BVC - ANTI-BULLYING POLICY

Bounce Volleyball Club is committed to providing a safe, positive and respectful environment for all athletes and the leadership team. Every player has the right to enjoy volleyball free from bullying, embarrassment, intimidation, or harassment.​

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Bounce Volleyball Club is dedicated to ensuring that:

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• Respect is always shown

• Bullying is not accepted or condoned

• Everyone has a responsibility to help stop bullying

• Players know who they can talk to and how to access support

• All reported incidents are taken seriously and investigated objectively

 

What Is Bullying?

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Bullying is a pattern of behavior in which a person or group uses power, such as physical strength, popularity, authority, or access to private information to harm, intimidate, or control someone else.

 

While it is often intentional and repeated, bullying can sometimes include unintentional actions that still cause harm, especially when someone spreads rumors, shares private details, or makes jokes without understanding their impact. It can take many forms, including physical aggression, verbal harassment, social exclusion, spreading rumors, exploiting someone’s personal life and online abuse known as Cyberbullying.

 

A key feature of bullying is an imbalance of power, where the person targeted feels unable to defend themselves. Whether deliberate or careless, these behaviours can lead to serious emotional, psychological and social consequences for those affected

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Types of Bullying:

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• Physical Bullying: Includes kicking, hitting, punching, spitting, biting, tripping, stealing, or damaging personal property or team equipment.

• Verbal Bullying: Includes name-calling, teasing, threats, spreading rumors, making racist, sexist, or inappropriate comments, or targeting someone’s appearance or athletic ability.

• Emotional Bullying: Includes excluding or isolating individuals, ignoring teammates, gossiping, staring, writing hurtful notes or messages, and posting harmful content, online or on social media.

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All players, parents, guardians and leadership are required to read and agree to this policy.

 

Bullying of any kind toward players, leadership, volunteers, officials, or parents will not be tolerated. Anyone found to be engaging in bullying behavior will be addressed seriously, taking into account both the behavior and the underlying causes.

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How Bullying Is Handled:

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• All bullying incidents are addressed immediately by the Coach, or Club President.

• Reports are documented, and individual discussions are held with those involved to understand all perspectives.

• Witnesses may be consulted when appropriate.

• Parents will be notified when players are involved.

 

Possible Consequences:

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Disciplinary action may include but not limited to (depending on the severity):

• Verbal warning

• Written warning

• Temporary suspension from practices or tournaments

• Permanent removal from Bounce Volleyball Club

 

Bounce Volleyball Club believes that volleyball should build confidence, teamwork and respect. We expect all members of our community to help create a safe and supportive environment for every athlete.