Youth Soccer Safety: What Players, Parents, and Coaches See
A coach finishes soccer practice feeling good about the day. The players worked hard, nobody got hurt, and the team made progress.
But one player leaves feeling left out. Another is upset about something a teammate said. A parent wonders whether the coach noticed.
Everyone attended the same practice, yet they may have experienced it differently.
A new study published in Frontiers in Psychology in October 2026 explores this issue. Researchers asked youth soccer players, parents, and coaches how they viewed their clubs.
They found that these groups shared many positive views about youth soccer. However, coaches felt more positive about safety than players and parents did. Parents also saw greater community value in their clubs than young players did.
These findings raise an important question for youth soccer programs: Are clubs listening closely enough to the children who play?
What Did the Youth Soccer Study Examine?
Researchers studied 56 people involved in youth soccer programs:
- 30 male players between ages 10 and 17
- 20 parents
- 6 coaches
The study focused on youth soccer academies in an Italian setting. Each group answered questions about its experiences. The researchers used different questions for players, parents, and coaches because each group has a different role in the club.
They compared responses across five areas:
- Learning and growth: Does soccer help children become more responsible and develop life skills?
- Relationships: Do coaches, parents, and players communicate well?
- Inclusion: Do players feel welcome and receive fair treatment?
- Safety: Do players feel physically and emotionally safe?
- Community: Does the club help people build friendships and feel connected?
The researchers wanted to understand where the groups agreed and where their experiences differed.
Coaches Felt Safer Than Players and Parents
One of the clearest findings involved safety. Coaches gave their clubs higher safety ratings than either parents or players. The average safety scores were:
- Coaches: 4.83
- Players: 4.23
- Parents: 4.03
Researchers found that the differences between coaches and the other two groups were statistically significant. That means the differences were large enough to stand out in their analysis.
All three groups gave generally positive scores. However, coaches had a more favorable view of safety.
What Does Safety Mean to a Young Soccer Player?
A coach may think about safety in terms of training rules, field conditions, equipment, and injury prevention. For players, safety also includes everyday experiences with teammates and adults.
A young player might wonder:
- Can I make a mistake without being yelled at?
- Will someone help if another player is bullying me?
- Can I tell my coach when something feels wrong?
- Am I treated with respect in the locker room?
- Will adults listen if I report a problem?
These questions show why emotional safety deserves attention alongside physical safety.
A team can have good safety rules while some children still feel uncomfortable speaking up.
The study did not measure actual rates of bullying, injuries, or abuse. It measured how people viewed safety. Still, the different ratings suggest that clubs can learn more by asking players directly about their experiences.
Parents See More Community Value Than Players
The researchers also found differences in how people viewed the social value of their soccer clubs.
Parents gave higher ratings to the club’s community role than players did.
The average scores were 4.07 for parents and 3.60 for players. This difference was statistically significant.
Parents may view a soccer club as a place where families make friends, children learn responsibility, and people connect with their communities.
Young players may focus more on what happens during practice and games.
They might think about whether they enjoy their teammates, feel welcome, or have friends on the team.
Both views offer useful information.
Helping Young Players Feel Part of the Club
Youth soccer clubs often organize community events, fundraisers, and volunteer activities.
These efforts can build connections among families. The research also suggests that clubs should find ways to help children take part in these activities.
For example, clubs could invite players to help plan team events, welcome new teammates, or choose a community service project.
When children help shape their club’s activities, they may develop a stronger sense of belonging.
Researchers did not test these specific ideas. They are practical ways clubs could respond to the differences found in the study.
Do All Youth Soccer Players Feel Included?
Inclusion was another important part of the research.
The researchers asked about fair treatment, playing time, discrimination, and whether children felt welcome.
They found no statistically significant differences among the three groups in their overall inclusion ratings.
However, players’ answers varied more than those of parents and coaches.
Some young athletes reported more positive experiences than others.
This difference is worth exploring.
Consider two players on the same team. One has close friends, receives regular encouragement, and feels comfortable asking questions. The other struggles to connect with teammates and rarely speaks during practice.
Their experiences may be very different, even though they belong to the same club.
Coaches can learn about these differences by paying attention to how children interact, how they respond to feedback, and whether anyone seems left out.
Short, private check-ins can also give quieter players a chance to share their concerns.
Youth Soccer Helps Children Learn Life Skills
The study also found encouraging results.
Parents, coaches, and players generally shared positive views about the educational value of youth soccer.
They saw soccer as a setting where children could learn responsibility, teamwork, and other useful skills.
The groups also gave similar ratings to communication and relationships within their clubs.
These findings support the idea that youth soccer can provide valuable experiences during childhood and adolescence.
Players have opportunities to work with others, solve problems, follow rules, and handle challenges.
However, the study measured people’s views of these benefits. It did not directly test whether soccer improved school performance, emotional health, or life skills.
The findings can help clubs think about the kind of learning environment they want to create.
Five Ways Youth Soccer Clubs Can Use This Research
The study offers useful lessons for coaches, club leaders, and parents. Here are five steps clubs can consider.
1. Ask Players How They Feel
Give players regular chances to share what they enjoy and what makes them uncomfortable.
Simple, anonymous surveys can help children speak openly. Clubs can ask whether players feel respected, supported, and safe.
2. Make It Easy to Report Problems
Children should know who they can talk to when something goes wrong.
Clubs can explain their reporting process in language that young players understand. They can also remind families how concerns will be handled.
3. Help Every Player Feel Welcome
Pay attention to friendship groups, team communication, and fair treatment.
Coaches can encourage players to include new teammates and make sure everyone has a chance to take part in team activities.
4. Involve Players in Club Decisions
Ask players for ideas about team activities, community events, and ways to improve their soccer experience.
Even small choices can give children a stronger voice in their club.
5. Listen to Parents, Coaches, and Players
Each group sees a different part of the soccer experience.
A short survey or discussion with all three groups can reveal strengths and areas that need work.
Most importantly, clubs should share what they learn and explain what they plan to improve.
These steps are suggestions based on the research. The study did not test whether they improve youth soccer safety or belonging.
What Are the Study’s Limitations?
This research offers useful early findings, but it was a small study.
Only six coaches took part, along with 20 parents and 30 male players. The research also came from a limited setting in Italy.
All participants answered surveys about their own views and experiences.
The study cannot tell us how every youth soccer club operates. It also cannot show whether the differences in perceptions lead to changes in player safety, enjoyment, or development.
Larger studies involving more clubs, girls and boys, and different age groups could help researchers learn more.
Even with these limits, the findings give youth soccer clubs a useful starting point for conversations about safety, inclusion, and community.
Building Better Youth Soccer Experiences
Youth soccer gives children opportunities to play, make friends, and develop new skills. Coaches and parents help shape those experiences through their daily choices.
This research adds an important perspective: children may experience their clubs differently from the adults around them.
Coaches reported greater confidence in safety. Parents saw stronger community benefits. Players offered another view, based on their own experiences on and around the field.
For youth soccer clubs, the next step is to bring those views together.
Ask young players how they are doing. Listen to their answers. Use what they share to make the club a better place for everyone.
When children feel safe, welcome, and heard, clubs have a stronger foundation for helping them grow as players and people.
Research Source
Taleb, M., Giardullo, G., Andrisano Ruggieri, R., Di Lascio, G., Cusano, P., & Di Domenico, F. (2026). Multidimensional approach to perceptions in football academies about educational, relational, inclusive, safety and social aspects among players, parents and coaches. Frontiers in Psychology, 17, 1906964.
