Behavioral Threat Assessment: Myths vs. Reality

Why Fixation Matters in Professional and Collegiate Sports

One of the most common misconceptions about violence prevention is that security concerns begin when someone makes an explicit threat.

Many targeted attacks and stalking incidents are preceded not by threatening statements, but by a pattern of increasingly concerning behaviors. For professional and collegiate sports organizations, recognizing these behaviors early can provide an opportunity to intervene before a situation escalates into a crisis.

This is where Behavioral Threat Assessment and Management (BTAM) plays a critical role.

BTAM is a multidisciplinary, evidence-based approach to violence prevention that evaluates an individual's behaviors, circumstances, and progression toward violence rather than relying solely on direct threats or criminal acts. Instead of asking, "Did this person threaten violence?" BTAM asks, "What does this pattern of behavior tell us about the individual's level of risk, and what interventions can reduce that risk?"

This shift in perspective is particularly important in sports, where athletes, coaches, and executives are increasingly accessible through social media, public appearances, travel, and fan engagement.

Looking Beyond the Threat

Most passionate fans never present a security concern. However, a small number develop an unhealthy fixation on an athlete, coach, or organization that begins to dominate their thoughts and behavior.

While any single action may appear benign in isolation, concerning patterns often emerge over time.

Examples may include:

• Persistent unwanted emails, direct messages, or letters
• Repeated attempts to contact an athlete across multiple platforms
• Creating new accounts after being blocked
• Appearing unexpectedly at practices, hotels, airports, or team facilities
• Attempting to establish a perceived personal relationship with an athlete
• Escalating efforts to obtain personal information, travel details, or access

These behaviors do not automatically indicate violence. However, when viewed collectively, they may represent a pattern of fixation that warrants assessment and proactive management.

Real-World Examples

Recent incidents involving elite athletes illustrate why organizations should pay attention to behavioral patterns—not simply explicit threats.

Emma Raducanu: Recognizing Escalating Fixation

During the 2025 Dubai Tennis Championships, British tennis star Emma Raducanu became visibly distressed after recognizing a man in the crowd who had approached her the previous day in a public setting. The match was temporarily stopped while tournament security removed the individual.

Following the incident, the Women's Tennis Association (WTA) announced that the individual had exhibited "fixated behavior" and prohibited him from attending future WTA events pending a threat assessment.

Notably, the concern was not based on a publicly reported threat of violence. Rather, it stemmed from a pattern of escalating, unwanted behavior that indicated increasing fixation and justified immediate intervention.

Caitlin Clark: When Online Fixation Moves Offline

In another high-profile case, WNBA star Caitlin Clark was targeted by an individual who allegedly sent repeated sexually explicit and threatening messages over an extended period before traveling to Indianapolis. According to court documents, the suspect believed he was involved in a personal relationship with Clark despite never having one.

Clark later reported altering aspects of her daily routine because of concerns for her safety. The individual ultimately pleaded guilty to stalking and harassment.

This case demonstrates how persistent online communications, obsessive messaging, and perceived relationships can evolve into real-world safety concerns. None of these behaviors should be viewed in isolation; together, they represented a progression that required intervention by both law enforcement and organizational security.

What This Means for Sports Organizations

Professional and collegiate sports organizations are uniquely positioned to identify concerning behavior early because information is often dispersed across multiple departments.

Security personnel may observe an individual repeatedly appearing at venues.

Athlete relations staff may receive reports of unwanted contact.

Social media teams may notice escalating online interactions.

Ticketing personnel may identify repeated attempts to purchase seats near a particular athlete.

Individually, these incidents may not appear significant. Collectively, they can reveal a pattern of fixation that no single department could identify alone.

This is one of the primary reasons multidisciplinary BTAM teams have become an increasingly important component of modern protective security programs.

The Bottom Line

Effective violence prevention is not about predicting who will become violent—it is about recognizing concerning behavioral patterns early enough to reduce the likelihood that violence occurs at all.

Organizations should not wait for an explicit threat before taking concerning behavior seriously.

By encouraging reporting, sharing information across departments, and applying a structured Behavioral Threat Assessment and Management process, sports organizations can identify emerging risks earlier, make informed intervention decisions, and better protect athletes, staff, and spectators.