Have a prior plan worked out for different potentially dangerous situations, at least in your mind. The right time to ask "What do I do now?" is on the practice field, not in the middle of the game.
Avoid dangerous areas to increase the odds of avoiding a dangerous situation. If you must go into an area, such as a dark alley, then decide with your friends in advance what is expected of everyone if something awkward or bad develops. Let others know where you are going and when you will be back.
Keep to well-lit areas where other people are located. Narrow, dark and lonely alleys are not places where good things happen to people.
Be alert to developing situations and circumstances. Scan the area for people who seem out of place, or are taking excessive interest in you. Be aware of the entrances and exits of your location. Do not let others in the group wander off by themselves.
Avoid letting someone approach you and crowd against your or the group's personal space. Stop him at an arm's distance away with a firm "Can I help you?" said in a confident manner.
When your mental radar picks up on a potentially developing dangerous situation, begin your preparations for removing yourself and your friends. Do a quick check to ensure that everyone is alert and understands that immediate action may be needed within moments. If the danger seems sufficient and credible, begin your actual exit from the area. Do not wait around to see what interesting things may develop.
Move away in a confident but quick manner. Predators can quickly pick up on the sense of panic and are much more likely to cause trouble if they believe they can easily dominate a person or group.
Move toward shelter such as an open business, a restaurant or even another group of people.
Yell something such as "fire" loudly and repeatedly. Doing so almost always draws a crowd of curious people. Since troublemakers rarely desire witnesses, that can provide a lifeline for you and your group.
