when bullying is motivated by a prejudice against lesbian, gay or bisexual, transsexual/transgender (LGBTQ) people, or where the individual being bullied has LGBTQ parents / guardians or is referred to as LGBTQ, even if they are not. Homophobic bullying can be physical, emotional, verbal, physical or sexual. Homophobic bullying will be taken very seriously at EA and measures will be put in place to fully investigate any homophobic comments, no matter how innocuous they seem.
How can it be prevented?
It should be made clear that homophobic bullying, like all forms of bullying, will not be tolerated. The Club should make it clear that racist language will not be tolerated at any time. EA strives to create an atmosphere where all athletes, parents / guardians, volunteers, and coaches know that racist language is inappropriate and feel comfortable to report incidents.
Who Can I Contact for Further Information?
All policies can be queried by emailing electricathleticsuk@gmail.com
Date Revised: April 2025
