Hey Coach, What Impact Do You Have On Your Players?
This guide is designed to help coaches like you promote respect and equality, reduce violence and identify signs of abuse among your players.
First, do you coach boys or girls?
Promote Respect & Equality
6 THINGS YOU CAN DO THIS SEASON
BOYS
Promote Respect & Equality This Season
Only an extremely small percentage, and likely none of the boys you coach, will go on to play professional sports. Almost all of them will go on to be a boyfriend, partner or husband. Athletics provides both a platform to instill competitiveness, grit and hard work, as well as an understanding of healthy relationships and respect for women and girls.
Here are six things you can do this season.
Create and enforce expectations
Make it clear that players will respect all people from every culture and background.
Call out sexist comments
When you hear language from players that is disrespectful towards women — CALL THEM OUT. Your silence condones the behavior.
Incorporate female leadership
Invite a female coach, trainer or former athlete to work with your team. This sends a clear message about the value of women in athletics.
Host a fun event for mom
Honor the important women in the lives of the boys on your team. This could be a brunch, pizza party or BBQ. Make sure mothers aren’t responsible for planning, cooking or serving at the event.
Create a new team award
Create an award for the player who contributed most to creating a positive team culture. This makes it clear that winning isn’t the only goal in athletics.
Promote nonviolence
Explain to your athletes that intensity is a valued part of sports, but you should never use violence or aggression to harm or dominate people.
Promote Respect & Equality This Season.
For a few hours every week, you shape the culture that your athletes experience. You can ensure this culture is positive and fosters confidence in young women and promotes an understanding of healthy relationships. Young women and girls are inundated with messages that link appearance and sexuality to a women’s worth. Athletics provides an unparalleled platform to challenge the harmful messages that girls receive.
Here are six things you can do this season.
Create and enforce expectations
Make it clear that players will respect all people from every culture and background.
Stand up for your girls
When you hear language from parents, adults or players that is disrespectful towards women and girls — CALL THEM OUT. Silence only tells young girls that this behavior is OKAY. Let the girls on your team know that they deserve to be treated with respect.
Promote confidence
Let girls know that who they are as people is more important than their appearance.
Encourage female leadership
Invite a female coach, trainer or former athlete to work with your team. Research show it’s critical for girls to interact with strong, athletic female role models.
Create a new team award
Create an award for the player who contributed most to creating a positive team culture. This makes it clear that winning isn’t the only goal in athletics.
Set the bar high
Aim high with your team. Female athletes deserve to be challenged and valued just as much as male athletes.
Be aware of the impact you have on your boys.
On the Sideline
Shape Your Language
Teachable Moments
Be aware of the impact you have on your girls.
On the Sideline
Shape Your Language
Teachable Moments
The average coach encounters three abused youth each season.
This could include sexual abuse, physical abuse or witnessing domestic violence at home. These are complex issues, you are not expected to have all the answers. With some basic information you could potentially save a life.
Basic Warning Signs That You Should Dig Deeper.
If you notice these behavioral changes with one of your players, talk with them and see what’s going on.
Violence at Home
- Irrational fear
- Blaming themselves excessively
- Fatigue and constant tiredness
- General aches and pains
- Nervousness
- Acting overly aggressive and tough
- Self-injury
- Anxiety and depression
- Withdrawn or disengaged
- Fear of closeness and intimacy
- Drastic mood swings
- Thinks of self or body as repulsive
A child abuse case is reported every
10 seconds.
That’s just the tip of the iceberg.
MOST INSTANCES OF
CHILD ABUSE
GO UNREPORTED
How to Help
In addition to keeping your eye out for subtle signs of abuse, be ready for direct conversations with your players.
When you create a team atmosphere of respect and trust, it’s likely athletes will feel more comfortable revealing troubles at home or in their relationships.
Be prepared to have the conversation.
In the moment:
- Find a safe place to talk
- Listen calmly
- Show you care
- Avoid assumptions
- Always believe in the child
- Determine the athlete’s immediate need for safety
- Remember, abuse is never the fault of the victim
Take Action
If you suspect one of your players is being abused:
Call 911 if the child is in immediate danger.
Contact your county’s Child Protective Services. In St. Louis County, call 218-726-2012.
Call your local child advocacy organization. In the Duluth-Superior Area, call First Witness: 218-727-8353.
Contact a representative of your athletic organization.
Follow organizational protocol. If protocols do not exist, suggest your organization contacts Men As Peacemakers to develop them.
It’s time to make an
Now that you know the basics,
it’s time to take the next step
Take the Online Training Course
Take the Online Training Course
Start today. Make an impact tomorrow.
Bring IMPACT to Your Community
Bring IMPACT to Your Community
Share this resource with other coaches and community members.
Resources
Interested in learning more? Download the resources below.