NOT IN MY SPORT.

New safety resource

HAZING.

TRADITION IS NEVER AN EXCUSE.

Belonging should never have to be earned through humiliation, fear, pain, secrecy, or risk. A team becomes stronger when every athlete is treated with dignity from the beginning.

BUILD PEOPLE UP. NEVER BREAK THEM DOWN.

Healthy team traditions create connection without coercion, degradation, or danger.

A taekwondo athlete being forced through a humiliating exercise while teammates laugh.

From awareness to action

HAZING IS NOT TEAM BUILDING.

Hazing is an activity expected of someone joining or participating in a group that humiliates, degrades, abuses, or endangers them, even when the person appears willing to participate.

It may be physical, emotional, social, sexual, or digital. It can target new athletes, returning athletes, team leaders, or anyone pressured to prove loyalty or belonging.

01

RECOGNIZE.

Look beyond labels such as “initiation,” “tradition,” “bonding,” or “earning your place.” Consider what is being required and its impact.

02

INTERRUPT.

Stop unsafe activity when you can do so safely, move people away from immediate danger, and bring in responsible adults or leaders.

03

REPORT.

Preserve relevant information and report through the appropriate club, governing-body, school, safeguarding, emergency, or legal channel.

Did you know?

WHAT HAZING CAN LOOK LIKE

Hazing exists on a spectrum. Seemingly minor humiliation and secrecy can normalize a culture in which more dangerous behavior becomes easier to demand.

Watch for the expectation, pressure, power imbalance, and impact, not only whether an athlete visibly objects.

  • Humiliation or forced embarrassmentDegrading clothing, public ridicule, insulting names, or performances intended to establish status can cause real harm.
  • Physical punishment or extreme exertionForced exercise, sleep deprivation, exposure to weather, restraint, or activities unrelated to safe training can endanger athletes.
  • Food, alcohol, substances, or unwanted contactPressuring someone to consume, tolerate, or participate removes meaningful choice and may create an urgent medical or safeguarding risk.
  • Servitude, isolation, or exclusionRequiring personal tasks, controlling relationships, withholding team information, or threatening a person’s place reinforces unhealthy power.
  • Secrecy and retaliationInstructions to hide activities, delete evidence, lie to adults, or punish anyone who speaks up are serious warning signs.

TAKE ACTION

REPORT CONCERNS.

If anyone is in immediate danger or needs urgent medical help, contact emergency services where you are located.

Report hazing to the club, school, sport organization, or safeguarding authority responsible for the activity. Conduct involving assault, threats, sexual misconduct, child abuse, forced substance use, or other potentially criminal behavior may also require law-enforcement or child-protection reporting.

Reporting duties and legal definitions vary by location. Do not delay urgent help while deciding whether conduct meets a particular definition.

U.S. Center for SafeSportReport sexual misconduct or non-sexual safeguarding concerns within the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Movement.
Report to the U.S. Center for SafeSportCall the SafeSport hotline833-587-7233
USA TaekwondoReport non-sexual safeguarding concerns directly to either contact.
USATKD CEO Steve McNally: smcnally@usatkd.orgUSATKD Ethics Committee Chairman Judge James Klein: jamieklein44@gmail.com

Not in the USA?Click here to find out how to report in your area.

Know the difference

Team-building creates belonging without coercion.

Healthy team-building

Activities have a clear positive purpose, are transparent to responsible adults, and allow everyone to participate with dignity and genuine choice.

  • Inclusive participationActivities bring people together without singling out or ranking newer members.
  • Visible and approvedCoaches and club leaders know what is planned, where it occurs, and who is responsible.
  • Safe choiceAnyone can decline or adapt an activity without losing status or opportunity.
  • Shared dignityThe activity builds connection without humiliation, pain, fear, or secrecy.

Hazing

Hazing requires or pressures someone to accept humiliation, degradation, abuse, or danger in order to join, participate, or maintain status in a group.

  • Status-based demandsNewer or less powerful members must prove loyalty or earn ordinary belonging.
  • SecrecyPeople are told to hide activities, delete evidence, or mislead responsible adults.
  • Humiliation or dangerPhysical, social, sexual, or emotional harm is treated as tradition or bonding.
  • Consequences for refusingAthletes fear exclusion, ridicule, lost opportunities, or retaliation if they do not participate.

Escalate urgent risk

Do not wait for certainty when someone may be in danger.

Call local emergency services for immediate threats, serious injury, breathing problems, loss of consciousness, severe intoxication, exposure, confinement, or suspected violence. Stay with the person when safe and follow professional instructions.

Continue learning

Resources and related topics.

Speaking Up →Observable Environments →Reporting Concerns →Take the Pledge →

Independent perspectives

Further reading.

Additional guidance from established sport and hazing-prevention organizations.

StopHazingWhat Is Hazing?

A research-informed overview of hazing, where it occurs, and why willingness to participate does not remove the harm.

Visit external resource ↗NCAAHazing Prevention Resources

Sport-focused prevention resources supporting safer environments for athletes and campus communities.

Visit external resource ↗

About these links: Further reading is provided for general education. Inclusion does not imply endorsement by USA Taekwondo, and external guidance may not reflect USA Taekwondo policy or the requirements in your location. It does not replace emergency services, official reporting channels, professional advice, or applicable law.