Sport should be a place where young people feel safe, valued and empowered. Yet for many children and adolescents, bullying remains a serious barrier to participation, enjoyment and well-being in sport. The BeFore Project worked to change that by bringing research, education and best practice together across Europe.
Why BeFore Matters
Bullying in sport can take many forms, from verbal abuse and exclusion to online harassment and physical intimidation. It can affect athletes’ confidence, mental health, performance, enjoyment and long-term engagement in sport. Coaches, clubs and sporting organisations play a critical role in shaping team culture and responding effectively when problems arise.
The BeFore Project is grounded in European research and real-world experience, ensuring that anti-bullying strategies are evidence-based, practical and relevant for everyday sporting settings.
Supporting Coaches Through Education
As part of the BeFore Project, the Anti-Bullying Centre provides a free online Training Course on Anti-Bullying in Sport for coaches and those working with young people in sport. The course is available in English, German, Spanish and Swedish. Designed to be flexible and accessible, the course allows coaches to build their understanding and confidence in addressing bullying in a sporting context.
What the Training Covers
The course is structured into three core modules, each focusing on a key area of anti-bullying practice in sport:
- Understanding Bullying
This module helps coaches recognise what bullying is and why it happens in sporting environments. It explores definitions and prevalence, types and consequences of bullying, the role of power in sport, the different roles people play in bullying situations, and the positive potential of sport to challenge bullying. It also includes self-reflection activities to help coaches examine their own experiences and attitudes.
- Preventing Bullying
Prevention is central to creating safe, inclusive teams. This module focuses on building positive relationships, developing strong team cultures and values, encouraging open communication, practical exercises to use with teams, and question prompts for discussions. Coaches are supported to promote respect, empathy and belonging within their clubs.
- Responding to Bullying
When bullying occurs, how adults respond makes a critical difference. This module covers the responsibility of the coach, club policies and procedures, what research tells us about effective responses, how to talk about bullying, and communication with young people and parents. This ensures coaches are prepared to act calmly, fairly and effectively.
A European Approach to Safer Sport
By combining research expertise with practical training, the BeFore Project has helped to raise standards across Europe in how bullying is understood, prevented and addressed in sport. BeFore represents a powerful example of how education, research and international collaboration can support safer, more inclusive sporting environments, ensuring that every young person has the chance to enjoy sport without fear of bullying.