Hazing Has No Place In Sports, Or Anywhere Else

The recent sanctions against Lakeland College’s men’s and women’s volleyball teams are more than just a disciplinary notice; they’re a wake-up call. The Alberta Colleges Athletic Conference (ACAC) confirmed that both teams participated in hazing activities between August 29 and September 1, culminating in a so-called ‘rookie party.” The result? The women’s team is suspended for its first eight matches, the men’s for the four, and Lakeland College has been fined $6,000.

These are not small consequences, nor should they be, Hazing has no place in sports, education, or anywhere people come together under the banner of teamwork and respect. It is not a bonding exercise. It is not a harmless tradition. It is bullying, plain and simple, and is disguised as culture!!

While the specifics of what happened have not been made public, the pattern is sadly familiar. What begins as ‘fun’ or ‘initiation’ too often crosses the line into humiliation, coercion, or emotional harm. And once that line is crossed the damage is lasting, not only to those directly targeted but to the integrity of the entire program.

Two recruits reportedly left the program because of this incident. Think about that. Two young athletes who came to Lakeland College to grow, compete, and belong, instead felt they had to walk away. No sport, no sense of team is worth that kind of loss.

Lakeland College has accepted responsibility, issued apologies, and committed to mandatory anti-hazing education for all student-athletes and coaches. That’s the right move, but let’s be clear; training alone won’t fix a culture that tolerate hazing. Change will come only when athletes, coaches, and institutions stop turning a blind eye, when silence is no longer mistaken for loyalty.

Hazing doesn’t build respect; it destroys it. It doesn’t create unity; it fractures it. The excuse that ‘it’s just what teams’ do’ is outdated, dangerous, and lazy. True leadership is about inclusion, mentorship, and mutual trust-not testing who can endure the most embarrassment to be accepted.

This is not just about volleyball. It’s about setting a standard in every sport, classroom, and organization in our communities. If we want to raise strong leaders and good teammates, we must teach that strength comes from kindness, not cruelty.

Lakeland’s response shows a willingness to confront this issue head-on. Let’s hope this is more than a reaction- let’s hope it becomes the beginning of a genuine shift toward accountability and respect. Hazing must not be hidden, minimized, or brushed aside ever again. At the end of the day, the measure of any team, or any community, is in how it treats its people.