Why Domestic Abuse Matters in Sport – The Domestic Abuse in Sport and Activity Toolkit

But there are reasons for which it is important to understand the specific context of domestic abuse in sport:

• Sport and physical activity settings are trusted spaces where staff and participants often build close relationships.
• Team dynamics and morale can be a key part of a sporting environment and therefore changes in this dynamic can quickly highlight signs of abuse.
• This puts coaches, staff, and teammates in a crucial position to offer support within appropriate boundaries.

But at the same time, sport and activity settings can also make it harder to spot the signs of domestic abuse. And in some cases, sport and activity settings can even help to enable domestic abuse:

• Sport and physical activity can put coaches, staff, and teammates in a unique position to exploit a power dynamic.
• Competitive performance matters to people, which can make people more vulnerable to abuse, or even act as a catalyst to existing abusive relationships.
• Those striving to succeed in sport may unwittingly enter into unhealthy relationships within the sport.
• People invested in their sport may be reluctant to raise concerns. They may worry about alienating others within the sport, and so may overlook some indicators of abuse.
• Individuals can become very absorbed in a sporting world. Depending on whether the abuser is within, or external to, the sport or activity, this can either be a significant protective factor, or it can be hugely isolating.

Supporting someone in a sporting context could be their first step towards safety. And working towards a positive sporting culture can help prevent toxic environments from developing, which could help enable abuse.

Recognising the signs of domestic abuse in a sport setting