Every year, 1 in 3 teens experiences threats or acts of sexual or physical abuse from a boyfriend or girlfriend. And over the course of their lifetime, 1 in 3 women and 1 in 4 men experience violence from a partner.
However, acts of domestic violence and sexual abuse are 100% preventable.
The NFL is committed to promoting healthy relationships and preventing incidents of domestic violence and sexual assault. As a coach of youth athletes, you play a critical role in shaping the character of our next generation of leaders, and we encourage you to talk to your team about these important societal issues. To assist in starting or continuing these conversations, we have created a video featuring coaches at the high school, collegiate, and professional levels speaking to the importance of addressing these topics early and often.
CLICK TO WATCH VIDEO
The video features Troy Vincent, Executive Vice President of NFL Football Operations, sharing his personal experience of witnessing domestic violence in his own family. Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin and Seattle Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll weigh in on the responsibility we all have not to shy away from the heavy conversations surrounding domestic violence and sexual assault.
You will also hear from Joe Ehrmann, a former NFL player and coach who speaks from the heart on the power coaches have to be transformational in developing athletes of character, and promoting healthy views on relationships and masculinity.
Coach Kevin Sumlin of Texas A&M University speaks to his team about the core value of respect for others and how keeping it in mind can inform the decisions one makes. He encourages his team to hold themselves to a higher standard, not just in matters or domestic violence and sexual assault, but in everything they do.
Mike Rowe, head football coach at Rocori High School in Cold Springs, Minnesota, regularly uses the time he has with his players to engage in conversations around character building and life skills. In the video, he leads his players through an exercise where they take turns reading actual police reports of incidents of domestic violence or sexual assault. As the reality of these scenarios sinks in, each player takes a pledge that “This will not be me.”
As a coach, you are in a unique position to positively impact the way your athletes grow into adult members of society. We encourage you to share this video with your team and use it to start or continue a conversation on the role we all play in ending domestic violence and sexual assault.
For more information or resources, please email PlayerEngagement@NFL.com.