Help Your Child Thrive This Summer

Learn How to Spot 9 Signs of a Negative Sport or Camp Environment

Every child deserves the chance to explore, play, and learn in an environment that prioritizes well-being and encourages growth as they practice a new skill or enjoy their favorite sport. But growth can only happen if these environments are supportive and safe. As you prepare for your child’s upcoming summer camp or sports season, take a moment to pause and survey the environment they’ll be entering.

By paying attention to the warning signs of potentially unsafe sport, camp, or other active environments, parents and guardians of youth athletes can help cultivate sport atmospheres where athletes can thrive.

Signs to Be Aware Of

Abuse prevention strategies usually involve understanding positive attributes of a sporting environment. But just as a positive sport environment can help prevent abuse and misconduct, a negative setting can open the door to it.

While exploring the following list, remember that unsafe or negative environments can have lasting effects, which filter down to athletes and affect how they are treated—and how they treat each other. When adults in the lives of athletes prioritize positive, supportive team values, you demonstrate that abuse or misconduct will not be tolerated.

Here are nine signs to be aware of:

Behavioral expectations are unclear, inconsistently applied, or not in place.
Policies to prevent abuse and misconduct are ignored or downplayed by coaches and staff and minimized to athletes and their families.
Not everyone is held to the same standards, including when responding to potential misconduct.
Appropriate age and developmental expectations for youth athletes are not factored into coaching and behavioral expectations.
Marginalized athletes are regularly disrespected or excluded.
Disrespect is tolerated, especially toward sport officials, opponents, spectators, and facility staff.
Athlete safety, growth, and well-being are sacrificed for the sake of winning.
Injury prevention and response protocols are not followed, including the use of safety equipment.
Dangerous or unsafe behavior between athletes is encouraged or overlooked in training or competition.

Actions Parents Can Take

As a parent or guardian, helping cultivate positive, supportive active environments means also knowing how to respond to abuse or misconduct.

Three actions you can take:

Start the conversation. Check in regularly with your child about how they’re feeling and what they enjoy about their sport or camp. These conversations can help you set a precedent that it’s okay to talk about what they’re experiencing or disclose anything that is making them feel uncomfortable.
Speak up. If you feel your child’s sport or camp environment may be unsafe, reach out to the coach or program administrator. Express your concerns and ask what policies are in place to protect athletes. Escalate the issue to the appropriate authorities if needed.
Make a report. If you notice or suspect any type of abuse or misconduct, report it to your child’s sport organization or law enforcement. If the sport is part of the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Movement, or if you’re unsure if it’s part of the Movement, make a report to the U.S. Center for SafeSport.

Remember, as a parent or guardian, knowing how to respond appropriately in situations where abuse or misconduct may occur is an excellent way to be a source of trust, healing, and protection for your child.

Explore our Parent and Guardian’s Handbook for Safer Sport for more tips and guidance on preventing, recognizing, and responding to abuse in sport and other active settings.