You’re playing (or watching) sport and someone blurts out a racial slur. The next 60 seconds are crucial

In October last year, the Australian Sports Commission (ASC) launched Dealing with the Moment: Anti-Racism in Community Sport^[1], a free online course designed to help community coaches, parents, umpires and players respond to racism in sport.

The course equips people with the tools they need to intervene effectively when racism occurs, ensuring everyone feels safe, welcome and respected.

One of the key recommendations from the course is what to do if you hear someone say something racist on the sports field.

Why racist remarks are so damaging

Racist remarks hurt more than just a player’s feelings — they attack their sense of belonging and identity on the field.

I know from my own experiences.

During my years playing various community sports as a young adult, including Australian rules football, soccer and cricket, I was often one of the only people of colour.

In those moments, I wanted my play and skills to be the focus but unfortunately, my appearance often made me stand out, which led to racist comments.

Those remarks were deeply offensive and hurtful. They made me feel like I didn’t belong or shouldn’t be there.

Racism in sport sends a harmful message: that someone doesn’t belong because of their skin colour or background. These incidents leave lasting emotional and psychological scars, even if they don’t result in physical harm.

Why I helped develop the course

I worked on developing the course to address a significant gap in how racism is handled in community sport.

The course aims to ensure all sport participants have a positive and inclusive experience and that everyone understands the importance of addressing racism immediately – in the moment.

It’s not good enough to delay action, even if that’s how it has often been done in the past. Some organisations claim that delaying action allows for thorough investigations and careful consideration.

However, this is often a strategy to protect reputations and minimise backlash rather than address the root causes of the problem.

Such delays can silence victims, perpetuate harm, and show a lack of genuine commitment to tackling systemic racism. Immediate action is necessary to demonstrate accountability and foster meaningful change.

We must do better. We need to see progress, not stagnation.

So, what should you do after a racist comment?

If you don’t have time to dive into the full course, here are the key lessons:

• the first 60 seconds are crucial: intervening immediately sends a strong message that racism won’t be tolerated and shows support for the victim

• understand racism: recognise what racism is and how it affects people. Never dismiss someone’s experience by saying it’s “not racism” or telling them to “get over it”. Just because the harm isn’t physical doesn’t mean it’s not significant

• take action: the course provides clear guidance on how to respond effectively to incidents of racism and support those affected.

Why are the first 60 seconds so cruical?

Acting early allows you to nip the issue in the bud by calling it out and intervening on the spot. It leaves no room for misinterpretation of events or for the narrative to shift.

The longer the delay, the more time it allows for the situation to be downplayed, the narrative to change, or for excuses to be made.

Ultimately, delays often result in the issue being swept under the carpet, with no one taking accountability for the harm caused.

Immediate action demonstrates clarity, conviction, and a genuine commitment to addressing racism.

Strategies for coaches, parents and officials

Everyone — coaches, parents, officials, players and spectators — has a role to play when dealing with racism. Here are some practical strategies:

• acknowledge and act: staying silent is not an option. A simple statement like “that’s not okay” sends a strong message of support and sets a clear standard of behaviour

• use your authority: coaches can address players directly, officials can stop play, and parents can challenge inappropriate behaviour from the sidelines. Everyone has the power to intervene

• educate yourself: take the course or learn more about racism^[2] so you feel confident and empowered to act

• don’t minimise the impact: never tell someone to brush it off or suggest it’s not a big deal. Acknowledge their feelings, show empathy, and take the situation seriously

• apply this to all inappropriate behaviour: these strategies aren’t limited to racism. They apply to misogynistic, homophobic, or other harmful remarks as well.

Sport should be for everyone

We live in a multicultural society – a melting pot of diverse cultures that is beautifully reflected on our streets and in our classrooms. It would be wonderful to see this diversity equally represented in community sport.

Greater representation on the field and in the stands would create a sense of belonging and allow all players to thrive, regardless of their background.

This is why addressing racism is so crucial — it paves the way for more inclusive and equitable participation in sport.

The goal is to make sport a space where diversity is celebrated, teamwork is valued, and everyone can thrive without fear of discrimination.

We can all play a part in creating lasting change.

References

1. ^{^} Dealing with the Moment: Anti-Racism in Community Sport (www.sportaus.gov.au)
2. ^{^} learn more about racism (www.sportaus.gov.au)