Engaging Kids to Be SafeSport Ready

A father and his son stand on an outdoor basketball court, both focused on a mobile phone.

Prevention Education Series

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.

Going Beyond “The Talk”

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.

People often feel afraid to talk to kids about abuse. Do any of these fears sound familiar?

  • I’ll have to use words related to sex.
  • I won’t know what to say if they ask, “Why would someone who cares about me hurt me?”
  • I’ll ruin their positive outlook and make them mistrust all adults.

But here’s the reality.

  • Talking about abuse goes far beyond talking about sex. It’s also about consent, body autonomy, and respecting boundaries. You can have these important conversations without directly referring to sex.
  • And when you DO need to talk about sex, research tells us that talking openly about the body helps protect kids from abuse. Kids who use anatomically correct names for body parts are more confident in setting boundaries, which can be a deterrent to people who may wish to cause harm.
  • Kids are more likely to be abused by someone you know than a stranger. If you’re already having these conversations with them, they are more likely to think you’ll believe them and come to you for help. And while it may seem like you will cause them to mistrust people, talking openly also helps them identify which adults they can trust.

Tools To Start the Conversation

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:

  • Educational articles on how to recognize, prevent, and respond to abuse in sport
  • Age-specific talking tips and sample responses for possible red flag situations
  • Interactive quizzes with personalized responses to help you navigate conversations with your child’s coach or sport organization
  • A step-by-step guide on how to report abuse in sport
  • Access to search our Centralized Disciplinary Database (CDD) of more than 2,000 individuals who are restricted or banned from participating in the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Movement

Learn more about SafeSport Ready™ and download it today.

Small Humans Make Great Teachers

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.

Monica Rivera headshot

Monica Rivera

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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