Courage First Teams with Serve the Future to Protect Young Athletes in Phoenix
Serve the Future AZ has partnered with Courage First Athlete Helpline and Childhelp Speak Up Be Safe for Athletes to strengthen safety, awareness, and protection for young athletes in the Phoenix community. This collaboration reflects a shared mission: empowering youth through sport while ensuring every athlete trains, competes, and grows in a safe and supportive environment.
Addressing a Growing Need in Youth Sports
Across North America, concerns around abuse and athlete safety continue to rise. Studies show that:
37% of athletes report experiencing at least one form of physical abuse during childhood in sport.
Between 14% and 29% report experiencing sexual violence before the age of 18.
These statistics underscore the urgent need for education, awareness, and prevention programs within youth athletics. Developed by the Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline and the Foundation for Global Sports
Development, the Courage First Athlete Helpline is the only program of its kind in the United States and Canada. It provides confidential support and resources for athletes, parents, coaches, and entire sports communities. Through this partnership, these critical resources are being brought directly to Phoenix-area families and youth athletes.
Why This Matters to Serve the Future
At Serve the Future, our mission goes beyond tennis instruction. Based in Phoenix, we are a nonprofit organization dedicated to using tennis as a vehicle to uplift underserved youth. Through structured events, yearlong programming, and certified coaching, we help young athletes build:
Self-confidence
Perseverance
Leadership
Responsibility
Character on and off the court
Ninety-five percent of the youth we serve come from minority backgrounds, and more than one-third live at or below the poverty line. Many face daily instability and limited access to structured extracurricular opportunities.
By partnering with Courage First, we are reinforcing our commitment to protecting the physical, emotional, and mental well-being of every athlete we serve.
Empowering Coaches, Parents, and Students
The partnership allows us to directly engage coaches and students about:
Recognizing warning signs of abuse and neglect
Understanding healthy boundaries in sports
Promoting mental health awareness
Creating a culture of accountability and transparency
Local organizations like Serve the Future play a vital role in challenging outdated sports norms and building safer environments for youth. When coaches are educated and parents are empowered, athletes thrive.
Taking Action: The Triples Tournament
This important collaboration will take center stage at the upcoming Serve the Future Triples Tournament at Phoenix Country Club.
Onsite facilitators from both organizations will provide:
Educational materials
Interactive discussions
Safety resources
Mental health awareness tools
This event is more than a tournament, it’s a community effort to prioritize athlete safety and well-being.
Our Continued Commitment to the Phoenix Community
Serve the Future is a certified 501(c)(3) nonprofit committed to positively impacting youth from underserved communities across Phoenix. By working within Elementary, Middle, and High School districts, including schools in the Phoenix Union area, we aim to reduce disparities and provide structured, positive environments for growth.
The pandemic intensified academic and social gaps across communities. Through consistent yearlong tennis programming and transformative support initiatives, we are committed to being part of the solution. This partnership with Courage First strengthens that commitment.
Join Us in Making a Difference
Protecting young athletes requires collaboration. It takes coaches who are informed, parents who are engaged, and community organizations willing to lead with courage.
We invite you to:
Learn more about our programs
Support youth safety initiatives
Explore our participating schools
Volunteer or partner with us
Together, we can ensure that every young athlete in Phoenix has the opportunity to grow in confidence, character, and safety, both on and off the court.
