When Something Happens: Immediate Response Protocol

For Coach / Athletic Director

When an incident happens — whether it's a sexual assault, a hazing event, or a pattern of abusive behavior — the first 24 hours set the tone for everything that follows. This playbook gives leaders a clear, step-by-step protocol for the immediate response. It's designed to protect the survivor, comply with legal obligations, and avoid the common mistakes that make things worse.

Steps

Ensure immediate safety: if there's imminent danger, call 911. No exceptions.
Do not investigate. Your job is to support and report, not to gather evidence or interview people.
Contact the appropriate authority immediately: Title IX coordinator (school), campus police (college), or local law enforcement.
Contact your athletic director, principal, or chapter advisor within 24 hours.
Preserve any relevant evidence (texts, social media, physical items) — do not delete anything.
Communicate on a need-to-know basis only — do not discuss with the team, other parents, or on social media.
Offer the survivor immediate access to advocacy resources and counseling — let them decide what they want.
Document everything: timeline, who was told, what actions were taken, when.
Do NOT contact the accused directly — let the official process handle that.
Plan for the team/group: they will hear about it. Prepare a brief, factual statement that doesn't disclose details or assign blame.