The goal of this series is to bridge the gap between prevention education theory with on-the-ground practice.
As adults who care about the children in our lives, we have both a right and responsibility to address the issue of abuse in sport. We have the right to stand up for our athletes, and we have the responsibility to protect them in any way we can.
That means we educate ourselves about the issue, talk to other parents on the sidelines, give feedback to sport administrators, verify that programs have proper safeguarding policies, and report when something doesn’t feel right.
But we can’t forget to include the very athletes we are working to protect. Adults are also responsible for engaging kids in their prevention efforts. It’s not enough for you to be working quietly in the background to protect them. They should know about (and participate in!) all the ways you work to safeguard them from abuse. One of the best ways to do this is through ongoing conversations.
Effective abuse prevention doesn’t happen in a one-time lecture about red flags and reporting options. Instead of a singular conversation, we should normalize creating an environment where kids can expect regular check-ins about their experiences with sport.
When you ask them about their teammates and coaches, talk to them about something you saw from the sidelines, and check in with them before and after practice, you’re signaling to them that you’re listening, you’re available to help, and that you care.
You may think having these conversations with kids is completely up to parents and guardians, but coaches and mentors also play a role. And abuse prevention works best when everyone works together. For example, parents can introduce the idea of consent at home. Coaches can build on that foundation by reviewing basic rules about respecting their teammates’ boundaries.
Caring about our kids and agreeing these conversations are important is a good first step. Next is learning how to talk to kids. We can help with that.
In 2024, the U.S. Center for SafeSport launched the SafeSport Ready™ mobile app (available for iPhone and Android). Here are some of the tools available on the app to help you start the conversation with the kids in your life:
Learn more about SafeSport Ready™ and download it today.
Remember, abuse prevention is not a lecture; it’s a series of conversations. And we can learn so much from talking to and listening to our kids.
Recently, my 9-year-old followed his teenage cousins as they jumped off of a high rock into a lake below. When he swam back to the boat, I praised him, “You’re fearless!” But he correctly reminded me, “Everyone feels fear. The word you’re looking for is brave because I did it anyway.”
Adults can learn a thing or two from the small humans in our lives. The goal of abuse prevention is not to be fearless in the face of abuse. We are going to feel fear. We are going to be unsure of ourselves. When we talk openly and regularly about abuse, we choose to be brave for our kids.
VP of Prevention Education at the U.S. Center for SafeSport
Monica has spent nearly two decades in the field of interpersonal violence prevention, much of that time working directly with survivors of abuse. She leads our team of subject matter experts who share a belief in the transformative power of prevention education.
Do you have any questions or ideas? Please reach out to [email protected].
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