Sports and Social Justice: 
Supporting Youth Voice on Your Team

This toolkit provides resources to help coaches better support their athletes engaged in activism, protest, and social justice work.
Check back frequently for updates to links, additional information, and new resources!

Why should we consider athlete activism, social justice, and protest, good?

Historically, athletes of all backgrounds have used their status and influence to shed light on injustice. We want youth and young adults engaged in improving the health of our society to empower them with the understanding that they can make a difference now and in the future. We want experiences that encourage youth to pursue their civic passions as an opportunity to improve the lives of those around them. We want to eliminate despair by normalizing youth and young adults to analyze inequity so that we create more just experiences for everyone. 

How can coaches authentically encourage social justice and activism on their teams?

First, coaches must always stand on the side of justice. Life is unfair and people experience a variety of inequities no matter what background, but black and non-black people of color experience historic and contemporary inequities rooted in a system of preference based on race. Other systems of preference also include gender, sexual orientation, religion, class, physical ability, etc. Accepting this is the first step in supporting your athletes in their activism. 
Ask yourself: Is my moral compass pointed toward justice or what I believe is right?
Second, coaches can engage in their own internal anti-racism work to investigate the deep inequities that exist in our society and how they impact athletes at disproportionate rates. Do the work to stamp out your own biases and what you think you know.

Ask yourself: Am I making assumptions about an athlete’s physical prowess and ability? Am I aware of power dynamics when I listen to my athletes’ concerns? Am I addressing inequitable practices on my program? Am I doing my own work to understand the history of racism nationally and internationally?
Third, coaches can stand in solitary to support youth in their activism and social work. One of the best ways that coaches can support youth voice is by leveraging their own power and influence in support of the social justice and anti-racist work athletes are engaged in. 

Ask yourself: Who can I connect my athletes with for help? Who can I bring in to talk to my team? How can I unify the team and our supporters behind this cause?

How can I get started?

Knowledge is power! Below you will find links to help you get started. It is advisable to have a journey to jot down your thoughts along this process. Keep asking the hard questions of yourself and others. 
Podcasts on Athlete Civic Engagement, Activism, and Social Justice

Videos on Athlete Activism and Social Justice

Articles on Athlete Activism

Books By Athletes on Activism and Social Justice
Tools for Helping Your Athletes in their Activism
 This toolkit was created for the US Soccer Foundation © 2020