Sports initiation can take on many forms and can have positive impacts on cohesion and team spirit, but its more problematic variations can also have negative consequences in situations where a young athlete suffers from an abusive initiation ritual.
But what is an abusive initiation ritual? It is all and any activity than can be potentially humiliating, degrading, abusive or dangerous in which more experienced fellow team members force the recruit to partake in order to earn a place amongst them, but which does not contribute in any way to his or her positive development, whether it is carried voluntarily or not. This includes, without being limited to, all activities, whether seen as trivial or part of the tradition, that put aside or reject a team member based on his or her status, the number of years spent on the team or his or her athletic skills.
[11; 47] You should know that all activities that match this definition are considered to be abusive initial rituals even if the young person consents to cooperate or participate.