Student-Athletes

In the headlines we continue to see tragic cases of student-athletes being subjected to wrongdoing, such as sexual misconduct, emotional abuse, harassment, bullying, and physical misconduct. Providing student-athletes the best educational and athletics environments should be priority number one for athletics organizations.

Unfortunately however, it is PFA Consulting’s experience that too many athletics departments and institutions have failed to take sufficient steps to protect student-athletes. Too many organizations are simply “checking the box” by having student-athletes complete impersonal online training or large group in-person training, therefore not providing a student-friendly forum for asking sensitive questions or raising concerns. Using trainers who do not “get their world,” or those who can be perceived as conflicted, such as university employees, also are roadblocks to discovering problems.

The mission of PFA Consulting isn’t to be a CYA for institutions, administrators or coaches. Through our external training and consulting, we demonstrate an organization’s genuine and tangible commitment to protect everyone equally in an athletics organization, regardless of position or power.

Let's Talk

Benefit from our experience and independence. Contact us to learn how we can help you and your team.

Testimonials

“I attended your training session that you led at ABC University a couple weeks ago. I competed for the XYZ University volleyball team before coming on as an assistant coach with ABC University. I recently ran across your resource worksheet and wanted to thank you for presenting in such an honest and genuine way.

After spending time at two universities as both an athlete and coach, I’ve experienced firsthand how important these topics are and greatly care about them. The world of collegiate athletics has the power for so much good, but as we all know that power can lead to negative circumstances as well. The only way change can occur is if people are aware of the problems they face and bold enough to confront them.

Your session brought those problems to light and sparked open conversation about how to address them. I fully believe it has and will continue to make a difference on this campus and many others moving forward.

Thank you again for your time. Please let me know if there is anything I can do as you continue to improve the environment of collegiate athletics.”

Division I Volleyball Coach and former Division I student-athlete

“I wish you were at my last university. Along with several of my teammates, I transferred because of our emotionally abusive coach. We were never provided any information from our former athletics department about resources we could access other than our sport supervisor, and our sport supervisor’s primary responsibility was to take care of the coach’s needs who was making us miserable.”

Division I Women’s Volleyball student-athlete, commenting to PFA Consulting after training session