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​Starting The Conversation With Youth On Inclusion

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With advances in LGBTQ rights in the United States, more athletes are coming out at all levels of play, including youth and high school sports. Therefore, it is important for coaches to understand how to include those populations in their program in ways that are safe, welcoming and educational for all involved in the program. These tips and ideas come from You Can Play, a non-profit advocacy group that works to ensure safety and inclusion for all who participate in sports, including LGBTQ athletes, coaches, and fans

​Our partners at You Can Play have provided a great resource on how to have the conversation around inclusion with your team and why it is important. In the PDF below, there are great tips on what LGBTQ means, informative stats, and how to have the create the best environment for your team's culture of inclusivity.

Here are some tips on Starting The Conversation on Inclusion:

  1. Understand that this topic applies to all of us. We all know someone who is LGBTQ - they just might not be out yet.
  2. Educate yourself on LGBTQ terminology and get comfortable saying the words lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and LGBTQ.
  3. It’s okay to not know all the answers. As you start the conversation, research and reach out to find out answers to questions you still have.
  4. Start by asking one or two people on your team: “How can we create safer spaces for LGBTQ athletes, coaches, and fans?”
  5. Take action to make this a full team conversation.

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