YOU CAN PLAY TOOLKIT
YOU CAN PLAY TOOLKIT
STEP 7: ENSURE COMMUNICATIONS ARE INCLUSIVE
Ensuring your club’s communications are inclusive, in both formal communications (ie. published content) and informal communications (eg. conversations), will show that your club is inclusive and welcoming.
Put yourself in the position of a newcomer. It can be intimidating to try something new or start out in a new club environment. If your club can highlight through your marketing channels that you actively support newcomers, this might help your club connect with potential new members, some who may have reservations.
ASSESS WHAT IMAGERY YOU USE
Take stock on the imagery you are using across social media, website and any club documents.
Is what you are presenting representative of the diversity of your club membership?
Your aim should be to showcase diversity in your club and how it is important to you. It can put people off if the diversity in your images doesn’t match the diversity in your club.
When on recruitment drives, position previous support on LGBTIQ+ inclusion in a prominent position.
Checklist:
Are you using real life images and avoiding stereotypes?
Are you posting content that celebrates all parts of your club’s community?
ENSURE INCLUSIVE LANGUAGE IS USED
Language, whether written or verbal, can have a profound impact on individuals and communities. It is therefore important to consistently use inclusive language.
Tips:
Use simple, direct language to convey a message
Use inclusive language consistently – not just in the presence of a ‘diverse’ person – this will send a clear message to other members of your club that your club is inclusive and welcoming
Review your messaging, policies, procedures, and titles to ensure that they are gender inclusive
Don't use language that groups people based on their physical, sexual or other attributes
Use correct terminology and be aware of definitions. For more information visit the Pride in Sport terminology page.
Use a person’s preferred pronouns (see below for more information)
What are pronouns?
A pronoun is a word that refers to either the people talking (I or you) or someone / something that is being talked about (like she, it, them, and this).
Pronouns like he, she and they specifically refer to the people that you are talking about.
As individuals, we convey our respect and help others to recognise who we are referencing when we accurately use a person’s pronouns to refer to them.
How do I know which one to use? You can ask!
Ask directly, ‘what pronouns do you use?’
Listen to what pronouns other people are using for that person
Ask someone who knows that person to tell you
Include it as a standard question on forms and registrations, as well as your email signature
What if I mess up?
It is totally normal for mistakes to happen while you are getting used to something new. Acknowledge that you made a mistake, make the correction quickly, apologise simply and briefly, and commit to getting it right next time.
The Genderbread person provides a good visual graphic that further helps in understanding definitions and how they fit together.
Click on the image below to go to the Genderbread Person website.
CELEBRATE DAYS OF SIGNIFICANCE AND DIVERSITY
Make yourself aware of days of significance for LGBTIQ+ participants and then celebrate those days on your club’s social media channels, club newsletters and other correspondence.
Outside of days of significance, your club can also celebrate diversity more broadly.
Click on the image to view the full list of days of significance celebrated by Pride in Sport.
MORE INFORMATION
Still looking for more information? The following websites are great resources.
Click on the images below to go to each of their websites.
Pride in Sport is Australia’s first and only sporting inclusion program specifically designed to assist national and state sporting organisations and clubs with the inclusion of LGBTIQ+ employees, players, volunteers and spectators through education, training, governance development, resources, and membership opportunities.
Proud2Play is a registered charity which promotes the participation and inclusion of LGBTIQ+ people in all levels of sport and provides support to sports organisations with the creation of policies and education programs.
Minus18 is Australia’s organisation for LGBTIQ+ youth. Minus18 creates safe events, resources, workshops, and volunteer opportunities for LGBTIQ+ youth.
The Australian Sports Commission has a range of resources and information to help make your club more inclusive.
Play by the Rules is a website that contains information, resources, tools and free online training for sports clubs and participants about discrimination, harassment, child safety, inclusion, and integrity issues in sport.
The Commission’s National Information Service provides information and referrals for individuals, organisations, and employers about a range of human rights and discrimination issues.
Outsports is a sports news website that highlights LGBTIQ+ issues and personalities in amateur and professional sports.
