10/13/2026
When we protect our athletes, we protect Football.
From completing high-intensity drills at home to scoring a touchdown, football relies on quick reflexes, physical strength, and a dedication to teamwork. Whether starting the play as the center, catching a throw as a wide receiver, or using your unique skills as a kicker, every team member is valuable. When we protect our football players, we keep this sport safe and healthy for all.
Courage First Athlete Helpline
Use this resource if you are in need of confidential emotional support, crisis intervention, informational athlete-focused resources, and guidance related to concerns about any type of abuse.
The Courage First Athlete Helpline is a no-cost call and text service for anyone in need. +1 888-279-1026
Common Football Safeguarding Concerns
Abuse and misconduct can happen in all sports, at every level of play. Football has some specific vulnerabilities, such as:
- Football is a contact sport that often involves heavy tackling and physical aggression. Athletes are at high risk for injury, especially head trauma. Injuries can leave athletes vulnerable to abuse. In addition, if the physical aggression goes unchecked, it could lead to off-field violence and/or abuse.
- Football is a team sport, and team environments can be potential havens for peer-on-peer abuse, hazing, and bullying. These behaviors are often encouraged, minimized, or normalized rather than taken seriously. “Locker room talk,” or social misogyny, and hypermasculinity can also be fostered in these environments, and treating these behaviors as a “norm” could lead to coaches and athletes disregarding consent and boundaries.
- Football often requires frequent travel, and a variety of venues are used for practice and competition. It can be difficult to identify isolated and other high-risk areas at variable and unfamiliar locations.
What’s the difference between tough coaching & abuse?
The Coach Athlete Relationship Dynamics Diagrams below can be used as a gut check; consider the conduct you experience and observe in your sporting community, and discern whether what is occurring aligns with a caring and supportive coach-athlete relationship. For athletes who have unhealthy relationship dynamics with their coaches, inappropriate behavior can be subtle and difficult to discern. Awareness and prevention of these patterns of power and control help keep everyone safe.
Current Events
Unfortunately, news articles chronicling misconduct in sport and unhealthy coach-athlete dynamics are frequent and widespread. Abuse in sport has been occurring for decades, and the public is now becoming aware of these hidden situations as more and more survivors bravely disclose and report misconduct they have experienced. #WeRideTogether is committed to increasing awareness and continually updating this compiled list of current events on the topic of sexual abuse in sport. Sexual misconduct is happening across all sports, at all levels, internationally.
10/12/2026
Former teacher and coach indicted on federal charge, faces 15 to 30 years if convicted
10/11/2026
Arizona Cardinals, Michael Bidwill sued by former coach, executive assistant
10/7/2026
3 Mizzou Tigers football players arrested on charges of suspicion of harassment
10/18/2026
Youth Sports Families Allege Travel Company Threatened Their Kids' Playing Status If They Didn't Pay Lodging Fees
10/15/2026
Athletic trainer at San Jose school accused of sexual battery of student
10/14/2026
Details emerge on police raid of ex-Kempsville High School athletic director’s home
10/11/2026
As sports betting is normalized, college players have become targets of aggrieved bettors
Football Resources
Below are resources related to Physical Safety and Safeguarding within Football.
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Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE)
Physical Safety
Gain an understanding of CTE risk factors, symptoms, treatment, and prevention.
Crash Course: Concussion Education
Physical Safety
Learn about the prevention and treatment of concussions.
Practicing Good Sportsmanship
Safeguarding
Develop an understanding of good sportsmanship practices to develop healthy team environments.
Responding to a Sports-related Concussion
Physical Safety
Learn about concussion symptoms, protocol, and prevention in sports.
Youth Football Safety and Injury Prevention
Physical Safety
Gain an understanding of injury prevention and safety in youth football.
Survivor Stories
Survivors are increasingly stepping forward to bravely tell their stories. The following stories reflect the survivors’ personal experiences, as told by them, and may be triggering for individuals who have experienced sexual abuse or misconduct. All information has been anonymized.
If you are a survivor interested in sharing your story and learning more about this process, please reach out to us at info@weridetogether.today.
We want to hear from you!
You are not alone.
What resources or information do you want for your sport? Contact us and let us know.
If you or someone you know has experienced misconduct or abuse, please access these resources for help. For additional information on confidential helplines, sexual assault reporting procedures, and mental health resources, click the button below.
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