The National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) released an online course to educate coaches about supporting LGBTQ athletes.
The mini-course is ten minutes long and is called “LGBT: Diversity and Inclusion” and was developed by the NSCAA’s LGBT and Allies Member Community, in partnership with national nonprofit organization Athlete Ally.
“Camaraderie, compassion, and collaboration are key to a successful team in any sport. We want to help encourage the most respectful, inclusive environments possible across all of soccer,” NSCAA CEO Lynn Berling-Manuel said in a statement.
“Education is such a critical part to understanding the LGBT community,” Dan Woog, chair of the NSCAA’s LGBT and Allies coaching community added. “It’s simply a change in your mindset and the way you approach others. The more prepared you are, the better coach you will be.”
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“The NSCAA is committed to helping all members learn the importance of inclusion of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) community; encourage participation in all activities by LGBT coaches, athletes, referees, administrators and fans; and welcome all allies in our organization’s ongoing effort to be a leader of inclusion in the sports world,” reads the NSCAA website’s “LGBT Soccer Coaches and Allies Community” page.
Its annual convention includes special programming for LGBTQ coaches and allies as well.
Soccer star Cristiano Ronaldo recently reported Jorge Resurrección Merodio called him a faggot during a match, to which he responded “Yes, yes, a faggot. But a very rich one, shithead.”
Openly gay player Robbie Rogers said Richard Chaplow used a homophobic slur against him. Chaplow was suspended for two games, although he denied using the offensive language.
