If you’ve ever wondered how to make your coaching more welcoming and effective for everyone—no matter their background, ability or experience—you’re not alone. Regardless of where you coach, building inclusivity into your coaching practice can truly elevate your impact.
This guide offers a friendly, down-to-earth look at five practical ways to bring inclusivity into your sessions – without adding too much to your already-packed schedule.
1. Get to Know Your Players as Individuals
Every player brings a different story, strength, and struggle. Taking a few minutes to connect personally can make a huge difference. Ask simple questions:
- “What’s your favourite part of training?”
- “Is there anything that makes you nervous before sessions?”
- “How do you like to learn—by watching, doing, or listening?”
For some coaches, this might help spot a child who’s shy or anxious and adapt activities to support their confidence. For others, this can be key in retaining adults who are new to sport and might feel out of their depth.
Want more on understanding your players? Check out this guide on building rapport with athletes.
2. Adapt for Different Abilities Without Singling Anyone Out
Inclusivity means meeting people where they’re at. That doesn’t mean dumbing down your sessions—it means offering choice and progression. For example:
- Offer “challenge levels” for drills (e.g. green, amber, red zones) and let players self-select.
- Break skills into smaller steps and celebrate progress, not just perfection.
- Use stations or circuits where players can work at their own pace.
This keeps mixed-ability groups engaged and reduces the pressure some might feel in competitive environments.
Need help with mixed-ability coaching? Explore this excellent resource on adapting sessions for inclusion from UK Coaching.
3. Use Inclusive Language
Language shapes experience—and sometimes, we don’t even realize we’re excluding people with our words. Here’s how to make your communication more inclusive:
- Use names instead of genders when splitting teams (“Who’s wearing blue?” instead of “Boys against girls”).
- Avoid assumptions—like presuming someone’s played the sport before or knows the terms.
- Watch for body language cues. If someone’s confused or left out, try reframing the instructions or offering a quiet check-in.
Even small changes can help everyone feel seen and respected.
Want to dive deeper? Try this two-pager on inclusive language in coaching sessions.
4. Welcome Parents, Guardians & Supporters Into the Process
Especially relevant for youth coaches like Coach Kerry, involving the surrounding support network can boost inclusivity. Here’s how:
- Hold short parent chats or send out session summaries to keep everyone in the loop.
- Invite parents/guardians to observe or even participate in certain drills for fun.
- Be open to feedback and questions—their insights can help you adjust to kids’ emotional or behavioural needs.
Need inspiration for boosting parent engagement? This podcast on positive. strategies for building parent-coach-player relationships has some useful tips.
5. Reflect and Stay Curious
Inclusivity isn’t a one-time fix—it’s a mindset. Make time (even 10 minutes a week) to reflect on questions like:
- Did everyone feel like they belonged today?
- Were my activities accessible to all skill levels?
- What could I tweak for next time?
This habit is perfect for The Curious Coach who’s hungry to improve. Journaling reflections or chatting with other coaches can help spark new ways of thinking.
Want to learn how to reflect more effectively? Check out this practical guide to coaching reflection.
Final Thoughts
Being an inclusive coach doesn’t mean having all the answers. It’s about creating space for everyone to grow, enjoy sport, and feel like they belong. With these five strategies, you can start building more inclusive sessions that bring out the best in every player—whichever sport, age, or background they come from.
Got a question or a tip that’s worked well for you? Join the conversation with fellow inclusive coaches in your network or on forums like Connected Coaches.
