International Safe Sport Day is recognized annually on August 8. As families across the United States are transitioning from summer activities to a new school year, Safe Sport Day provides an important opportunity to take a step back and think about the resources, skills and rules that are necessary to prioritize safety in sport.
We all want athletes to experience the benefits of sport: teamwork, setting goals, striving to improve, building confidence, learning sportsmanship and developing healthy habits for life. This commitment means we cannot forget about our collective role and responsibility in creating constructive sport environments.
As parents and adults in the lives of children, you are essential in the well-being of your young athletes. And, you don’t have to do it alone. The U.S. Center for SafeSport is in your corner—on International Safe Sport Day and everyday—to support you in creating environments free of abuse and build demand for a healthier sport culture where every young athlete can thrive.
Sport safety checklist for parents
This time frame from the end of summer and back-to-school is incredibly busy. Children are getting ready for a significant transition and parents and guardians are making sure their kids are ready for the classroom.
Amid all the chaos (or once things start to settle), it’s important to find time to explore sport safety resources and tools. The U.S. Center for SafeSport has a list of steps parents and guardians can take below. While this isn’t a one-and-done exercise, this transitional period marks an important opportunity for a safety refresh.
- Get Trained: The Center has free training courses for families that serve as an important foundation for sport safety. Between 15-30 minutes long, these courses are designed for parents and guardians, kids (5-12) and youth athletes (13-17).
- Talk to Your Kids: Ongoing conversations about things like appropriate behavior and setting boundaries as well as listening to your child’s thoughts and experiences help to support abuse prevention.Â
- Talking Tips for Keeping Communication Open: For Younger Kids (5 and under)
- SafeSport Listening Do’s and Don’ts: For Younger Kids (5 and under)
- Talking Tips for Keeping Communication Open: For School-Age Kids (6-12)
- SafeSport Listening Do’s and Don’ts: For School-Age Kids (6-12)
- Talking Tips for Keeping Communication Open: For Teenagers (13+)
- SafeSport Listening Do’s and Don’ts: For Teenagers (13+)
- Check the Centralized Disciplinary Database (CDD): The CDD lists individuals who are currently restricted or banned from sport within the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Movement. The database is updated frequently and serves as one tool to help support safe environments.Â
- Check in with sport program administrators: Rules matter. Ask the administrators for your young athlete’s sport programs what policies they have in place, including around background checks for coaches and volunteers, abuse prevention training for volunteers and staff, policies that limit unsupervised one-on-one contact between adults and minors, and processes for reporting and responding to abuse and misconduct.
Tip: The SafeSport Ready App has resources and tools you can access while on the go. So, the next time you find yourself with a few moments during halftime, waiting for practice to get out, or a game to start, you can explore prevention education resources and more.
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When it comes to safety, parents are often the first line of defense. You should feel empowered with the support, tools, and resources to advocate for your child’s wellbeing in every aspect of their athletic experience. On International Safe Sport Day, we recognize that every child deserves the opportunity to benefit from sport, safe from abuse and misconduct. It’s a responsibility we all share, and the U.S. Center for SafeSport is here to help.
More SafeSport resources
- Signs and Symptoms of Abuse – How to spot common signs and symptoms of abuse, misconduct, and neglect
- Is It Appropriate Coaching – Or Abuse? – Tips to help you recognize the difference between abusive behavior and appropriate coachingÂ
- What Parents Need To Know About Grooming – Information for parents or guardians about recognizing and responding to grooming
- Bullying Prevention Handbook – Facts about and strategies for responding to bullying
- Parent and Guardian’s Handbook for Safer Sport – Ways parents can work with their kids’ coaches and sports clubs to create safer sport environments
- Responding to Disclosures – Language and behavior to use with individuals who may disclose abuse or misconduct to you
- Reporting Abuse & Misconduct – How to report abuse and misconduct within the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Movement, including procedures for mandatory reporting
