Rehearse Them Out of Silence
Now, today’s blog action step is going to require you to have access to scroll an X post.
And I recognize that in 2026 that may be a deal breaker for some of you. I’m still on it, even though I refrain from posting there unless it’s a Dallas Cowboys in-game rant thread OR it’s a day like the past few with the Cornell 7 and I’m in a mood to battle bots and MAGA folks all day long. I have NOT been able to quit it, despite repeated attempts.
Today, however, that is probably a good thing because otherwise, I wouldn’t have this very usable post and comment thread to share with coaches of male athletes.
It’s in response to the Cornell 7 allegations (which, rightfully so, have set the internet ablaze this week) and is from a post that correctly identifies that male-dominated spaces like frats, sports and industry are (without intentional work) places of perpetration and silence, NOT of victim advocacy and prevention.
Now, you can stop on that post and just read it to your team and ask “Thoughts?”. That will get you a solid 10-minute conversation with your players about the incident, about climate and culture, etc. It will be good.
But to take it one step further and get into more TRUTH…you need to read the first post and then ask them to scroll the responses. Better yet…put the post by itself up on the screen…and then READ the comments with real emotion (i.e. if they all-caps something, you scream it out loud).
Then ask your guys, with a partner, with a group, etc the following:
Do you think that response is something you would hear from your circle of friends or teammates?
How would you respond to that?
Have you witnessed your coach, your dad, your teacher, any trusted male adult stand up to comments like that (in writing or in person)? How did they do it?
This is a real TeamsOfMen convo.
This is an actual rep in interruption.
And without interruption, without actual tools to use when the moment of truth arises, our young men are left on their own and most likely will choose SILENCE (just like the other 53 men did in that text thread from Cornell).
Coach Prompts
If your players read this comment thread, which responses would sound NORMAL to them?
Have your players ever actually watched YOU interrupt a sexist, victim-blaming or dismissive comment?
Where in your program are players getting reps in what to SAY—not simply being told what they should believe?
Player Prompts
Do you think that response is something you would hear from your circle of friends or teammates?
What would you actually SAY if someone you know made that comment in front of you?
Think of a trusted male adult you’ve watched push back on something like this. What did he actually DO that you could use yourself?
