Every kid belongs
Coaching for belonging
Every kid deserves to belong, whether at home, in school or with their friends. It's no different when it comes to play, movement and sport.
Emotional safety (or psychological safety) is a critical ingredient to build belonging. Emotional safety in a team setting means that each kid feels confident being their full self and can share thoughts and feelings without repercussions. They feel accepted and encouraged across every facet of themselves. And the coach has built a predictable environment where kids know what to expect. The relationship you develop with each kid is your best tool to build emotional safety.
Kids feel safe and supported when four traits power your relationship:
- Trust
Building a supportive team culture and connecting with every kid - Stability
Being consistent and clear over time - Agency
Giving each kid a sense of control and confidence - Affirmation
Inviting every kid to contribute and celebrating their involvement
It's about relationships
A great relationship with a coach can unlock so much for kids. Over time, the freedom to play, move, express themselves and achieve success creates a positive feedback loop that has ripple effects in every part of their lives. And building a strong relationship isn't about winning games or knowing the most about sport—it happens in big and small, happy and sad moments in a kid's life. You just have to show curiosity, connection and care.
"A great relationship is one that centres the child: their experience, their context, their growth".
Diana Cutaia
Founder, Coaching Peace
"The best thing that can happen [for trans athletes] is for a coach to get close to the trans person and talk to them, and see that it's not just about being trans. They have a lot of different interests—there are trans kids who are very knowledgeable on the topic of dinosaurs! You learn to see complete humans, who are interested in things, have plans for the future and dreams, and all of those things create empathy. You can get past the thought that 'I have a preconceived idea of a trans person, and usually it's not playing sport'. When you're able to have these conversations, you realise it's just another person who can share their abilities with you and the team".
Luis Tirado Morales
Co-founder, Asociación por las Infancias Transgénero
Every kid is different
Learning to welcome and support every kid is a rewarding, lifelong journey. A good coach understands that every kid has unique circumstances and lived experiences, and that every kid wants and deserves to enjoy play, movement and sport. Going into a coaching scenario with this mindset is crucial to unlocking those important relationships and a sense of belonging for every kid you meet. The total impact? A culture of true belonging, where all kids find a place where they can thrive.
Learn more about how to empower girls in your community.