AusLeisure

With support from major Australian sporting codes and integrity units, eSafety has launched new sport resources to help stem the tide of online abuse from the grassroots to the elite level - designed to be a one-stop-shop for administrators, coaches, officials, parents and competitors to learn ways to prevent and manage online abuse in community sport.

Introducing the resource, eSafety Commissioner, Julie Inman Grant explains “with backing from the sports Australians love, we’re giving a red card to online abuse in sport.

“This insidious problem is casting a dark shadow over sporting activities that more than 11 million Australians enjoy every week. Targeted online harassment takes a mental and emotional toll on the very people who make sport happen: our coaches, umpires and players.

“There are long-established conventions around hurling threats and abuse in the stands when physically attending any sport. These same rules against abuse need to be applied online.

“While we might be disappointed with a particular call or play, that doesn’t mean it’s acceptable to unleash a torrent of online abuse. On the receiving end of every piece of online vitriol is a person: someone’s child, mum, neighbour, friend, uncle or sister. We cannot let our passion for the game blind us to the damaging impact of harmful online words and actions.”

eSafety Sport includes practical information on how to recognise online abuse, how to deal with online abuse, eight ways to stay safe online and promotional resources for clubs to download and show their support. It also includes tailored advice and scenarios for sports administrators, coaches and officials, athletes and competitors and sport parents.

Noting that the new resources would help individual clubs and teams change the online conversation for the better, Federal Minister for Communications, Michelle Rowland advised “whatever your code, team or position, I strongly encourage you to use these new eSafety resources and encourage your teams, members and supporters to uphold values of respect, fairness and sportsmanship – both on the field and online.”

AFL Umpire Nathan Williamson said he hopes eSafety Sport inspires people to be more respectful online, stating “like everyone else involved in sport, we're human and we all have family and friends who care a lot about us. Hurling abuse at us doesn’t really achieve anything except make us feel rubbish, and makes our family and friends feel rubbish.

“These resources have relatable advice for everyone at any level. If you're involved in a local sporting club as a player or official, eSafety Sport will help build your online safety skills to support you, your family and your connections.”

eSafety thanks the signatories to the Online Safety Statement of Commitment for their support and advice in developing eSafety Sport along with Play by the Rules, Athletics Australia, the Office of Sport NSW and SportWest.

Click here to access the community sport resources and online safety advice.Image credit: Shutterstock.

Related Articles

12th October 2023 - SportWest launches industry-wide employee and volunteer assistance program

30th September 2023 - Sports Commission’s Keiran Perkins looks to rebalance funding

24th August 2023 - Gymnastics Australia joins national redress scheme to compensate survivors of child sexual abuse

27th July 2023 - National Officiating Summit signs Play by the Rules as 2023 Community Partner

12th July 2023 - Professional Footballers Australia moves to tackle abuse and harassment of players

12th April 2023 - AFL starts investigations into further racist abuse of four Indigenous players

3rd March 2023 - SportWest Awards acknowledge outstanding achievements by all in Western Australia sports

20th April 2022 - Sport Integrity Australia review finds gymnasts suffered abuse while participating in the WAIS Program

12th March 2022 - Adelaide City FC Chairman condemns fans for homophobic abuse aimed at visiting football clubs

9th December 2021 - FIFA and the United Nations to launch network to tackle sexual abuse in sport

29th November 2021 - World Athletics publishes study into online abuse of athletes at the Tokyo Olympics

5th November 2021 - Netball Australia commits to tackling online abuse

4th November 2021 - Australian sports make united commitment to tackle online abuse of athletes

4th October 2021 - New Zealand created bot aims to eradicate social media abuse of athletes

21st November 2017 - Gymnastics Victoria receives Australian Sports Commission Play By the Rules Award

13th April 2017 - Racist abuse from fans ‘wrecking’ AFL says Adelaide star Eddie Betts

3rd February 2016 - Perth Fringe performers suffer abuse, threats and sexual harassment

---

Support our industry news service
We hope that you value the news that we publish so while you're here can we ask for your support?

As an independent publisher, we need reader support for our industry news gathering so ask that - if you don't already do so - you back us by subscribing to the printed Australasian Leisure Management magazine and/or our online news.