How to talk to Kids about Safe Play During the Milano Cortina Games
Championing respect both on and off the field is critical for culture change in sport. As you watch coverage of the Games in Italy, here are some tangible actions you can take to open dialogue and reinforce respectful and safe sport environments with the young athletes in your life:
Seven Ways to Talk to Kids about Respectful and Safe Sport Environments During the Milano Cortina Games and Beyond
- Do talk about the time, dedication, and persistence it takes to prepare for and compete in the Games. Listen to how your child talks about their own training—is their coach pushing them past where they feel comfortable or pressuring them to ignore pain? Ask: “What do you enjoy about your training? What does your coach do when you need help or are finding it hard to learn something new?”
- Do talk about what athletes may experience beyond winning at the Games—traveling to new places, representing their countries, testing their skills against the best in the world. Say, “You may not win every game, but you can still have a valuable experience. What do you like about your sport other than winning?”
- Do speak up if inappropriate comments are made about athletes, especially remarks that are discriminatory, sexualized, or otherwise offensive. Make it clear that all bodies are different and no one shape is better than another. Ask: “Has anyone ever spoken about your body in a way that makes you uncomfortable?”
- Do talk about the diversity of different skills and talents that exist across events. Focus on what athletes’ bodies let them do (e.g., run fast, show great endurance, have excellent coordination) instead of what they look like. For example, “Wow. All of those muscles really help ice skaters jump high!”
- Do pay attention to any potential instances of emotional or physical misconduct (which could include throwing things in anger, yelling at and/or pressuring an athlete to continue despite injury). Use the opportunity to discuss better choices and emphasize the importance of supportive and safe athletic environments. For example, “That coach is being very supportive to the athlete who lost. How does your coach behave when you lose or make a mistake?”
- Do celebrate moments of good sportsmanship and teamwork. Use instances where athletes are being supportive of one another to reinforce that sports are about so much more than winning. For example, “Did you notice how that athlete encouraged their teammate even when they missed the goal? How do you and your teammates support each other?”
- Do listen when a child talks about their experiences in sports, positive and negative. Remember that children may not label an experience as misconduct or abuse. Instead, they may talk about how their coach yelling is scary, or their teammates exclude them from social events. Ask: “What do you like about your coach and/or team? Is there anything you would change?”
If a child in your life shares that they have experienced or witnessed abuse or misconduct involving someone in the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Movement (or if you suspect something has happened), you can report a concern. For guidance on how to respond if a child discloses abuse, explore our tips for responding to abuse disclosures.