Steps LUG is taking to make the league more inclusive

In recent years, the world of sports has made significant strides towards fostering inclusivity and creating a safer environment for athletes of all backgrounds. 

As part of our commitment to creating an inclusive atmosphere and welcoming environment for all players in LUG , we've undertaken a number of initiatives to help look for ways to break down barriers in our leagues and in sports in general. This Pride Month we wanted to share some the steps we've taken to make our leagues more inclusive.

ORGANIZED 25+ PRIDE THEMED ALL-STAR GAMES IN OVER 20 CITIES

This season, every one of our All-Star Games was a Pride themed event. During the course of the 2022-23 season, we hosted over 25 events through Jan & Feb, raising funds for You Can Play and raising awareness amongst our athletes on the importance of inclusion. 

This collaboration and these events helps spark important discussions around the experiences and challenges faced by LGBTQ+ athletes. By addressing these issues openly, athletes and allies are actively working towards dismantling the barriers that have historically hindered the full participation and inclusion of LGBTQ+ individuals in sports. "Working with LUG Sports has been able to help us speak to a large Gen Z audience and create a dialogue with them towards becoming the compassionate leaders of tomorrow" say Josie, Account Manager at You Can Play.

Our goal in these events is to raise funds and to provide another layer of advocacy, focusing on eliminating discrimination and fostering an environment that values and celebrates diversity.  These events raised funds for You Can Play as well.

DONATED HUNDREDS OF ROLLS OF PRIDE TAPE TO ATHLETES

LUG donated hundreds of rolls of Pride Tape to our athletes this season. The symbolic use of rainbow-coloured athletic tape distributed to players serves as a visible representation of support for LGBTQ+ athletes. By applying Pride Tape to their equipment, teams and individual players demonstrate their commitment to fostering an inclusive and welcoming environment for their fellow athletes. This small yet powerful gesture sends a strong message of support and reminds everyone that sports should be a safe space for all athletes, regardless of their sexual orientation or gender identity. Our sharing of these photos (and players reposting to their accounts) generated over 300,000 social media impressions showcasing an inclusive message in sport. 

CREATED AN ANONYMOUS REPORTING TOOL FOR THE LEAGUE

Speaking up can be the hardest part. That's why this season we introduced a new anonymous reporting tool for athletes to be able to detail any incidents or issues that they face while playing in the league. The reporting tool covers everything from inclusivity issues, discrimination, or can simply be used for tips/recommendations that the league needs to be working towards. This reporting tool is important because it gives LUG the ability to tackle sensitive issues quickly (and anonymously) to help address problems as they arise. 

DEVELOPED INCLUSIVITY TRAINING FOR STAFF

For the 2023-24 season, our staff will be taking part in Inclusivity Training hosted by You Can Play to help educate the team on key issues impacting LGBTQ+ athletes. These trainings are part of LUG's commitment to building an environment that is inclusive to everyone.

As we move forward, we know that making sports leagues more inclusive is an ongoing process and that there is still much work to be done. By continuing to champion diversity in sports and beyond, we hope to build a sports league where everyone feels welcomed and valued, regardless of their sexual orientation, gender identity, or any other aspect of their identity.

If you have any recommendations on how LUG can help support YOU when playing in our leagues, feel free to reach out to us at hello@lugsports.com.

Happy Pride Everyone!