Student-Athletes' Experiences of Bullying on Intercollegiate Teams

This study sought to explore student-athletes' experiences of bullying on intercollegiate teams. Eight team captains, five males and three females, were interviewed about their own experiences with bullying as well as their perceptions of the experiences of their teammates as victims, perpetrators, and onlookers of bullying. The findings revealed that bullying behaviors were perceived as common occurrences on intercollegiate sports teams with relational aggression being the most frequently reported form of bullying. The team captains believed that athletic ability, seniority on the team, age, personality, commitment, and work ethic influenced vulnerability to being bullied and the nature of the responses to bullying behaviors. Bullying behaviors were commonly accepted as part of the sport culture because of traditions and the competition and aggression inherent in sport. Recommendations are posed for exploring bullying experiences with respect to gender differences, single-gender versus mixed gender teams, and various social positions on teams.