Sports Criminology Research Group
Violence and deviance in sports
Recently, victim reports and allegations of significant interpersonal violence in sport have increased, particularly within the structures of high-performance sports associations. In order to investigate this and other phenomena, a “Sports Criminology” research group was formed in 2024 to collect quantitative and qualitative empirical data on the experiences of those affected and then systematically evaluate them. In a second step, future-oriented recommendations for action are to be developed for responsible stakeholders.The interdisciplinary team enables methodologically high-quality investigations to create evidence-based foundations for protection and prevention concepts. Members of the research group have already carried out several similar projects within and outside of sport in recent years.
Members of the research group
- Prof. Dr. Alexander Baur, Chair of Criminal Law and Criminology at the University of Göttingen
- Prof. Dr. Stephan Christoph, Assistant Professor of Criminology at the University of Regensburg
- Dr. Thaya Vester, Institute for Criminology at the University of Tübingen
- Sports Psychiatry and Psychotherapy Research Group of the Medical Faculty of the University of Augsburg
- Research center on violence at sporting events at the Institute for Criminal Law and Criminology at the University of Bern
Invitation to Participate: Study “SPAGAT – Sport Criminological-Psychological Analysis of Boundary Violations for the Investigation and Reappraisal of Incidents in Gymnastics”
As part of the survey, we aim to investigate the circumstances under which athletes in gymnastics may have experienced violence. In addition, the survey will examine satisfaction with the reappraisal process to date, perceptions of the media coverage of recent incidents, possible structural imbalances in the coach-athlete relationship, and, in particular, the psychological and psychiatric consequences of reported experiences of violence. The survey is aimed at both active and former gymnasts from the field of elite gymnastics in the disciplines of artistic gymnastics, rhythmic gymnastics, and trampoline gymnastics. Participants must be at least 16 years old to take part in the survey.An opportunity to register for participation in the study will be available here shortly.