Questions to ask prior to summer youth sports leagues and activities to help safeguard against abuse
The U.S. Center for SafeSport (the Center) today released a Summer Safety Checklist outlining important questions parents and guardians can ask to support children’s safety and reduce the risk of abuse. Released prior to the start of summer sports leagues, camps, and other programming, the list is designed to reveal the measures youth-serving organizations have in place to prevent and respond to sexual abuse and misconduct.
“Summer is a time for kids to be active, play freely, and participate in the sports they love,” Ju’Riese Colón, CEO, U.S. Center for SafeSport said. “SafeSport’s summer safety checklist equips parents and guardians with the right questions to help make sure children can enjoy summertime programs safely.”
U.S. Center for SafeSport Summer Safety Checklist
Eight questions to ask before your child starts a summer program
Whether your child is attending summer sports league or camp, the answers to these questions can help you evaluate a program’s preparedness to prevent and respond to abuse and misconduct. Answers to these questions may be found in policies posted online or by contacting a program administrator.
- What are the criteria for volunteer and staff screening and background checks?
- How are program participants supervised during structured activities and free time?
- What kind of abuse prevention and response training do volunteers and staff undergo?
- Do you have policies that limit unsupervised one-on-one contact between adults and minors?
- What are the established processes for reporting and responding to abuse and misconduct?
- How do you communicate expectations about how program participants treat one another?
- What are the sleeping arrangements for program participants and overnight staff or volunteers, and how are they monitored? (For overnight programs)
- 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 online training course explains the issues of misconduct in sport and helps parents ensure their children have a positive and safe sport experience.
Need for Abuse Prevention in Sport
The U.S. Center for SafeSport is the nation’s only independent organization dedicated to ending sexual, physical, and emotional abuse in U.S. Olympic and Paralympic sport. The Center emerged in response to high profile cases of sexual abuse of minor athletes within Olympic and Paralympic sport in the mid-2010s. With the mission of making athlete wellbeing the centerpiece of the nation’s sport culture, the Center has since been setting safety policies, and receiving, investigating, and resolving complaints of abuse and misconduct. The Center also serves as an educational resource for sports organizations at all levels, from recreational sports organizations to professional leagues.
With the goal of ensuring athletes within the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Movement are safe, supported, and strengthened, the Center:
- Establishes safety policies, including the SafeSport Code and the Minor Athlete Abuse Prevention Policies (MAAPP).
- Investigates and resolves allegations of abuse and misconduct and levies sanctions, including temporary and permanent bans from sport.
- Delivers comprehensive abuse prevention education within and outside of the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Movement.
About the U.S. Center for SafeSport
The Protecting Young Victims from Sexual Abuse and Safe Sport Authorization Act of 2017 codified the U.S. Center for SafeSport (the Center), as the nation’s safe sport organization. It furthered the Center’s independence while underscoring its authority to hold individuals accountable. It also charged the Center with developing policies, procedures, and training to prevent abuse and misconduct in sport.
In October of 2020, the Empowering Olympic, Paralympic, and Amateur Athletes Act of 2020 became law, even further strengthening the Center’s independence and oversight functions while mandating minimum funding requirements for the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee.
The Center opened its doors in March of 2017.
Reporting and Resources
Report here to the U.S. Center for SafeSport if you have experienced abuse or misconduct—or if you have reasonable suspicion of abuse or misconduct inflicted on, or by, someone in the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Movement. You can also call 833-587-7233 to make a report.
If a situation does not involve sport or anyone within the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Movement, you can contact RAINN's 24/7 online hotline or call 800-656-HOPE (4673).
For anyone in crisis, the Suicide Prevention Lifeline provides 24/7 free and confidential support at 988lifeline.org or by calling 988.
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