Gender Inclusion Best Practices for Coaches
If you know me you know that I love coaching and I love sports. Being involved in sports has been one of my greatest joys in life, something that I firmly believe everyone should have access to. As team tryouts are underway and practices begin for the start of the season, I decided to publish a public resource of what I believe are Gender Inclusion Best Practices for Coaches. My hope is that this Best Practices can be utilized to create a welcoming environment for ALL athletes of ALL genders.
This Best Practices is a non-exhaustive guide that serves to help coaches uphold non-discriminatory practices toward transgender, nonbinary, and intersex athletes within their sport programs.
You can download a PDF copy here.
Gender Inclusion: Best Practices for Coaches
Rules and Conduct - Be an ally in the face of transphobia; you are a role model and your athletes will look to you when responding to altercations on the athletic field.
When going over rules and conduct, include language supportive of chosen names and nicknames, chosen pronouns, and respect for one another’s bodies.
Respect all athletes’ preferred names and pronouns; do not question an athlete if they decide to change theirs more than one time.
Make corrections when an athlete is misgendered or incorrectly named.
Allow athletes to choose uniforms that match their gender identity.
Participation On Teams - Allow transgender/non-binary/intersex participation at all levels unless legally barred from doing so. This includes:
Welcoming all athletes on competitive teams and allowing exceptions due to extenuating circumstances that would prevent an athlete from meeting team requirements, including exclusion from competition based on their gender identity.
Encouraging all athletes to sign up for training events and developmental opportunities regardless of intent to compete; all athletes benefit from access to team dynamics, personal growth through sport, and shared time with peers!
Label single stall restrooms, showers, and changing areas as gender neutral.
If your state does not have a bathroom ban that applies to your facility, place tampons and sanitary pads in both bathrooms.
Sanctioned vs Unsanctioned Events - Advocate for transgender/non-binary/intersex athletes whenever possible unless legally barred from doing so.
Encourage the creation of, and participation in, non-sanctioned competitions that allow athletes to self-select their gender category.
If your gym/club hosts or partners with non-competitive events, encourage athletes to attend and create training goals toward those endeavors. Examples include outdoor climbing, hiking, skiing, biking.
Understand the rules and regulations within each competition event; familiarize yourself with the policy and point of contact for making a discrimination complaint.
Travel - Consider what common risks your athletes, especially related to age and gender, may face while traveling. This includes medical issues and other unforeseen crises.
Create a safety plan for athletes when traveling for events. This should include a list of emergency contacts, local LGBTQ+ organizations, resources for domestic violence and sexual assault, and hospitals that are knowledgeable about gender affirming care.
If your team has gendered spaces (locker rooms, hotel rooms, etc.), ensure clear communication with your athletes/families about how to best support each participant.
Stay up-to-date with the latest legislation in your state, as well as states in which you may be traveling for competitions, as laws vary by state.
Resources: Movement Advancement Project Equality Maps, Sporting Bans by State, Resources // Trans Athlete // Trevor Project “Being an Ally to Trans and Non-Binary Young People”
Special thanks to the people in my community who helped proofread this document! I could not have published this without your support.