School-children are waging 'psychological warfare' on the nation's playgrounds
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As schools return from the Easter break, many pupils will view their summer games lessons and matches with trepidation. Two-thirds (66%) of 1,010 parents of children aged eight to 16 polled say they witness different forms of mental intimidation while watching their children play sport. Teasing (43%), swearing (40%), taunts (34%) and verbal threats (16%) are common tactics of the sports bullies.
More than two-fifths of parents (42%) say their child lost confidence after being bullied on the playing field, a fifth feel their child was reluctant to take part in sport as a result of the mind games; while one in ten parents reports that their child gave up at least one sport entirely as a result.
In a separate survey of 1,250 children, aged eight to 16, 68% say they, too, see verbal abuse during school matches and over half (51%) admit to being a victim of teasing, taunts and threats on the sports field. The majority (55%) also witness physical violence, with a quarter of children seeing ...
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