Philadelphia football coaches complete trauma‑informed training to better support young athletes

PHILADELPHIA (WPVI) -- A group of 15 Philadelphia coaches were recognized Thursday night for completing a program designed to help them better support young athletes facing academic challenges, violence and emotional struggles.

Marcus Fulton, athletic director and football coach at Boys' Latin of Philadelphia Charter School, said the sport has long been a guiding force in his own life. "Football helped me chase the dream," he said.

Fulton said his decades of coaching in the city have shown him the pressures many young players face.

"I've been coaching for 25 years in the city of Philadelphia, so I know some of things going on with our guys in terms of the academic struggles, the violence that happens. I lost a couple players before," he said.

The coaches were honored for completing the Open Door Abuse Awareness and Prevention program, which teaches trauma-informed strategies to help athletes on and off the field.

"We're teaching coaches how to put on a lens for trauma in order to be able to help out kids a little deeper," said Valencia Peterson, founder of the program.

Peterson created the initiative after experiencing trauma of her own when her mother was killed at a young age. The program focuses on mentorship, violence prevention and creating safe spaces for youth.

Peterson said coaches often play a critical role in young people's lives.

"The coach is usually a first line for kids, and it's their only father figure, it's their only stability. The only consistent thing they have is a team. So we're giving the coaches the tools they need to help regulate, to help see them for who they really are," she said.

As part of the training, coaches learned to lead with empathy, help players manage emotions, and identify signs of mental health concerns.

MidCity Tigers coach Adolph Sanna said he hopes the lessons help athletes understand "that they have an opportunity to see what another side of life is like where people are concerned about their fears, their doubts and the things that are going on with them."

Fulton said he wants the young men he coaches to carry these lessons into adulthood "to be successful. To be good husbands, good fathers, good mentors in the city of Philadelphia."

The Open Door Abuse Awareness and Prevention program also offers mentorship for boys and girls who do not participate in sports, aiming to help youth across Philadelphia "become the best version of themselves," according to the organization.