Introduction
The article written by Auberbach for the USA Today gives a comprehensive description of the situation of domestic violence and sexual assault in American Football particularly within the elite players (Auberbach, 2015). The current problem that this sport faces, which includes university teams as a brand, coaches, and players, is the growing stigma that football players are violent and tend to beat and sexually assault women. Due to several cases of star players that were found guilty of these charges, increased the bad press of this sport. Furthermore, coaches are facing a potential job loss, and universities are being stigmatized. However, the problem is deeper than a few cases of violence. According to Auberbach’s description of the situation, it seems that players do not know any better, and they lack education on how to treat women. The fact that Football is a violent game in itself that encourages violence is not a good combination with the lack of example and education in this regard. On top of this, culture does not help because when players get into trouble due to their domestic violence actions, they are still given another chance in other teams due to their brilliant performance on the field. It seems to mean that if they produce action, they will produce money, and that is all that is important. However, the show cannot continue in this way as there is a slow change and awareness that women must be protected and respected. At the moment culture within the sport is not helping the situation, but there is an awakening that change is needed, and soon, this behavior will not be tolerated anymore. Many coaches are doing something about it, but not all. The article written by Auberbach (2015) brings to light the current problems facing by the sport, the previous strategies and the new approaches that are being implemented to achieve change.
Analysis
Coaches such as Mark Ritch, Mike Bobo, or Bret Bielema, are examples of coaches wanting not only to improve football press but also to help their players become better people, real men who respect and care for their girlfriends and wives. For this reason, they began to implement programs to help them be aware of what can happen to them in real life, and how to react in those situations.
There are two main points that are important to evaluate. First of all, the weaknesses that need to be taken into consideration. Which are the areas that need improvement and strengthening? The other point is the opportunities that are available to overcome these weaknesses and existing threats.
The most important aspect that must be taken into consideration and that it is also considered by Alexis Jones, cited by Auberbach (2015), is that these men, these players do not know any better. Most of them come from backgrounds where they did not receive education nor examples of how to treat women, how to be manly without disrespecting women. It is important to bring this to light: in most cases, these players sacrificed many things to become who they are, and if they are asked to do certain things, including learning how to respect women, to continue being in the team, they will certainly at least try their very best. As Auberbach describes, we are talking about teams that provide everything to their players so that they can perform their best, including, as some coaches already started, to provide programs to educate them on how to control their aggressive instincts and to respect women.
This topic brings us to another weakness that they are facing: culture. Not only they come from backgrounds where they lack the education and example, but they also are in a culture where success and money are more important than anything. Thus, in many cases, in spite of their bad actions, and having been given all the opportunities to improve, when they abuse their wives or girlfriends, they are still given second chances by other coaches and universities. The message that is being given is that it does not matter if they do not change, if they disrespect women, if they violate the law, because ultimately if they can produce results on the field, they can play and are given second chances. The message given here is contradictory, and it is still an obstacle that Football has to deal with as a whole. If they continue to be divided in their strategy to eradicate violence and sexual assault from football they will have to do it together, as one, applying a single strategy and everyone embracing it.
The article mentions several aspects of the new programs that certain coaches have been applying. Giving an example by men who are an authority for these players, such as coaches, members of staff, etc., is, of course, a powerful instrument. Ritch (Auberbach, 2015) is one of the coaches who uses family nights where members of staff bring their wives, and they show players, through example, how they treat and respect them. Mike London (Auberbach, 2015) is another example. He specifically looks for details such as opening the door or standing up when ladies enter the room during recruitment nights. Bret Bielema also talks about the recruitment process and the signals that are looked for in potential players. He says it is not just a background check but also the respect they show their female teachers at school that talk a lot about their characters.
Coaches also bring internal and external speakers such as police officers, to talk about violence and its consequences. They receive talks about sexual assault and examples of other players that are in the papers and magazine and how the same thing can happen to them if they do not change. It is a growing strategy in football teaching their players and demanding from them respect to women, to their wives and girlfriends. Alexis Jones is very optimistic about the problem that football is facing in this regard. She is sure that with the proper training and education, and engaging players in programs where they can help others who have been abused, can help them be more aware of the problem and help them change. Furthermore, these programs also aim at helping change culture. It will change the way players themselves see manhood, not as a way of showing strength abusing others but of respect and kindness and defending what is right.
Another problem that is very well highlighted by Jones is that bad press sells very well. It is obvious that news with superstars on it will sell more, especially if it something scandalous that they did. Thus, it is understandable why certain coaches such as Sanchez print articles with news of stars involved in abuse or violence and tell their players that the same can happen to them. Players face in their lives similar situations, and they should be taught how they should react. If they react in a violent and abusive way, then they will be in the news, they might not be accepted by other teams, and they will, of course, face the law (Auberbach, 2015).
Summary and Recommendations
The current issue that was explored in this review, applying a SWOT analysis, is that Football as a sport is facing players being violent and sexually abusive. This problem is stigmatizing football as a sport. The strengths are that these men are ready to make any sacrifices required to be the best, and they are given all the support needed by their coaches and teams. The weaknesses and opportunities were analyzed more in depth, and the most important threat is that if they do not implement the strategy as one, all the universities and coaches working together, nothing will change. In other words, the threat is that coaches in spite of knowing that their players have been involved in a violent situation are still given a second chance.
Auberbach (2015) did a great job in this article to summarize the current situation in football. She clearly states the problem, the new strategy and the potential good results together with the threats that exist that can boycott the good results.
The recommendations drawn from the article are clear. Change is needed, and this change must be adopted by all teams and coaches or else the effect will not be effective. These results are optimistic, as there are many opportunities, and the causes for violence and sexual assault can be tackled, such as educating players on how to treat women and showing them the right examples. The recommendations are clear-cut: to overcome the weaknesses, prevent threats and increase the success of opportunities, all of the football members, players, universities, and coaches must work together. If players behave the proper way; the press should also improve, and there should not be as many accusations as there are at the moment. The strengths are there as by all means, coaches, universities, and players are ready to give all they have to make it work.
References
Auberbach, N. (2015). As domestic violence clouds college football, coaches work to root it out. USA TODAY Sports. Retrieved from http://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/ncaaf/2015/09/01/college-football-coaches-player-domestic-violence-sexual-assault/71480118/
