What to Do When Sports Programs Aren’t Inclusive Enough

Over the years since the site’s inception, we have celebrated sports as a means of bringing children together in a shared love of physical activity. Yet, for countless centuries beforehand, sports have been celebrated by people from all walks of life. In the modern age, they have acted as a catalyst for breaking down racial and social barriers, teaching teamwork and respect, and building friendships that otherwise may never have had the chance to blossom.

Nevertheless, for as many steps forward as we have taken, there are still those who are sometimes left behind. Indeed, for many families whose children face certain challenges, the reality doesn’t always match the ideal. Some programs unintentionally—or in rare, unfortunate cases, intentionally—leave kids out of the fun. This exclusion can be due to any number of factors beyond that child’s control: ability, gender, race, economic background, or special needs. No matter the reason, this lack of inclusivity can prevent children from experiencing the joy and benefits of youth sports that have helped the rest of the world come together.

These situations can prove just as heartbreaking for parents as they are demoralizing for children. As parents, we want our kids to have every opportunity to grow, play, compete, and feel like they belong. But what happens when the programs in your area aren’t designed with the needs of your child in mind? The answer is, there are options available to you; parents only need avail themselves of those. The key to doing so requires a bit of research and a bit of advocacy, and that’s why we’re here to help.

In this article, we will teach parents what they can do when sports programs aren’t inclusive enough to suit their child’s needs. We will discuss the most common barriers parents are likely to face, while offering practical strategies to circumvent those. Finally, we will share some valuable resources that will help parents create better experiences for all children who long to belong.

Understanding the Problem

When it comes to youth sports, inclusion isn’t just about letting kids sign up for a sport—it’s about letting them actually play and enjoy it alongside their peers. When all’s said and done, true inclusivity is about creating an environment where every child feels valued, supported, and above all else, is given the chance to participate in the actual game.

There are a number of common barriers that effect a child’s inclusion in organized sports, usually to do with something physical, but other factors can be at play as well. Understanding the different issues can often help parents to identify how their child is being excluded—and what can be done to address it. The most common barriers are as follows:

• Physical or developmental disabilities: Some leagues may not want to keep children with special needs from participating, but simply lack the necessary adaptive equipment, trained coaches, or flexible rules that would make such a thing possible.
• Economic limitations: Youth sports often come with lofty registration fees, uniform costs, and travel expenses; all of which can prove serious barriers to entry for lower-income families. These costs are often even greater if those low-income families have children with special needs, as the contrivances needed to let them play often cost more still.
• Cultural barriers: Language differences or lack of cultural awareness can often make foreign families feel unwelcome or even unable to participate.
• Gender equity issues: Even today, parents may find that girls have fewer teams or less funding available to them. Meanwhile, some boys may feel discouraged when they find interest in “non-traditional” sports like dance or gymnastics. It just goes to show, gender bias is alive and well in all parts of the world.
• Bullying or bias: On a similar note, children from minority groups or those with LGBTQ+ identities may face discrimination on and off the field. It is a sad state of affairs, but the reality is that exclusion happens more and more often these days.

Assessing Your Child’s Needs and Experiences

Before seeking solutions to the problem, it’s important to clarify where the problem lies and if there is even a problem at all. The first step in all of this is to assess two things: your child’s needs and the behavior of those involved. Parents need to ask themselves some specific questions, such as:

• Is my child physically able to participate?
• If they can participate, are they simply lacking support or encouragement to do so?
• Are costs or logistics the main barrier to entry for my child?
• Is the issue cultural—such as not feeling welcomed due to background, language, or gender? Note that if this is the case, the situation may not be so easily remedied and may take more societal change than beurocraic alteration.
• Has my child been bullied, sidelined, or treated unfairly by coaches or peers? And if so, has any mental, emotional, or physical harm been done to them?

Having a clear sense of the challenge(s) will help parents to better focus their advocacy and find the most effective solutions to the problem(s).

Communicating With Programs

Start With Coaches

Bear in mind that most of the time, exclusion isn’t intentional. This should be a comfort, not an impediment, because it means that the issue might be more logistical than malicious. A coach might simply not realize that certain behaviors, drills, or expectations are leaving certain children behind. Setting up a respectful conversation with the professionals in charge can go a long way.

Tips:

• Use “I” statements: “I’ve noticed my child struggling to feel included during practice.”
• Be specific: Mention examples, such as limited playing time or a lack of adaptive strategies.
• Offer solutions to the issues you raise: “Would it be possible to rotate positions more often so everyone has a chance to contribute?”

Talk to Program Directors

If the issue seems systemic (e.g., no girls’ teams, high fees, or inaccessible facilities), you might need to reach out to the directors in charge of the program. Many organizations and individuals want to be inclusive but need either parental input to identify blind spots, or word from the higher-ups to enact meaningful change. Again, these are cases of logistical issue not malicious intent.

Keep Records

If the exclusion continues even after reaching out, you might need to start prepping documentation. This means documenting your conversations with coaches, directors, and other parents, as well as your child’s experiences. Having this type of ammunition—for lack of a better term—may help if further advocacy is needed.

Advocating for Change

Suggest Practical Adjustments

Parents who are looking to enact change might start by proposing small but meaningful changes, such as:

• Offering sliding-scale fees or scholarships for families that qualify.
• Scheduling practices at times that accommodate working families in the community.
• Incorporating adaptive equipment and/or rules into the sports programs themselves.
• Training coaches in diversity, equity, and inclusion.

Join Parent Committees

Remember, you might not be alone in your struggles. Other parents might be similarly flummoxed by exclusion or oversight in the local sports leagues. Joining forces could be to everyone’s benefit and many leagues have parent boards or advisory groups for just such a purpose. Working together and speaking with one voice will greatly assist in shaping policies, schedules, and budgets with inclusion in mind. Collective voices will always carry more weight and speak louder than those who are working on their own.

Exploring Alternatives

Don’t feel the need to rush things. You’re going to want things to happen the moment you make contact or begin your advocacy, but try and remember that sometimes, change comes slowly; especially when dealing with established programs. In the meantime, it might be prudent to consider alternatives that better meet your child’s needs.

Adaptive Sports Programs

Organizations like Special Olympics, BlazeSports, and local adaptive leagues are all designed to offer modified versions of mainstream sports to children with certain physical, mental, or emotional challenges. These programs focus on ability, teamwork, and fun above all else.

Community-Based Recreation

Parks and recreation departments often provide lower-cost, beginner-friendly leagues for kids in the community and are rarely exclusive. Moreover, they often place less emphasis on elite competition.

School-Based Clubs

School clubs may offer a more inclusive environment than community leagues and youth sports leagues. Once more, the emphasis on participation is prioritized over that of bald competition.

Supporting Your Child Emotionally

The sad fact is, when kids feel excluded, it can hurt their confidence. Parents can help to mitigate these negative emotions by validating those feelings, reframing their child’s experience, and encouraging resilience. Indeed, even simply acknowledging that being left out is hard or unfair can make a big difference in a downtrodden child’s mind. One way to accomplish this is focusing on the child themselves, their performance, their skills, their effort, and their personal growth. You must emphasize that their exclusion is the result of others’ wrong-headed thinking and doesn’t reflect their own worth or their potential.

Long-Term Impact of Inclusive Sports

Inclusive sports can have a positive impact on the children who play them but also on the communities in which they are played. When all kids feel welcome, teams do better, in general. This is because Inclusion fosters cooperation, teaches empathy, and bolsters resilience among players. Inclusive sports bring families from all backgrounds, races, and religions together, thereby building stronger, more understanding communities.

Children who don’t get to play with others, especially if that ostracism is the result of circumstances outside their own control, may want to quit sports altogether. Those that feel included are more likely to stay active in sports well into high school, college, and even in their adult years. And as we all know, physical fitness is the key to a healthy life.

Resources for Parents

• Special Olympics: This organization provides access to adaptive sports for people all over the world.
• Challenger Sports: This organization features leagues for children with disabilities.
• Positive Coaching Alliance: This organization provides parents and other organizations with resources on inclusive coaching.
• Local recreation departments: Many local recreation centers and departments feature scholarship programs for players with disabilities.
• YMCA/YWCA: These altruistic organizations often feature affordable, community-oriented leagues with inclusivity goals built into their bylaws.

Cultured Athlete Says…

As you can see, though many sports do have inclusive programs and rules that enable everyone to play, you will still sometimes find ones that do exclude certain people. In these cases, parents must try to rise above their disappointment to advocate for change. Remember, you have the power to make a real difference in the world. Indifference and exclusion may never be truly erased, but by seeking out alternative opportunities, advocating for meaningful alterations, and supporting our children emotionally, we can ensure that their experience need not be one of rejection.

If writing for this site has taught me anything, it is that sports must remain a safe space for all children; one where each and every person has the chance to experience the joy of play and to learn the values of teamwork, respect, and perseverance. As a writer and as a parent of a young child, I will continue to do my part to raise awareness and help parents to navigate the difficulties that sometimes arise in the world of youth sports. That is how I can do my part…it is up to you to determine how you will do yours.