Safe Soccer Events Start on the Sidelines
Insights from US Club Soccer and Twin Cities Soccer Leagues
Through 2023, outdoor soccer participation among children 6 and older surpassed 14 million players—an 8.1% increase from the previous year and a 23% increase from 2018.
More players mean more games and more tournaments, and putting on successful youth soccer tournaments requires thoughtful systems to address safety, conduct, and participant concerns as they arise. Whether the issue is serious (e.g., athlete or referee abuse, SafeSport violations, or threatening spectator behavior) or more routine (e.g., feedback about event parking or venue conditions), timely and trusted communication is essential.
Alison Kocoras, Executive VP and Counsel, Safeguarding and Compliance at US Club Soccer, and Matt Tiano, CEO of Twin Cities Soccer Leagues, recently shared how their organizations are transforming their approach to event safety with RealResponse.
Why events need their own safeguarding strategy
Safeguarding is a non-negotiable aspect of operations for any sports organization today. That said, safeguarding in the context of large tournaments is vastly different than safeguarding in the context of team practice or regular games.
Even the most effective traditional systems can fail to translate to events. As a national organization, US Club Soccer had a case management system and robust reporting form in place. But, as Kocoras explains, “It’s not the best or the easiest way to report something if you're standing on a soccer field with a phone. We started to brainstorm, ‘What does an event safeguarding plan look like, and how is it different from what we just do on a day-to-day basis in terms of fielding reports?’”
This desire to create a simpler, more efficient experience for players, staff, and attendees was Twin Cities Soccer Leagues’ motivation for rethinking their safeguarding operations. “How do we better engage the people at our event?” says Tiano. “How can we alleviate pressure on tent staff, and ensure that those attending our event get questions answered quickly and efficiently?”
Making event reporting more accessible
When you’re attending your child’s soccer tournament and witness an altercation involving a friend, coach, or fellow parent, speaking up is easier said than done.
RealResponse makes this reluctance a non-issue through its anonymous, two-way reporting platform that meets event attendees where they are. Reporting is as easy as sending a text or email, getting relevant details to the right person without worrying about the stress that comes with being a formal witness or whistleblower.
Spreading the word (on and off the field)
If people don't know about your reporting tool, they won’t use it. Promotion is a huge factor in making sure everyone at your event understands how to share concerns, big or small. These are a few proven ways to get the word out:
Dedicated pre-event communications letting people know how to report concerns.
Signage throughout your venue with QR codes to a reporting phone number.
QR codes printed on credentials, bag tags and on-site flyers.
QR codes that auto-save in users’ phones as a new contact, to make future reporting even easier.
When the barrier to reporting is lower, your visibility into what’s happening on and off the field multiplies. US Club Soccer felt this firsthand when they rolled out RealResponse during the 2025 NPL Finals and National Cup Finals.
“We got a lot of ‘bystander reports’—for instance, a parent texting that a situation was getting heated on a nearby field. That allowed us to get ahead of something that could have been a bigger issue, and de-escalate it as quickly as possible,” says Kocoras.
When a more serious incident occurred, Kocoras’ team could act fast thanks to an anonymous text and video report. “A physical altercation between parents was reported by somebody nearby, who saw things were getting bad. We were able to immediately send somebody on site. Unfortunately, the police were called, but it could have been a lot worse. That was an example where I felt we really mitigated risk.”
Offering an intuitive, digital reporting option also eases the pressure on already busy event staff. As Tiano shares, “This was a way to funnel event-specific questions into one area where we could respond to concerns. A few people came to our tent and said how great it was to be able to submit a request in real time.”
The benefits of making safety everyone’s responsibility
Making it easier for attendees to report issues not only creates a better experience in the short term but protects your organization over time.
Minimized organizational risk: Safety is always the primary goal during events. But when safeguarding is managed well, that protection extends to your organization’s reputation and finances. Being able to intervene in just one incident before it spirals out of control can pay dividends later in terms of mitigating litigation and insurance risks.
Greater community trust: Unlike traditional one-way reporting platforms, a tool that supports two-way communication (on the channels people are already used to) turns safeguarding into a true dialogue. The reporter enjoys the comfort of staying anonymous and interacting with a real person. This builds rapport, assures reporters that their information will be acted on, and makes them more likely to bring forward details that support your investigations.
As youth soccer participation continues to climb, events will become an even more complex, critical part of the experience. Prioritizing the well-being of athletes, parents, referees and staff during events requires a dedicated strategy, and the right tools.
It’s impossible for your team alone to have eyes and ears in all the right places. But when you democratize the act of reporting, everyone can play a role in keeping each other secure. Watch the full conversation with US Club Soccer and Twin Cities Soccer Leagues to hear how they’re prioritizing safety across their events.
Learn more about how RealResponse can amplify the voices and insights you need to strengthen your athlete and fan experience.