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“[…] Under Fifa’s Code of Conduct and Disciplinary Code, the use of profanity or degrading language by coaches can constitute emotional abuse and a breach of safeguarding standards, particularly in youth and grassroots settings.
“However, in the context of Trinidad and Tobago, there’s an added layer of complexity. The use of profanity has, over time, become a normalized aspect of everyday communication for many citizens…”
The following Letter to the Editor, which urges the TTFA Safeguarding Department to stamp out offensive language by youth team coaches, was submitted to Wired868 by Betterment:
(via Joliefoulee.)
Fifa’s Safeguarding Programme aims to protect all participants in football—especially children and vulnerable adults—by promoting safety, dignity, and respect. The use of profane or abusive language toward players violates these principles, particularly in youth and grassroots settings.
Fifa’s Code of Conduct explicitly prohibits humiliating or intimidating behavior, and offensive language can result in disciplinary actions.
While the system is designed to uphold integrity, there’s also potential for misuse through false accusations or internal power plays. Nonetheless, Fifa maintains strict guidelines to handle such concerns with fairness and accountability
One of its key principles is ensuring that all communication with players is respectful, age-appropriate, and free from humiliation or intimidation.
Under Fifa’s Code of Conduct and Disciplinary Code, the use of profanity or degrading language by coaches can constitute emotional abuse and a breach of safeguarding standards, particularly in youth and grassroots settings.
However, in the context of Trinidad and Tobago, there’s an added layer of complexity.
The use of profanity has, over time, become a normalized aspect of everyday communication for many citizens. It’s often seen as expressive rather than harmful—and in football, this cultural norm has filtered into how many coaches routinely speak to their players.
Photo: Nicholas Bhajan/ Wired868.
In many cases, it’s brushed off as no big deal with the assumption that all children are the same and should simply be able to tolerate or adapt to this type of behavior. But this attitude is problematic and contrary to the core values of safeguarding.
Children are not all the same. They process and internalize experiences differently, and what may seem like harmless tough talk to one child can be deeply damaging to another.
Normalising this behavior undermines Fifa’s efforts to create safe and respectful environments in sport. It also sends the wrong message—that safeguarding is optional, or culturally negotiable—when in fact, it’s a non-negotiable responsibility.
(via Fifa.)
This is an area where the Trinidad and Tobago Football Association (TTFA) must strengthen its efforts. While frameworks and policies are in place, more attention, education, and enforcement are needed to shift the cultural mindset around communication and coaching behavior.
Protecting children means recognising that safeguarding isn’t just about preventing extreme cases of abuse—it’s about addressing the everyday practices that can cause harm if left unchecked.
Normalising profanity toward young athletes is one of those practices that demands urgent action.
We must do better! This is not one of those situation where it’s ok to say ‘We like it so’.
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I absolutely agree with the points raised in Brandon comment. Safeguarding policies are only as strong as the culture that upholds them. While FIFA and the TTFA can provide the necessary frameworks, the real power lies in the hands of local clubs, coaches, and administrators who shape the day-to-day environment for young athletes.
It’s not enough to have rules on paper—respect, dignity, and accountability must be lived values. If profanity and verbal abuse are excused as “just how things are,” then we’re failing our young players. Culture change takes time, but it begins with consistent modeling of positive behavior, open communication, and a willingness to challenge harmful norms, even when they’re deeply rooted.
This isn’t about being overly sensitive—it’s about recognizing the impact words can have, especially on developing minds. Children deserve to feel safe and respected in their sporting spaces. That starts with us.
While safeguarding departments play a crucial role in establishing policies and mechanisms to protect young athletes from abuse, including obscene or abusive language, relying solely on safeguarding frameworks is not enough to change entrenched behaviors among coaches. True prevention of abusive language in sport depends on the everyday values and principles upheld within the sporting environment. It is our responsibility, not FIFAs on anyone else.
Safeguarding policies can set standards, provide reporting channels, and enforce consequences for violations, but these tools are only effective if they are supported by a culture that genuinely values respect, dignity, and positive communication. When the broader environment normalizes or excuses profanity and abuse as “part of the game,” safeguarding efforts risk being undermined or ignored.
Therefore, while safeguarding provides the necessary structure, it is the consistent modeling and reinforcement of core values—by coaches, administrators, and athletes—that ultimately shifts attitudes and behaviors. Embedding respect and care for our children into the fabric of sport ensures that abusive language is not only addressed through policy but becomes culturally unacceptable, creating a safer and more positive experience for all participants. This is our responsibility, not FIFAs on anyone else.
Safeguarding is a vital tool, but coaches, administrators, and athletes must take ownership of their environments. Without institutional and individual accountability, even robust policies become hollow. It is the duty of every club, coach, and administrator to ensure that the core values are effectively communicated through consistent, engaging, and actionable strategies that integrate values into daily operations and culture. For example, prioritizing transparency in communication, fostering collaboration in team interactions, and demonstrating accountability in problem-solving, to name a few.
Our organization must adopt values and ensure those values manifest as daily principles through consistent actions and decisions that align with core beliefs. While safeguarding provides critical structure, our clubs must adopt values like respect and accountability into daily operations—through training, transparent communication, and athlete feedback—to ensure abusive language becomes culturally indefensible. This dual approach aligns with global best practices, from World Athletics’ policy updates to the ISSF’s education-first model.