“Coaching Boys Into Men”: Training coaches to influence young male athletes to prevent violence against women

Background: Despite the high prevalence of intimate partner violence reported among adolescent females, effective perpetration prevention programs specifically focused on shifting gender norms and attitudes among adolescent males are limited. Certain sports appear to be associated with higher rates of male aggression. Coaches have a demonstrated effect on their athletes' self-esteem and positive behaviors; training coaches on engaging adolescent male athletes to prevent violence against women is a promising strategy.

Objective: This quasi-experimental study aims to refine and test the “Coaching Boys Into Men” training program, to estimate effects on coaches as well as their high-school age male athletes.

Methods: Coaches and high-school age male athletes completed baseline surveys prior to coaches receiving the training. Follow up surveys were completed at the end of the athletic season. Coaches and athletes from a neighboring school district without exposure to the training served as the comparison group.

Results: Coaches who participated in the training reported high levels of agreement with positive gender-equitable attitudes. Following the training, coaches reported increased self-efficacy to respond to male athletes' disrespectful and harmful behaviors. Youth reported more instances of coaches intervening when witnessing disrespectful behaviors.

Conclusions: This training program appears to have some significant effects on coaches' self-efficacy to intervene and to communicate that any disrespectful or harmful behaviors is unacceptable. The long-term effects on youth attitudes, behaviors, and violence perpetration need to be followed.