Beyond Awareness: How to Support Trans and Non-Binary Athletes in Sport
Awareness campaigns have done their job. You've seen the headlines, the social media posts, the statements of support.
While awareness has increased, trans and non-binary athletes continue to navigate daily challenges that cisgender athletes rarely consider: the anxiety of entering spaces where they're not sure they'll be welcomed, the exhausting work of fielding questions and correcting assumptions, the mental load of constant vigilance about their safety.[1][4][5]
They spend mental and emotional energy defending their right to be there in the first place, carrying the weight of representation, and managing other people's discomfort with their existence—energy that could otherwise go toward training, competition, and growth.[1][5]
This constant state of vigilance takes a significant toll on mental health and performance, with research showing that experiences of rejection, discrimination, or exclusion in sport lead to increased rates of anxiety, depression, and decreased self-worth.[6][7][8] The question isn't whether we're aware.
The question is: what are we actually doing about it?
Moving Beyond Awareness: What Real Support Looks Like
So what does meaningful support actually require? Real support lives in the daily interactions, the moments when no one is watching, the choices you make about how you show up for your teammates.[9]
Create Belonging Before Athletes Arrive
Don't wait for trans athletes to join your team before making changes. This is critical.
What proactive inclusion looks like in practice:[9][10]
Use gender-expansive language when talking about your team ("athletes" instead of "guys," "team" instead of "ladies")
Introduce yourself with your pronouns and make it a standard team practice—not a special accommodation
Talk about inclusion before trans athletes join so they don't have to be the first to bring it up
Make sure your team social media shows diverse bodies and identities
The message this sends: "You belong here. We've already thought about this. You don't have to fight for your place."[10]
Notice and Interrupt Exclusion
One of the most powerful things allies can do is pay attention. Notice who's being left out of conversations. Notice who has to speak up multiple times before being heard. Notice when someone's pronouns keep getting ignored.[12]
Then interrupt it. Not aggressively. Not performatively. Just clearly.
"Hey, Jamie uses they/them pronouns."
"We're using gender-neutral language for warmups, remember?"
"That comment isn't okay here."
The interruption matters more than you realize. It tells trans and non-binary athletes: you're not alone in this. You're not responsible for educating everyone. Someone else sees it too.[12]
Make Space for the Hard Conversations
Creating belonging means being willing to sit with discomfort. Your trans and non-binary teammates will sometimes need to talk about experiences that make you uncomfortable—discrimination they've faced, fears they carry, the exhaustion of existing in sports spaces.[1][5]
Your job isn't to fix it or make it better or explain it away. Your job is to listen. To believe them. To sit with the reality that the sport you love isn't loving them back the same way.[12]
Ask questions like:
"What would make this space feel safer for you?"
"How can I better support you?"
"What do you need from me right now?"
Then actually listen to the answers. And follow through.
Address the Systemic Issues Through Culture Change
Here's what many people miss: creating inclusion for trans and non-binary athletes requires examining the systems that harm all athletes.
Rigid gender expectations in sports don't just affect trans athletes. They create hierarchies that harm anyone who doesn't fit neatly into traditional masculine or feminine athlete stereotypes.[2][11] When we insist that certain sports are "for girls" or "for boys," when we expect athletes to perform gender in specific ways, when we treat femininity as weakness—we create an environment where everyone has to police themselves to fit in.
Real inclusion means questioning these assumptions. Why do we gender-segregate when skill level might be more relevant? Why does asking for support get read as weakness? What would change if we celebrated diverse ways of being an athlete?[2]
This work is uncomfortable because it requires examining beliefs you might not even know you hold. But just as we've seen with female athletes breaking free from the confidence trap, challenging systemic barriers ultimately creates more space for everyone to show up authentically and thrive.[11]
The Role of Allies: Show Up Consistently
If you're a cisgender athlete, coach, or teammate, you have a specific role to play.
Your job isn't to speak for trans and non-binary athletes. Your job is to create and protect space for them to exist, to compete, and to belong.[12]
Learn on Your Own Time
Trans and non-binary athletes shouldn't bear the burden of educating you. Read. Research. Follow trans athletes and advocates. Learn the basics on your own.[12]
When you do need to ask questions, be mindful of the emotional labor you're requesting. Consider whether the question is really about understanding them, or if it's coming from curiosity about bodies and experiences that aren't your business. And be genuinely grateful when athletes choose to share their experiences.
Just as athletes develop self-compassion skills to handle internal criticism and build resilience, allies must practice the humility to recognize what they don't know and the commitment to keep learning.
Challenge Exclusion in Spaces Where Trans Athletes Aren't Present
Some of the most important ally work happens when trans and non-binary athletes aren't in the room. That's when you challenge the joke. When you correct the pronouns. When you push back on the assumption that everyone on the team is cisgender.[12]
That's also when you examine your own assumptions and biases. When you notice your own discomfort and sit with it instead of asking a trans teammate to make you feel better about it.
Be Consistent, Not Performative
Real allyship isn't about rainbow logos during Pride month. It's about showing up consistently—in June and in January, when it's easy and when it's hard, publicly and privately.[12]
It means:
Using people's correct pronouns even when they're not around
Speaking up even when it's awkward
Doing the education work yourself instead of expecting trans athletes to do it
Examining your own biases continuously, not just when it's convenient
What You Can Do Starting Today
Real change doesn't require a complete system overhaul overnight. What it requires is consistent, intentional action in your daily interactions.[9][10]
If you're a coach or team leader:
Start by introducing yourself with your pronouns at every team meeting. Ask athletes how they'd like to be addressed and then use those names and pronouns consistently. Create multiple entry points for feedback—not everyone will feel comfortable speaking up in group settings. When an athlete tells you about an experience of exclusion, believe them immediately and act on it.[9]
Pay attention to team dynamics. Notice who's being left out of social events. Notice whose contributions get overlooked. Notice when someone's being treated differently because of their gender identity. Then address it directly.
For more comprehensive guidance on creating inclusive athletic communities, explore our resource on how to promote diversity in sports and build inclusive communities.
If you're a teammate:
Introduce yourself with your pronouns and normalize the practice. When someone gets misgendered, correct it quickly and move on—don't make it a big moment that centers your discomfort. Invite trans and non-binary teammates to team social events explicitly, and make sure those spaces are actually welcoming when they show up.[12]
Challenge exclusionary comments when you hear them. You don't need to give a lecture. A simple "that's not cool" or "we don't do that here" is often enough. Your willingness to speak up creates space for others to exist more freely.
If you're an athlete navigating these spaces yourself:
You don't owe anyone education. You don't owe anyone patience when they repeatedly get your pronouns wrong. You don't have to be the perfect representative of your entire community.
Your needs matter. Your boundaries matter. Asking for support isn't weakness—it's recognizing that you shouldn't have to navigate this alone. Consider connecting with other LGBTQ+ athletes, finding trans-affirming spaces outside your sport, and seeking support from mental health providers who understand these experiences.
The Path Forward
The sports world has spent enough time on awareness. We know trans and non-binary athletes exist. We know they face challenges. We know the current culture often fails them.[1]
The question now is whether we're willing to do the daily work of creating belonging.
What we're really talking about is recognizing that every athlete deserves to train, compete, and thrive without constantly monitoring their safety or proving their right to exist. We're talking about building team cultures where belonging isn't conditional on fitting into narrow categories.[11]
When we create truly inclusive spaces—spaces built on consistent allyship, genuine curiosity, and a willingness to examine our own biases—something remarkable happens. Athletes can stop expending energy on survival and start focusing on what they came to do: compete, improve, and find joy in their sport.[10]
For many trans and non-binary athletes, sport is deeply tied to identity and self-concept.[4] When that connection is honored rather than challenged, when belonging is assumed rather than earned, athletes can show up more fully and perform at their best.
Ready to Create More Inclusive Athletic Spaces?
At Skadi Sport Psychology, we specialize in helping athletes, coaches, and teams navigate the mental and emotional challenges that come with creating change in sport. Whether you're a trans or non-binary athlete looking for support, a coach building more inclusive team culture, or someone figuring out how to be a better ally, we're here to help.
Schedule a free consultation to learn how sport psychology can support your journey toward more inclusive, psychologically safe athletic communities.
References
[1] Barras, A. (2025). Transgender and non-binary people in everyday sport: A psychology perspective. Routledge.
[2] Jones, B. A., Arcelus, J., Bouman, W. P., & Haycraft, E. (2017). Sport and transgender people: A systematic review of the literature relating to sport participation and competitive sport policies. Sports Medicine, 47(4), 701-716. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40279-016-0621-y
[4] Cunningham, G. B., Pickett, A. C., Melton, E. N., & Lee, J. (2021). Transgender athletes and sport participation: Examining the experiences of athletes who identify as transgender. In G. B. Cunningham (Ed.), LGBTQ+ inclusion in sport and leisure (pp. 117-134). Routledge.
[5] Meyer, I. H. (2003). Prejudice, social stress, and mental health in lesbian, gay, and bisexual populations: Conceptual issues and research evidence. Psychological Bulletin, 129(5), 674-697. https://doi.org/10.1037/0033-2909.129.5.674
[6] Symons, C., O'Sullivan, G., & Polman, R. (2017). The impacts of discriminatory experiences on lesbian, gay and bisexual people in sport. Annals of Leisure Research, 20(4), 467-489. https://doi.org/10.1080/11745398.2016.1251327
[7] Denison, E., & Kitchen, A. (2015). Out on the fields: The first international study on homophobia in sport. Nielsen Company and the Bingham Cup Sydney 2014.
[8] Edmondson, A. C., & Lei, Z. (2014). Psychological safety: The history, renaissance, and future of an interpersonal construct. Annual Review of Organizational Psychology and Organizational Behavior, 1(1), 23-43. https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev-orgpsych-031413-091305
[9] Travers, A., & Deri, J. (2011). Transgender inclusion and the changing face of lesbian softball leagues. International Review for the Sociology of Sport, 46(4), 488-507. https://doi.org/10.1177/1012690210384661
[10] Lucas-Carr, C. B., & Krane, V. (2011). What is the T in LGBT? Supporting transgender athletes through sport psychology. The Sport Psychologist, 25(4), 532-548. https://doi.org/10.1123/tsp.25.4.532
[11] Caudwell, J. (2014). [Transgender] young men: Gendered subjectivities and the physically active body. Sport, Education and Society, 19(4), 398-414. https://doi.org/10.1080/13573322.2012.672320
[12] Drury, B. J., & Kaiser, C. R. (2014). Allies against sexism: The role of men in confronting sexism. Journal of Social Issues, 70(4), 637-652. https://doi.org/10.1111/josi.12083
