What would you do? Developing, implementing and evaluating a coach bystander intervention to prevent sexual violence in youth sports clubs

The Safe Sport Allies bystander training: developing a multi-layered program for youth sport participants and their coaches to prevent harassment and abuse in local sport clubs

“…To our knowledge, only two bystander interventions have been implemented and evaluated within the specific context of the sport club, both focusing on sexual violence ( Schäfer-Pels et al, 2023 ). Verhelle et al (2024) developed a theory-driven bystander intervention, called All Aboard, specifically targeting youth sport coaches in Flanders. The main aim of the All Aboard intervention was to stimulate positive bystander behaviors among youth sport coaches in relation to adequately detecting, assessing, and responding to signs of sexual harassment and abuse.…”

“…Different strategies were used including theory, watching testimonials and discussions. Results showed that after the intervention, youth sport coaches showed more positive attitudes related to positive bystander behaviors ( Verhelle et al, 2024 ). The main limitation of this study was the limited sample size, single focus on sexual harassment and abuse, focus on only one target group, and high drop-out rates.…”

“…Both the All Aboard program ( Verhelle et al, 2024 ) and the Module Against Sexualized Violence in Sport ( Schäfer-Pels et al, 2023 ) showed some first promising results in stimulating determinants that are at the basis of positive bystander behaviors to prevent sexual harassment and abuse in sport. These programs can serve as a starting point to build upon to develop more extensive bystander programs that focus on all types of harassment and abuse.…”

“…Additionally, it is important to acknowledge that everyone in a sport club can be a witness of an incident of harassment and abuse ( Banyard et al, 2016 ). The previous mentioned studies outside ( Foubert et al, 2010 ; Miller et al, 2012 ; Katz and Moore, 2013 ; Coker et al, 2017 ; Mujal et al, 2019 ) and inside sport ( Verhelle et al, 2024 ) solely focused on one target group. In contrast, the module of Schäfer-Pels et al (2023) , expanded their module to also coaches, parents, and so on.…”

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“…Additionally, it is important to acknowledge that everyone in a sport club can be a witness of an incident of harassment and abuse (Banyard et al, 2016). The previous mentioned studies outside (Foubert et al, 2010;Miller et al, 2012;Katz and Moore, 2013;Coker et al, 2017;Mujal et al, 2019) and inside sport (Verhelle et al, 2024) solely focused on one target group. In contrast, the module of Schäfer-Pels et al ( 2023), expanded their module to also coaches, parents, and so on.…”