Call for papers: Managing abuse and integrity in sport

Sport and physical activity (sport from hereon) can provide an environment within which the exploitation of power and authority may lead to the abuse of individuals. Such issues have implications for managers across the sporting spectrum from grassroots to elite levels. Consequently, there is a need for scholars to pay greater attention to the structures, policies, processes, practices, and sites in which abuse occurs in order to better manage the integrity of sport; the well-being of participants, coaches, and officials; and the protection of other stakeholders affected by abuse in its various forms.

There is a growing body of literature exploring what might be termed the ‘dark side of sport’. To date, authors in this field have conceptualised and investigated the types and effects of abuse experienced by individuals, for example: sexual, emotional, physical, harassment, discrimination, bullying and other forms of non-accidental violence. The developing academic study of abuse in sport has been coupled with serious issues that have emerged in relation to the welfare and safety of individuals through the publication of independent reviews and media reportage of cultures of fear, intimidation, and bullying. The harm caused by abuse represents a significant blind spot for practitioners and an area for development in sport management research.

Managing abuse in both physical and virtual sporting spaces, and promoting integrity in sport to offer safe, fair and inclusive environments for all are crucial concerns in contemporary sports, physical activity, and health industries. Attention must now turn toward (a) increasing theoretical and conceptual understanding of abuse so that (b) we can develop evidence-based practical implications so that sport managers might negotiate and challenge abuse throughout the levels of sport.

The micro-interpersonal and macro-institutional contexts of abuse are broad and in many cases under-researched. To move this debate forward, the purpose of this special issue of Sport Management Review is to promote thought, understanding, and action to enhance knowledge and practice on the management of abuse in sport. Specifically, we encourage submissions from scholars both inside and outside of the sport management domain (e.g., sociology, social psychology, coaching and pedagogy, psychology, sociocultural studies, criminology) to provoke a broad, interdisciplinary, and critical discussion about the management of abuse.

Possible topics include (but are not limited to):

• Understanding identities, spaces, and places in relation to the management of abuse or non-accidental violence
• Government and policy impacts for managing abuse
• Implementation of legislation surrounding safeguarding, protection, and integrity
• Case management and handling at both an interpersonal and/or organisational level
• Whistleblowing and the reporting of abuse
• Policing and regulating safe sporting spaces
• Intervention and education of safeguarding and integrity in and through sport
• Monitoring and evaluating safeguarding policy and praxis across contexts
• Management roles and responsibilities in promoting integrity in sport
• Facilitating programmes of empowerment
• How abuse can have an impact upon participation

Submission process

Submissions are due on or before 28 September 2018 via the SMR online submission.  To ensure that all manuscripts are correctly identified for review in relation to the special issue it is important that authors select “SI: Managing Abuse” when they reach the “article type” step in the submission process. All submissions must adhere to the Sport Management Review ‘Guide for authors’.

We anticipate publication in Issue 1, Volume 23 (February 2020).

For further information about this special issue call, please contact Emma Kavanagh [email protected].