Many studies cover the benefits of youth sports. The clearest benefit of team sport is teamwork, social skills and some social responsibility. Though karting is regarded as an individual sport, many drivers benefit from the club atmosphere, comradery and the guidance of a coach. A Worr racer found peace on the track after being bullied.

Some team sports have the negative effect of favouritism and a reliance on certain types of individuals to achieve success. This also leads to social groupings that tend to leave others out. www.kidssportspsychology.com in their article How Parents and Coaches Can Cope with Bullying in Sports state that “Athletes who are subjected to bullying will often lose focus, play or perform tentatively, feel anxious, drop out of tournaments or competitions, or quit sports altogether.” Tiro was a victim of bullying in school sports. While playing team sports, Tiro was often targeted due to his smaller stature. He pivoted to karting as a sport. He found the environment peaceful and more accepting as being a good driver does not depend on your physical attributes but your instincts.

“I joined go karting because I was bullied when I was doing sports so karting was meant to clear my mind and getting in a better space” is the sentiment shared by Tiro when asked about karting. He has found the peace of mind and enjoys being part of a welcoming club.

“I think taking a stand is a battle for anyone, so when you do it, it shows courage. Winning takes a lot courage” is the stance from coach Wesleigh. Though Worr Motorsport provides mental coaching, the coach is aware of the staff’s impact on the team drivers and preaches affirmative caution – an approach coach Thando regularly takes with academy graduates and yields positive track results in the short term.

We asked if the bullying has stopped and he answered: “It has stopped a lot because I quit school sport because of karting and it is the best decision of my life”. 

Worr Motorsport provides a platform for children to achieve goals and be competitive at a national level. Join the Worr Academy to learn more about karting and how to compete with the best, to be the best.