U.S. Center for SafeSport

U.S. Center for SafeSport Summer Safety Checklist

a group of teenagers playing a game of tug of war at summer camp

Eight Questions to Ask Before Your Child Starts a Summer Program

Whether your child is joining a summer sports league or heading off to camp, the answers to these questions can help you evaluate a program’s preparedness to prevent and respond to abuse and misconduct. Discover the answers to these questions by contacting a program administrator or checking a program’s policies.

  1. What are the criteria for volunteer and staff screening and background checks?
  2. How are program participants supervised during structured activities and free time?
  3. What kind of abuse prevention and response training do volunteers and staff undergo?
  4. Do you have policies that limit unsupervised one-on-one contact between adults and minors?
  5. What are the established processes for reporting and responding to abuse and misconduct?
  6. How do you communicate expectations about how program participants treat one another?
  7. What are the sleeping arrangements for program participants and overnight staff or volunteers, and how are they monitored? (For overnight programs)
  8. Is an adult emergency contact available 24/7? (For overnight programs)

In addition to the SafeSport Summer Safety Checklist, the Center offers numerous educational resources to prevent, recognize, and respond to abuse and misconduct in and around sport and other active settings.

The Center’s Parent and Guardian’s Handbook for Safer Sport is designed for parents of athletes of all ages. This free resource explains the issues of misconduct in sport and helps parents ensure their children have a positive and safe sport experience. Lastly, if you’re a parent or youth sports coach, take a moment to check out SafeSport’s Summer Playbook and explore more resources to support you this season.

“Safety is not just the foundation for play and growth, but something that every child deserves. SafeSport’s Summer Safety Checklist helps parents and guardians ask the right questions to ensure the children in their lives have a fun and healthy experience during summer sport leagues and other activities.”

Monica Rivera

Vice President, Education & Research, U.S. Center for SafeSport

“Every single child should have the opportunity to learn and thrive through athletic activities—the benefits of sport participation have followed me throughout my entire life. Asking safety questions helps to demonstrate one of the most important life lessons for young athletes: their well-being matters.”

April Holmes

Interim CEO, U.S. Center for SafeSport, and four-time Paralympian

U.S. Center for SafeSport