Athletic coaches have a challenging and important role in educational settings. Working to inspire their student athletes to reach their fullest potential while juggling their academic obligations is a complex process on its own. On top of that, coaches are closely involved in the broader growth and development of young people at a highly formative time in their lives.
We know this can be difficult, and that’s why RALIANCE has supported the creation of two toolkits for high school and college coaches, which can help them engage their student athletes on the subject of sexual assault through the prism of the moving documentary, Roll Red Roll.
Each of the toolkits can help set athletic administrators, coaches, and counselors up for success in educating athletes about sexual harassment, assault, and abuse. Here are three quick tips from the toolkits to keep in mind before you start any conversation about sexual violence with your team:
1. It’s okay to say, “I don’t know.” No one – not even the world’s best coach – knows everything. If a student asks you a question about sexual violence to which you don’t know the answer, resist the urge to rush to respond and risk spreading misinformation. Instead, come prepared with local resources and national hotlines, such as RAINN, for additional information. You can and also offer to look up any unanswered questions after the discussion.
