In December, Philadelphia made a historic commitment, announcing over $3 million in funding for youth sports initiatives aimed at preventing violence. In a city where a 14-year-old Black teenager has a one in eight chance of being shot or killed before his 25th birthday, this investment is a promising step, signaling a recognition of the vital role sports can play in keeping young people engaged and steering them away from violence outside of school.
But here’s the uncomfortable truth: Without properly trained coaches, these millions could be wasted.
The transformative power of youth sports doesn’t come from new facilities or expanded leagues alone. It lies in equipping the mentors who work with our youth every day.
Without trauma-informed training, coaches are left to navigate the challenges of working with at-risk youth on their own. Many do so admirably, but too often, toxic coaching practices — whether intentional or not — persist.
Consider youth football, where aggression is often celebrated. Too many young athletes experience verbal intimidation from coaches who mistake humiliation for motivation. These approaches don’t build character — they damage it, contributing to the same cycles of emotional harm and aggression these initiatives hope to break.
This is why trauma-informed training must be a nonnegotiable, as vital to the game as helmets and other protective gear. It’s not enough for the city to simply allocate money to sports programs. We must also ensure that every coach receiving funding is equipped with the knowledge and skills to foster resilience, emotional intelligence, and positive behavior in young athletes.
Trauma training shows how to recognize signs of distress, de-escalate conflicts, and use sports to heal rather than harm. As a result, athletes feel understood and supported, and they are more likely to remain engaged and benefit from the positive aspects of being involved in sports.
The evidence speaks for itself, with ripple effects going beyond individual players. Cities that have integrated trauma-informed coaching into youth sports programming, such as Boston and Los Angeles, have reported reductions in youth violence by 25% to 40% over five years, according to the Urban Institute.
Too often, toxic coaching practices — whether intentional or not — persist.
At the organization I lead, Open Door Abuse Awareness and Prevention, we use these same techniques along with research-based practices to unlock the transformative power of coaches. Through a specialized curriculum, we equip them to help young athletes recognize and prevent domestic abuse at home and in school.
Through this work, I’ve seen firsthand how coaches do more than just teach the game. They serve as mentors, role models, and, in many cases, surrogate parents. When properly trained, coaches can identify the young athlete who arrives angry because of violence at home, channel that emotion constructively, and provide the consistent adult presence that research shows is critical for resilience.
Philadelphia stands at a crossroads. If we truly want to reduce violence and create lasting change, we cannot afford to take a surface-level approach. As we look forward to new fields and expanded sports opportunities, let us not forget that real transformation happens through the people who lead these programs. Trauma-informed coaching is not an optional add-on — it is the foundation upon which effective, impactful, and life-changing youth sports must be built.
Philadelphia has taken the first step. Now let’s make sure it counts.
Valencia Peterson, also known as “Coach V,” is the founder and executive director of Open Door Abuse Awareness and Prevention (ODAAP), a nonprofit organization that uses sports as a platform to teach youth about violence prevention, leadership, and healthy relationships.
