CoViS Module 3 – Bystander actions

Bystander Action in Sport

Responding safely when you witness inappropriate behaviour

Bystanders are people who see, hear about or become aware of behaviour that may be inappropriate, harmful or disrespectful. In sport, this may include athletes, teammates, coaches, athlete support personnel, volunteers or other members of the sporting environment.

Bystander action does not always mean confronting someone directly. Sometimes the safest and most useful response is to interrupt the situation, seek help from another person, or support the person affected afterwards.

The goal is simple: notice what is happening, consider safety, choose an appropriate response and support the person affected.

Why this module matters

When sexist jokes, sexualised comments, humiliating “banter”, coercive behaviour or boundary-crossing conduct are repeatedly ignored, team members may begin to interpret them as normal. A calm, appropriate bystander response can interrupt this process and reinforce norms of respect, equality and safety.

Learning goals

After completing this module, participants should be able to:

› understand the role of bystanders in creating a safe sport environment;

› recognise situations in which bystander action may be appropriate;

› understand why people sometimes hesitate to intervene;

› choose a safe and proportionate response;

› support a person affected by inappropriate behaviour without investigating the incident;

› contribute to a team culture in which respectful action is supported.

1. When might bystander action be needed?

Bystander action begins with recognising that something may be wrong. Detailed guidance on recognising harassment, grooming, boundary violations and abuse of power is provided in Module 1 – Recognising Violence in Sport.

 

Situations that may call for action

Power matters

The same behaviour can be harder to challenge when it comes from someone who can influence selection, playing time, treatment, travel, status or career opportunities. An athlete may therefore appear to tolerate behaviour while feeling unable to object.

Recognition is not investigation

A bystander does not need to prove that harassment occurred before responding. The immediate task is to notice a concern, consider safety and decide whether some form of action or support is appropriate. Investigation belongs to authorised persons or bodies.

2. Why do people sometimes stay silent?

Recognising inappropriate behaviour does not automatically make intervention easy. People may hesitate because they are uncertain, worried about social consequences, or concerned about challenging someone with more power.

› “Maybe I misunderstood.”

› “It’s none of my business.”

› “Everyone else seems to think it’s normal.”

› “I don’t want to create conflict in the team.”

› “People will think I’m too sensitive.”

› “What if speaking up affects my position?”

These barriers may be especially strong when the person responsible is a coach, senior athlete, physician, physiotherapist or another influential member of the sport environment.

Why should people intervene?

Bystander intervention is an important part of preventing inappropriate behaviour and violence in sport. How teammates, coaches, and athlete support personnel respond to problematic behaviour can influence team norms, prevent escalation, and help create a safer and more respectful sporting environment. Bystander intervention:

› Shapes team norms: Responding to sexist, sexualised, degrading, coercive, or boundary-crossing behaviour communicates that such conduct is not acceptable or normal.

› Challenges harmful behaviour: Even simple actions, such as questioning a comment, expressing disagreement, changing the tone of an interaction, or supporting the person affected, can reinforce respect, equality, and healthy boundaries.

› Prevents escalation: Acting early can stop inappropriate behaviour from becoming repeated, normalised, or developing into more serious forms of violence in sport.

› Supports those affected: Bystander action shows people experiencing inappropriate behaviour that they are not alone and that others are willing to support them.

› Builds trust and safety: Knowing that teammates, coaches, and support personnel will respond to inappropriate behaviour can strengthen feelings of safety and trust within the team.

› Promotes shared responsibility: Bystander action reinforces the message that maintaining respect and safety is the responsibility of everyone involved in sport.

3. Four ways a bystander can respond

There is no single correct response to every situation. Before acting, consider the seriousness of the behaviour, immediate safety, power differences and whether direct intervention could make the situation worse.

The best response is not necessarily the most confrontational one. It is the response most likely to protect safety, reinforce respectful norms and reduce harm.

4. The CoViS Bystander Check

A simple four-step check can help a bystander move from noticing a problem to choosing an appropriate response.

5. Challenging harmful team language

Everyday language helps shape team culture. Sexist jokes, sexualised comments, homophobic or transphobic teasing and gender stereotypes may be dismissed as “banter”, but repeated exposure can make disrespect appear normal.

What might a bystander say?

The purpose is not to police every conversation. It is to prevent disrespectful language from becoming part of the accepted team culture.

6. Supporting the person affected

Bystander action is not only about challenging inappropriate behaviour. It can also mean supporting the person who experienced it. Even a brief private check-in can communicate that the person is not alone and that their discomfort was noticed.

A supportive bystander should

› listen without judgement;

› take the concern seriously;

› avoid blaming the person;

› respect their boundaries and choices;

› ask what would be helpful;

› help them access additional support if needed.

A bystander should not

› investigate the incident;

› repeatedly question the person for details;

› spread information to teammates;

› pressure the person to confront someone;

› decide what the person “must” do.

7. When power makes intervention difficult

It may be relatively easy to challenge a teammate but much harder to question a head coach, senior athlete, physician, physiotherapist, manager or another influential person. Before acting, consider whether intervention could expose the bystander or the person affected to retaliation, exclusion or additional pressure.

If direct confrontation may increase risk, consider: interrupting the situation → involving another responsible person → supporting the athlete privately → using an appropriate reporting pathway.

8. Teams can make bystander action easier

Individual bystander skills are much easier to use when the surrounding team culture supports people who act. Teams and sport organisations should make it clear that respectful intervention is valued rather than treated as disloyal, disruptive or “causing trouble”.

Coaches, captains, senior athletes and managers have an important role in modelling these expectations. When respectful intervention becomes normal, individuals are less likely to assume that silence means everyone else accepts what is happening.

Key Takeaways

Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA). Neither the European Union nor EACEA can be held responsible for them.