GLL Bullying Policy

Given the serious effects bullying has on youth and organizations, GLL can’t simply dismiss it as a “normal” or inevitable part of childhood. There is nothing “normal” about ongoing incidents of harassment, violence and intimidation. Bullying not only leads to anxiety and low self esteem in youth who are targeted, but also causes other youth to feel unsafe. Youth of all ages deserve the right to feel safe and supported by all GLL Board Members, Coaches, and parents. GLL’s purpose and responsibility is to address all bullying issues that take place on GLL grounds, activities and during GLL functions.

Taking Bullying behavior seriously is an important step in working toward a safe and effective program. By raising awareness throughout our league, Board Members, Coaches and Parents can work together to ensure that GLL is a place that youth and parents feel welcome and included.

Please send an email to [email protected] to report an incident of bullying. There is a committee of 4 Board Members that this email will go to directly, and they will then bring in a 5th Board Member to discuss and act on the incident.

Bullying is:

• Intentional, repeated harmful acts, words or other behavior that makes the victim feel hurt, scared, and/or ashamed
• An imbalance in real or perceived power must exist between the bully and the victim
• Not intentionally provoked by the victim(s)

Types of Bullying:

• Physical Bullying:     Hitting, stealing, shoving, strangling, hair-pulling, biting, excessive tickling, or any other deliberate and inappropriate touching.
• Verbal Bullying:        Hurtful name-calling, taunting, threatening, gossip, and teasing
• Emotional Bullying:  rejection, terrorizing, extorting, humiliating, black-mailing, rating/ranking of personal characteristics such as race, disability, ethnicity, or perceived sexual orientation, manipulating friendships, isolating, and peer pressure.
• Harassment:                includes many of the actions listed above and sexual harassment involving actual physical contact or explicit written/verbal language. In many cases, same-gender and cross-gender sexual harassment may also qualify as bullying.

If any individual (youth or adult) involved in bullying, the following consequences can be given depending on the bullying situation at the discretion of the League President and/or the Executive Board.

• Verbal Warning
• Suspensions
• Expulsion from GLL
• Local Law Enforcement Involvement

With each of these consequences, Parents and/or legal guardian will be notified. Following due process procedures, appropriate consequences will be assigned.