5.1 Trauma-informed sport practice
What This Module Covers
Human trafficking subjects individuals to systematic coercion, loss of control, and repeated violence. These experiences often lead to complex trauma, including post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression, anxiety, hypervigilance, and a deep difficulty trusting others. Many survivors also carry embodied trauma, memories stored in the body that manifest as physical tension, avoidance, or distress during activity, and a diminished sense of agency and dependency that undermines self-efficacy (Center for Healing and Justice Through Sport, 2022).. In the reintegration process, sport and physical activity can play a powerful role in restoring control, rebuilding confidence, and fostering belonging. However, according to the Needs Analysis Report, coaches and facilitators often lack the training to recognize trauma responses, putting participants at risk of unintentional re-traumatization during sessions.
This module addresses that gap by equipping coaches, social workers, psychologists, and reintegration specialists with the knowledge and skills needed to deliver trauma-informed, emotionally safe sport sessions for survivors or individuals at risk of trafficking. Trauma-informed sport practice is not about providing therapy. Rather, it is about understanding how trauma affects survivors’ bodies, emotions, and behavior, and adapting the coaching approach accordingly. This approach enables survivors to experience sport as a space of healing, inclusion, and empowerment, where they can regain a sense of control and trust through positive physical experiences.
Why This Matters in Work With VoTs
Findings from the Needs Analysis Report show that trauma-informed sport practice requires redefining what “success” means for survivors of trafficking. Rather than focusing on discipline, performance, or attendance, priority is placed on emotional safety, the rebuilding of trust, and the restoration of control over one’s body and personal choices. Professional perspectives describe sport as a setting where survivors can gradually re-engage in social life, moving from isolation toward being an equal member of a group. In this context, participation itself represents a meaningful achievement in recovery, not a baseline against which behavior should be judged or corrected. For coaches, social workers, psychologists, and reintegration professionals, this requires interpreting withdrawal, inconsistency, or hesitation as possible indicators of fear and hypervigilance, rather than lack of motivation, and adjusting expectations accordingly.
A trauma-informed approach also helps clarify professional roles and reduces the risk of unintentional harm. Professionals note that while sport can support resilience, it can also contribute to disengagement if delivered in rigid, competitive environments that place participants under high exposure. This understanding guides coaches to position themselves not as therapists, but as facilitators of a specific type of space: one that is predictable, non-judgmental, and embedded within broader support systems rather than operating in isolation. The emphasis shifts away from specific techniques or drills and toward the creation of safe, welcoming environments and strong coordination with other professionals, which form the true foundation of trauma-informed sport practice.
