Hockey N.S. launches pilot program to teach young players about consent, hazing
The organization has teamed up with a local non-profit that provides services to survivors of sexual assault to create the program.
Hockey Nova Scotia is launching a pilot program in Nova Scotia to educate young players about consent and hazing in an effort to address a series of incidents that have marred the sport. Michael Field, the executive director of Hockey Nova Scotia, explained that the organization partnered with a local non-profit to create the program after a surge of hazing and sexual assault cases.
The program targets 13- and 14-year-old players and aims to teach them about healthy team bonding and how to avoid crossing boundaries. Over 2,000 minor hockey players of all genders will participate in the mandatory initiative. The program includes two sessions: the first focuses on bodily autonomy, respecting boundaries, and consent, while the second teaches players how to respond to potentially harmful situations, emphasizing the importance of bystander intervention.
Dee Dooley, an education adviser, is collaborating with varsity hockey players to facilitate the pilot program, highlighting the role of peer influence and leadership in shaping team culture. Education advisers emphasize that ending hazing and sexual violence requires the involvement of coaches, administration, and parents in a community effort to transform the sport.
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