🟣 Words matter: why inclusive language is a game changer in sport

What we say—and how we say it—shapes the way people feel in a space. In sport, language is everywhere: in team talks, locker rooms, registration forms, casual jokes, and social media posts. And too often, the words we use exclude, hurt or erase.

This is why, in TIME TO TEAM, we dedicate an entire section of our training to one simple but powerful idea: words matter.

TIME TO TEAM is co-funded by the European Union under the Erasmus+ Sport programme and works to make team sports more inclusive for transgender and LGBTQIA+ people. One of the first steps to inclusion is learning how to speak with respect and awareness.

Why a shared vocabulary matters

The LGBTQIA+ community is diverse and multifaceted. Every letter represents identities and experiences that deserve to be understood, not assumed.

Here are just a few examples:

• Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual – refer to people based on their sexual orientation: who they are romantically or sexually attracted to.

• Transgender – refers to people whose gender identity is different from the sex they were assigned at birth.

• Queer – an umbrella term some people use to describe identities that don’t fit into traditional norms.

• Intersex – refers to people born with physical sex characteristics that don’t fit typical definitions of male or female.

• Asexual – refers to people who experience little or no sexual attraction to others.

• + – acknowledges that the spectrum of identities is broader than the main acronyms can fully express.

Learning this vocabulary is not about memorising labels. It’s about creating a climate where people can define themselves on their own terms.

Everyday words that include (or exclude)

Inclusive language isn’t just about the big words. It’s also about small choices:

• Saying “athletes of all genders” instead of “boys and girls”.

• Asking “What are your pronouns?” instead of assuming.

• Avoiding phrases like “real men”, “ladies first”, or jokes about gender or sexuality.

• Including “other” or open fields in registration forms instead of forcing binary options.

These changes may seem small, but for someone who has always felt invisible or misgendered, they can mean the world.

Language and leadership

As part of the TIME TO TEAM training, coaches, managers and volunteers learn not just terminology, but also how to model inclusive speech, how to correct mistakes with humility, and how to step in when harmful language is used.

Being a leader in sport today means knowing how to foster a respectful environment—on and off the field. Language is the first tool.

The power of listening

Finally, inclusive language is also about listening. About being open to correction. About accepting that you won’t always get it right—and being willing to learn anyway.

Because at the heart of it, inclusion is not about perfection. It’s about presence. And presence begins with words.

#TimeToTeam #InclusiveLanguage #LGBTQIAinSport #ErasmusPlusSport