Take Action! 5 Tips Parents Can Share with Their Teens to Stop Harmful Behavior in Sport

Being part of a sports team comes with many benefits for teens, from forming lasting friendships to experiencing the joy of playing the game.

However, as they advance in their sport, teen athletes may encounter hurtful behavior—like inappropriate jokes, offensive comments, or more severe forms of misconduct. When this happens, parents and guardians can help teens understand how to intervene or respond appropriately.

Parents, you can also use the guidance below to stop or redirect the situation if you witness negative behavior from any sport participant—from coaches to athletes to spectators.

What is Bystander Intervention?

Bystander intervention is when a person does something to stop inappropriate, hurtful, or abusive behavior when they witness it. 

Example: A team captain makes a joke about a player who has a limb difference. Parents can coach their teen athlete on how to respond—from changing the subject to directly calling their teammate out and saying that’s not okay. 

By having open conversations about what bystander intervention is and how to safely intervene to stop negative behavior, you can help your teen be better prepared to foster a safer, more inclusive setting on their team. 

Talk About The Five Ds

It’s important for adults, like coaches and parents, to intervene if they witness behavior that is inappropriate.

But athletes can also be proactive bystanders—calling out or documenting behavior that hurts others. By understanding how to intervene, redirect, or halt negative behavior, athletes can be a positive voice against actions like bullying, hazing, or other forms of misconduct and abuse.

Read the full article at U.S. Center for SafeSport >