Photo Credit: Illustration generated by OpenAI
Whether you are volunteering as a coach for a town league or a school, coaching youth sports is not easy. Finding the time between busy work schedules and family responsibilities to prepare practice drills and strategies and attend practices and games—although rewarding—can be overwhelming. Coaches also need to be sure their players feel safe and comfortable with teammates.
Good-natured teasing and competitive attitudes have always been a part of sports, and it has sometimes been easy for coaches and volunteers to dismiss bullying as “kids being kids.” But in recent years, bullying has become a more serious issue, and it is now a coach’s responsibility to ensure a safe environment for players.
“It is difficult for a parent or adult who is taking time out of their busy schedules to volunteer and coach a team, to have the same knowledge as an educator about preventing and dealing with bullying,” said Jill Spineti, President and CEO of The Governor’s Prevention Partnership in Connecticut. “Coaches aren’t expected to know everything about bullying prevention, but it is important for them to know the basics and the resources available to them so they can create a safe and bully-free environment for their players.”