SafeSport

Overview

The U.S. Congress designated the U.S. Center for SafeSport with the authority to respond to reports of sexual misconduct within the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Movement by passing the Protecting Young Victims from Sexual Abuse and SafeSport Authorization Act of 2017. This legislation, also known as S534, designates the Center to serve as the independent national SafeSport organization, with the additional responsibility for the Center to develop national policies and procedures to prevent the emotional, physical, and sexual abuse of amateur athletes.

Free Online Training Videos

Free online training videos give the necessary SafeSport information for young athletes. Separated by age group, these training videos cover a wide variety of age-appropriate topics.

SafeSport for Pre-Schoolers

The preschool course includes a fun cheer; emphasizes that sports should be an inclusive environment that prioritizes safety, respect, and fun over winning; and encourages starting an open conversation with children at an early age. This course will take approximately ten minutes to complete.

SafeSport for Grade Kindergarten to 2

This course includes an animated video and game that focuses on having a positive attitude, keeping sport fun, and speaking up when something doesn't feel right. The course concludes with resources for reporting abuse or misconduct. This course will take approximately ten minutes to complete.

SafeSport for Grade 3 to 5 

The grades 3 through 5 courses provide an interactive game to identify and speak up when behavior crosses the line, recognize the difference between discipline and abuse, stresses the importance of being a good teammate, and have a healthy sports environment focused on fun and safety. The course concludes with resources for reporting abuse or misconduct. This course will take approximately fifteen minutes to complete.

SafeSport for Middle School Athletes

The middle school course focuses on bullying prevention, safe online behavior, responding to red flags and resources for reporting abuse or misconduct. This course will take approximately fifteen minutes to complete.

SafeSport for High School Athletes

The high school course focuses on bullying and hazing prevention, supporting friends who have experienced abuse or inappropriate conduct, and resources for reporting abuse or misconduct. This course will take approximately twenty minutes to complete.

Parents Guide to Misconduct in Sport

Designed for the parents of athletes of all ages, this course explains the issues of misconduct in sport and helps parents ensure their children have a positive and safe sports experience.

High-profile cases of child abuse often represent extremes and should not deter parents from encouraging participation in youth sports. Children who have positive experiences in sports from a young age benefit in many ways. While a small percentage of youth go on to compete with elite or professional status, a successful foundation in childhood helps promote self-esteem, a sense of accomplishment, and the ability to function as part of a team, while also promoting a healthy, lifelong interest in athletics. By helping promote strong and healthy relationships between team members and coaches, and spotting signs of potential problems before they become serious, a parent can help ensure the maximum benefits for their child.

Parents should also be aware that SafeSport maintains a database of those who have had disciplinary action due to misconduct. This list is continually evolving and includes all sports, at various levels, across all states.