Dear Coach

This first-person letter is co-authored by two former athletes who are now parents of youth athletes. Drawing on our lived experiences and our children’s current involvement in youth sports, we discuss how familiar patterns of exclusion and inequity show up. Through a braided narrative, we reflect on how coaching, access to opportunities, and assumptions about athleticism continue to shape athletes’ experiences in harmful ways. We offer seven actionable recommendations directed toward coaches, athletic directors, and sport social workers, each grounded in personal vignettes. We aim to elevate athlete voice by naming the changes needed to ensure that the next generation experiences sport as a site of belonging.