Creating Safer Sporting Environments: Small Changes Coaches Can Make

Sport has the power to change lives. It can build confidence, create friendships, develop resilience and give people a sense of belonging. For many, it becomes a huge part of their identity.

But let's not pretend that every sporting environment is a positive one.

For some athletes, sport can also involve fear, humiliation, excessive pressure, bullying, discrimination, intimidation or experiences that undermine their confidence and sense of safety.

And sometimes, the difference between a sporting environment that helps someone flourish and one that causes harm isn't a dramatic policy change or a major intervention. It can start with the small things coaches do every day.

The words they choose. The way they respond to mistakes. Whether they listen. Whether athletes feel they can speak up without worrying about the consequences.

Creating safer sporting environments isn't just about preventing the worst things from happening. It's about making everyday experiences better.

Safety Starts With The Coaching Relationship

Coaches have considerable influence. Their words, decisions and behaviours can shape how athletes see themselves, their abilities and their place within a team.

A coach doesn't need to be perfect. They do, however, need to recognise the power that comes with their role.

Consider the difference between these two responses after an athlete makes a mistake:

"What on earth were you thinking? You're letting everyone down."

"That didn't go how you wanted. What did you see, and what can we learn from it?"

Both responses address the mistake. But they create very different experiences for the athlete.

One risks creating shame and fear. The other encourages reflection, learning and accountability.

This doesn't mean coaches should avoid difficult conversations or stop challenging athletes. High standards matter. Accountability matters. But challenge doesn't need to come at the expense of someone's dignity.

Athletes should be able to make mistakes, receive honest feedback and work through difficult moments without feeling that their worth or place in the team is constantly under threat.

Small Changes That Can Make a Big Difference

Creating a safer sporting environment doesn't have to begin with a complete overhaul of your coaching approach. It can start with a few deliberate changes to everyday practice.

Think About How You Communicate

Words carry weight, particularly when they come from someone an athlete respects or depends upon.

Sarcasm, public humiliation, threats and personal criticism can have a lasting impact, even when they are presented as humour, motivation or "tough love".

Before giving feedback, consider:

Am I addressing the behaviour or attacking the person?

Is this feedback constructive and specific?

Would I be comfortable speaking to someone this way outside sport?

Is this the right time and place to have this conversation?

You can be direct without being demeaning. You can demand effort without using fear. And you can challenge someone without making them feel worthless.

Make It Easier For Athletes To Speak Up

How often do athletes genuinely feel able to tell a coach that something isn't right?

They might be struggling with pressure, feeling uncomfortable about a particular situation, experiencing conflict within the team or simply needing support.

But if they believe speaking up will lead to criticism, being dropped, losing opportunities or being labelled as difficult, they may choose to stay silent.

Try creating regular opportunities for honest conversations. Ask open questions, listen without immediately jumping in with solutions, and take concerns seriously.

Questions such as:

"How are you finding things at the moment?"

"Is there anything making training more difficult for you?"

"What could I do differently to help you?"

"Do you feel comfortable raising concerns with me?"

And perhaps most importantly, don't ask questions if you aren't prepared to listen to the answers.

Athlete voice is not simply about giving people an opportunity to speak. It is about showing them that what they say matters.

Be Consistent, Fair and Transparent

Uncertainty can undermine trust.

If athletes don't understand why decisions are being made, why certain individuals receive different treatment or what is expected of them, frustration and mistrust can quickly develop.

Coaches should aim to communicate expectations clearly and apply standards consistently.

This doesn't mean every athlete receives identical support. People have different needs, circumstances and levels of experience. Fairness is about making thoughtful decisions and being able to explain them, not treating everyone as though they are the same.

Where possible, explain selection decisions, changes to roles, team expectations and disciplinary processes. Avoid favouritism and make sure athletes know where they stand.

Trust grows when people experience honesty, consistency and transparency.

Respect Personal Boundaries and Individual Differences

Sport involves physical contact, close relationships, changing rooms, intense emotions and situations where athletes may feel vulnerable.

What feels comfortable for one person may not feel comfortable for another.

Be mindful of personal space, physical contact, privacy and how you approach sensitive conversations. Where physical contact is needed for coaching, instruction or support, explain what you are doing and follow the relevant consent and safeguarding procedures.

Also recognise that athletes come from different backgrounds and have different experiences, identities, needs and ways of communicating.

Avoid making assumptions about what someone should be comfortable with simply because they participate in a particular sport.

A little consideration can make a significant difference to whether someone feels respected and included.

Pay Attention to What Happens Between Athletes

Coaches don't just influence the relationship between themselves and their athletes. They also help shape the culture of the team.

The jokes that are tolerated. The behaviour that goes unchallenged. The way teammates respond when someone makes a mistake. The treatment of athletes who are new, different or struggling.

These everyday interactions send powerful messages about what is acceptable.

If bullying, exclusion, intimidation or discriminatory behaviour is ignored, it can become part of the team's culture.

Make expectations around respect clear. Challenge inappropriate behaviour early. Encourage teammates to support one another rather than compete for status at someone else's expense.

A team doesn't have to be free from disagreement or conflict to be a healthy environment. It needs to be a place where people can disagree without being threatened, humiliated or excluded.

Respond to Distress With Curiosity, Not Judgement

An athlete who becomes withdrawn, frustrated, anxious or unusually emotional may be experiencing something that isn't immediately obvious.

It is easy to label someone as difficult, unmotivated, over-sensitive or lacking commitment.

But what if there is more going on?

A change in behaviour doesn't automatically mean someone has experienced trauma or is struggling psychologically. There can be many explanations. However, it is worth approaching the situation with curiosity rather than jumping to conclusions.

Instead of immediately confronting the behaviour, consider checking in privately.

You don't need to become a therapist or solve every problem. Sometimes the most helpful response is to listen, acknowledge what the athlete is telling you and help them access appropriate support.

If someone discloses abuse, harm or a safeguarding concern, follow your organisation's safeguarding procedures and reporting requirements. Do not promise secrecy, investigate the matter yourself or take on a role beyond your competence.

What About High Performance?

One of the biggest misconceptions about safer sporting environments is that they somehow mean lowering standards.

They don't.

You can have demanding training sessions, ambitious performance goals, honest feedback and high expectations while still treating people with respect.

In fact, creating an environment where athletes feel safe to ask questions, admit mistakes, raise concerns and learn from setbacks can support the relationships and communication that performance depends upon.

The International Olympic Committee's consensus statement on interpersonal violence and safeguarding in sport highlights the importance of athlete-centred environments, healthy relationships, mutual care and respect, and making safe sport everyone's responsibility.

A safer environment is not one where athletes never experience discomfort or challenge. It is one where challenge is purposeful, proportionate and delivered without compromising their dignity or wellbeing.

You don't have to choose between high standards and treating people well. Good coaching should involve both.

Coaches Don't Have To Get Everything Right

Creating safer sporting environments is an ongoing process. It requires reflection, willingness to learn and the confidence to recognise when something needs to change.

It might be useful for coaches to regularly ask themselves:

Do my athletes feel comfortable approaching me?

How do I respond when someone makes a mistake?

Do I give athletes a genuine voice in decisions that affect them?

Am I consistent in how I treat people?

What behaviours do I tolerate that I would not want to see in my team?

If an athlete raised a concern today, would they know what to do and would they trust the process?

These questions aren't about finding fault or expecting coaches to be perfect. They are about recognising that the environment we create is part of the coaching experience.

And coaches shouldn't be expected to do this alone. Clubs and sporting organisations need clear safeguarding policies, accessible reporting routes, appropriate training and support for the people responsible for athletes' welfare.

Safer sport is a shared responsibility.

final thoughts

Small changes. Significant impact.

Sometimes the most important thing a coach can do isn't delivering another technical instruction, designing another training session or finding another way to improve performance.

It is noticing when someone is struggling.

It is choosing a different response when an athlete makes a mistake.

It is listening rather than dismissing.

It is challenging behaviour that undermines others.

And it is recognising that every athlete deserves to feel respected, valued and safe, regardless of their ability, experience or performance.

The culture of a sporting environment is shaped by what happens every day. Every interaction contributes to the message athletes receive about who they are, how they are valued and whether they belong.

So, the question isn't simply whether your athletes are improving.

It's whether the environment you are creating is somewhere they can genuinely thrive.