BROCKPORT, N.Y. — The National Field Hockey Coaches Association (NFHCA), in collaboration with the NFHCA Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Committee, is proud to release an anti-harassment resource for coaches. The STAND Up to Harassment resource provides a step-by-step guide to help coaches thoughtfully intervene when harassment is observed or reported during team activities.
“Over the past year there have been hateful incidents in our sport that have no place in the game,” said Brandi Kist, head coach at Queens University of Charlotte and co-chair of the NFHCA DEI Committee “No one wants to think these terrible things would happen in any proximity to their hockey family. However, as coaches we need to be prepared for the unexpected and be able to quickly react appropriately. Ensuring the safety of our players is always the priority.”
The STAND-Up model of thoughtful intervention encourages coaches to Stop, Take action, Access, Navigate, and Discuss the incident. The resource provides additional direction under each action item to help coaches confidently address the situation at hand.
“We want to provide coaches with a resource, a quick-reference action plan when faced with hateful or discriminatory acts or rhetoric,” continued Kist. “While we hope no one will have to use this resource, as we teach our players, being prepared for anything is key.”
The resource was initiated by the NFHCA Board of Directors and designed by the NFHCA DEI Committee over the last several months. A downloadable PDF version of the resource is available online. Pocket reference guides will be available at NFHCA events and affiliate events over the next year.
The National Field Hockey Coaches Association (NFHCA) is a nonprofit organization serving field hockey coaches and supporters of the game from across the United States. The mission of the organization is to stimulate the professional development of coaching leadership within the sport of field hockey. The NFHCA strives to cultivate and recognize the professional contributions of its membership and to foster and promote the growth of the sport. The NFHCA is responsible for providing a recognizable presence and voice in regard to legislation affecting the sport as well as interscholastic and intercollegiate programs.