Coaches - What to do now

As a coach you’re responsible for creating a safe and fair environment where players/participants are free from discrimination, harassment and abuse. In order to do this you need to foster a culture of religious tolerance, promote and reinforce the club’s Code of Behaviour and relevant anti-discrimination policies (in many club’s this will take the form of a Member Protection Policy) and act quickly and consistently if breaches occur.

If there are concerns about the club’s uniform requirements

• Keep an open mind and consult your sports uniform policy.
• Consider whether you can accommodate requests for variations of the uniform (e.g., if players want to wear the hijab or a long sleeved shirt or pants).
• Talk to the person/their family about possible modifications (e.g., wearing a hijab that is in the team’s colours and fastened with Velcro rather than with pins/sharp objects).
• Try and reach a compromise that works for everyone. If you can’t – or if you have safety concerns – ask your club administrator for guidance.

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If there are concerns about a player wearing a hijab during matches

• Explain that the club encourages people of all different religions and cultural backgrounds to play sport.
• Discuss the club’s uniform policy (if it has one) and/or describe the modifications that can be made to allow people to participate (e.g., women may wear the hijab provided it is safe, complements the team’s colours and can be quickly removed in an emergency).
• Reinforce the club’s commitment to creating a supporting environment free from harassment and discrimination and refer to your Member Protection Policy (if you have one) or club policies.
• If necessary, stress that all club members are expected to treat each other with respect and accept racial, cultural and religious and differences.

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If there are concerns about males coaching female players

• Recognise that some religions have concerns about males coaching female participants – if you’re a male, don’t take it personally.
• Discuss the issue with the individual/family and identify the reason for their concern. It may be that they are worried about physical contact or fear that you may enter the women’s change rooms.  If this is the case, be sensitive to their position and reassure them that you will not:
  • go into the change rooms
  • have any physical contact with the girl/woman e.g., when demonstrating a skill
  • be alone with the player.
• See if you can get a female team manager to support you in your role as coach. This person could provide reassurance and encouragement to the girl, as well as liaising between you and the girl’s family.

If the individual/family are unhappy with this:

• refer the matter to the club administrator; and/or
• explore the issue with other coaches – it may be possible to move the player to another team or for you to coach another team.

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If there is a request to observe religious days and/or special occasions

• Be aware that different religions have different practices that may be very important to the player and/or their family.
• Talk with the person and/or their family to develop an understanding of the particular ceremony, occasion or practice.
• Consider any request to change practise times in the same way you would consider a similar request from any other team member (e.g., if a player wants to alter session times because of work commitments). Check that it’s okay with the rest of the team and don’t make a big deal out of it.
• Try and accommodate prayer times if requested.
• Recognise that this may have a significant impact on participation.

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