An independent report into England Swimming has revealed a toxic culture of fear with bullying and aggressive coaching going unchecked at clubs across the country.
England's national swimming governing body on Tuesday published the findings of a study it commissioned, expressing its determination to implement change.
Swim England chairman Richard Hookway said: “We are disappointed that the culture in swimming has fallen short of what we aspire to and that this has led to negative experiences within the community.”
The report is based on more than 3,500 responses from an online survey and makes 21 recommendations centered on prevention, wellbeing and positive culture practices.
The study found that an “extreme sense of competition with an imbalance of power within the club” was helping to develop a culture of fear.
“In particular, people fear being penalized for speaking out, such as not being singled out by coaches or being excluded,” the report said. “There are also concerns about the repercussions from other members, parents and Swim England, including victimization and ostracism. Coaches also feel very vulnerable to liability for unfair allegations and welfare issues, and they are It can affect their welfare and take them away from the sport.”
Past and current experiences of bullying were widely reported by participants.
“Aggressive coaching styles, including shaming and singling out individuals, remain unchallenged at some clubs. Expected behavior in a competitive environment is either tolerated or “This is due to fear of repercussions,” the report stressed, adding that speaking out can sometimes result in sanctions.
“Reporting bullying can have negative consequences, such as feeling ignored or punished by coaches, being ostracized, or being kicked out of the club or sport,” the report said. “Clubs have been known to ignore or fail to take action on concerns about bullying by coaches for fear of the risk of a replacement coach leaving or of themselves or their children being penalized.”
The report found that coaches may also be feeling pressure to deliver results.
“The clear conclusion here is that 'performance first' is a dangerous approach when applied to young people, and suggests a role for systemic change to realign values.” The book says:
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