Sports Law: Hazing Lawsuits
Bob Cook, who runs an excellent blog about youth sports called "Your Kid's Not Going Pro" has a comprehensive roundup of recent youth sports hazing legal matters. The article, updates six hazing incidents from around the country.
Bob's article speaks for itself, but it never ceases to amaze that people exist such as Bernie Busken, an Arizona football coach who apparently thinks that hazing is acceptable and who blames the victims. Based on his so-called apology, Busken would seem like a lawsuit waiting to happen for the school district in Chandler, Arizona. This is what Busken said:
“I have never done anything where I meant to hurt someone physically, mentally or anything else. I just tried to prepare them for their one shot to do well. All I can do now is apologize. If I was kidding around and I crossed a line; for those things I was wrong and I am sorry.”
Here is a news flash for Coach Busken: It is not an apology when you blame the victim. It is only an apology if you take full responsibility for your actions and show contrition. The "I'm sorry if you were hurt" language is not an apology.
Here in Florida, hazing is prohibited by the so-called Florida Hazing Law, which is Florida Statute 1006.63. The law, linked here, provides criminal penalties for hazing. It requires an anti-hazing policy and offers a broad definition of hazing:
Any action or situation that recklessly or intentionally endangers the mental or physical health or safety of a student for purposes including, but not limited to, initiation or admission into or affiliation with any organization operating under the sanction of a postsecondary institution.
Even though institutions are required to maintain an active anti-hazing policy, hazing still happens. Coaches and administrators have to be held responsible.
