When you really like something, you become more and more willing to ignore when things about it aren't quite right. Axe throwing is, for me at least, a way of stepping out of my day-to-day and do something that is completely separate from all the nonsense and bleakness of the world. But if I take the veil of escape off my eyes and get honest with myself, I can admit: we don't always act in a way that is acceptable or agreeable for other people, and not everyone has your best interest at heart. And that doesn't change, no matter how much I like this activity.
Many organized sports recognize this (hell, most every organization recognizes this), and puts clear, direct language in place to define and addresses what must happen when members/players/officials act in ways that are unacceptable and/or endangering. This language goes beyond the organization itself: it is a required element to all participating teams, venues, and individual players.
I think it's a very easy thing to ignore or accept some of the less comfortable moments in our sport. A fellow thrower loses their temper and screams a curse, someone makes a racial or sexist joke. Someone makes an offhand comment on the way another thrower looks. It's easy to ignore when it doesn't address us directly, or it's just something you get used to.
And I get that there is nuance and exception and everything else. So don't give me your whataboutisms just yet. You know what I'm referring to. You, a human person, know when someone steps over the line from being goofy to being hurtful or aggressive.
But is there a place - is there room - for when that joking or aggressiveness is going way too far? Do throwers in our sport have the clear, immediate and absolute support of the IATF when they feel like they are being threatened or harassed?
I get that this isn't a light topic. I get how it can be kind of a shock to a lot of the people who read this blog on the regular. You're used to goofy wordplay and nonsense articles about getting a coin for tapping axes really well - but I also care very much about the health of axe throwing as an organized effort. And from what I can see and what I've heard, there is very little directive on what individual axe houses should do in the case of harassment, and how the IATF as an organizing body fits into addressing harassment when it happens.
I took a look at the IATF Code of Conduct here, and for ease of review, I'll include it now:
IATF CODE OF CONDUCT
Axe throwing is a sport that upholds the values of healthy competition and community. As a participant in IATF leagues, tournaments, activities, and online forums, it is everyone’s responsibility including your own to exhibit consideration and respect: respect for each other, respect for safety, respect for the rules, and respect for decisions made by axe throwing officials.
Discrimination based on race, ethnicity, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, physical or mental ability, or religious beliefs will not be tolerated. We must all be actively anti-racist: standing by in silence is also unacceptable.
Examples of other negative behavior that will not be tolerated include:
disregard for facility rules, regulations of the sport, or the role of officials.
abusive or inappropriate verbal, written, or physical actions.
harassment or violence.
aggressive or dangerous behavior which could affect the safety of you or another.
If you have experienced or are aware of any of these behaviors, report to your organization’s leadership providing as much detail as possible regarding the incident, including:
your name and home venue.
time and location of incident.
names of participants (both active and observers).
threat or language used.
response taken.
The International Axe Throwing Federation and its member organizations reserve the right to enforce the above Code of Conduct with possible elimination or suspension from competition and removal from facilities in cases where the above stated conduct is contravened.
THAT'S ALL WELL AND GOOD, BUT:
The issue I have with the IATF Code of Conduct is this: ambiguity. It is an aggravatingly short code of conduct series of guidelines, and there is only one actionable section near the end that explains what to do if you have experienced/are aware of the behaviors listed within the code of conduct itself.
And, frustratingly, there is no direct language about sexual harassment or assault. In a co-ed sport, this is a mind-boggling omission.
I don't want to draw out my issues in a series of winding paragraphs, so I'll keep it to a friendly bulleted list:
As far as I can tell, axe houses that are IATF members don't need to agree to these rules/enforce these rules.
They don't have any guidelines on how to enforce this code of conduct
They don't have any negative consequence for ignoring this code of conduct
No clear definition of what, exactly, is considered "inappropriate"
No clear definition of what constitutes "violence" - is it violence against another thrower? Against the venue? Is it a matter of another thrower feeling like they are the target of violence, or must they have violence done directly to them in order to engage the IATF in remediation?
No clear explanation of timeframes for IATF remediation and suspension/removal/elimination of the offending party. Is it for just a tournament? A single league? Forever?
DEFINING A HARASSMENT POLICY IS MORE THAN COVERING IATF'S ASS.
We can hope that all axe throwers in every corner of the IATF membership is full of kind, caring, respectful people. But hoping doesn't make a damn bit of difference. People are going to be harassed. Throwers are going to act in ways that aren't respectful to fellow throwers. It happens, and will continue to happen.
The IATF must clearly define what member businesses/tourney throwers/throwers in general can and should do when that harassment happens. Standardizing definitions and response helps protect the people who are being harassed while also making sure that folx who travel to other IATF-affiliated businesses have the exact same code of conduct and harassment policy.
By having this defined policy, the IATF can also take the time-consuming and often confusing process of an axe house creating its own IATF league/tourney harassment policy/code of conduct.
Again, not a light topic. But if we're going to grow the sport, we need to make sure that people feel welcome and safe, and that they have a clear process to go through when they aren't.
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