Speaker
Description
Child protection has risen rapidly at the Swedish sport policy agenda. However, despite the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UN, 1989) making progress, one group of children seem to have been forgotten by the safeguarding initiatives in sport as well as by sport researchers, namely young referees. The overall aim of this research project was to gain in-dept knowledge of young referees’ experiences and conditions when engaged as referees in Swedish sport clubs. The specific aim was to examine the existence, experiences, and effects of emotionally abusive behaviour towards 15–18-year-old female and male referees working as match officials in team sports. Data were gathered through semi-structured interviews with 13 young referees officiating football and floorball games. The study draws on the sociology of childhood to highlight children’s views and experiences. The results shows that young referees are exposed to emotional abusive behaviour to an extent that has the potential to be harmful. Emotional abuse is expressed in forms of verbal and non-verbal criticism, aggressive behavior, and gendered prejudices expressed towards female referees. This results in anxiety, stress, fear, and decreased self-confidence which makes the young referees uncomfortable and unmotivated to continue officiate. It is concluded that the emotional abuse is almost exclusively expressed in the context of male teams. It is discussed how sport-governing bodies can develop initiative to deliver support, protection, and education of young referees to fulfil the principles of child protection articulated in the UNCRC.
