Today is Safe Sport Day. The occasion was chosen to mark the establishment of the International Safeguards for Children in Sport, with August 8th selected to signify the document’s 8 safeguards, covering policy development, response, support, risk minimisation, behavioural guidelines, safe recruitment, and collaboration. Since these guidelines were established in 2014, huge strides have been made in the field of safe sport. However, there is still a long way to go to ensure all athletes and practitioners feel welcome, safe and protected. This is particularly true for sports like Muay Thai, which lack adequate oversight from sports governing bodies and robust safeguarding policies. This year, Under the Ropes is marking Safe Sport Day by publishing a community safe sport library to combat this by making safeguarding resources more accessible to the Muay Thai community. While some of the organisations and resources listed below are specific to certain sports or regions, they contain useful information for anyone looking to learn about safeguarding in sport.
It’s essential that sport safeguarding policies are informed by the experiences of athlete-survivors, academic research, and leading experts. This way, organisations can follow best practices to create environments where people feel safe and comfortable making reports, cases are handled with care, and perpetrators are held accountable. Thankfully, there are several safe sport entities providing this much-needed expertise, many of which offer free resources. Here, you can find an extensive collection in one place, including templates for policies, online training courses, toolkits, printable materials, guidelines for LGBTQIA+ inclusion and many more.
It’s important to note that safeguarding in sport is not one-size-fits-all, and policies cannot be simply copied and pasted. To be effective, they need to be tailor-made to specific sports, regions and communities. However, the free templates listed below can provide a great starting point in helping you build customised approaches that serve your local gym.
See below for direct links to resources provided by safe sport entities and experts in various countries around the world.
The Army of Survivors
An organisation founded by survivors affected by the landmark USA Gymnastics case to end the culture of abuse in sports by advocating for change, creating safe reporting procedures and helping sport organisations become trauma-informed. TAOS is the only national organisation in the US specialising in athlete-survivor advocacy, with expertise in sports trauma.
- Recommended policies
- Printable resources (survivor safety plan, sharing your story of sexual assault publicly, recognising the signs of grooming, recognising child abuse in sports, national survivor resources)
- Trauma-informed approach resources
The Army of Survivors also use their expertise to provide services, including assessment, consultation, policy design and support, and crisis response planning.
Sport & Rights Alliance
A global coalition of leading rights organizations pressuring sports bodies to ensure they respect international standards for human rights.
- Global athlete network for survivors in sport
- Emergency fund for anyone impacted by violence in sport
Safe Sport International
A UK-based charity driving global international standards for safeguarding, informed by research, guided by athlete-survivors and led by industry experts.
- International standards (adult & child safeguards, safe sport principles)
- Online safeguarding courses for individuals & gyms
- Mental health education & support for athletes
- Safe Sport Connect (a global community hub for sharing knowledge, experience, news and best practices)
Safe Sport International also offer consultancy packages tailored to meet your needs led by their international network of experts, who have played major roles in the development of safe sport over the last 25 years.
Sport England
A UK government-funded body responsible for developing grassroots sport.
- Safeguarding code for martial arts
- How to respond to reports
- Support service for survivors
- Safeguarding Adults in Sports Framework
- Sports safeguarding self-assessment tools
Kyniska Advocacy
A UK-based, athlete and survivor-led organisation working to foster safe sport environments free from harm and abuse.
- Confidential support services for anyone experiencing abuse in sport
- Guides & toolkits
- Resource videos
- Templates for letters to MPs or National Governing Bodies in sport
We Ride Together
A non-profit organisation led by the parent of a survivor of sexual abuse in equestrian sport, advocating for the elimination of sexual abuse in youth and amateur sports.
Ann Craft Trust
A British charity working to end abuse and neglect of adults, with a dedicated sports department.
- Safeguarding adults in sport resource pack
- Terminology & definitions
- Policy & procedures resources
- Club Welfare Officer role and resources
- Safeguarding & record keeping for sports organisations
- Good governance guide for sports organisations
- Support for independent, commercial or community sport & activity providers
- Culture in clubs & groups self-evaluation
- Vulnerability of adult elite athletes
- Safeguarding Adults in Sport Framework
- Safeguarding adults in sport courses
Child Protection in Sport Unit
A branch of the UK’s NSPCC which helps sports organisations create safe and inclusive environments for children, founded in response to high-profile cases of abuse in sport.
- Sports safeguarding self-assessment tools
- Safe sports event management tool
- Case management tools (reporting, referral, investigation, decision making, outcomes & appeals)
- Resource library (toolkits, best practices, webinars, videos, podcasts & more)
- Resources for parents
- Safeguarding code for martial arts
Sport Ireland
An authority responsible for sport development in Ireland.
Children First
A Scottish charity working with Sport Scotland to provide advice, resources and consultancy to help young people stay safe in sport.
Singapore’s Safe Sport Commission
A secretariat responsible for case management, safeguarding policy implementation, and education in Singaporean sports.
- Safeguarding officer training
- SafeguardingAwareness Module
- Safeguarding workshops for sports organisations
- Safe sport policy template
- Safe recruitment recommendations
Guardsport
A Singapore-based organisation supporting best practice in safeguarding in sports by providing bespoke training services.
GuardSport also offers sport-specific safeguarding services.
U.S Center for Safe Sport
A non-profit working to end all forms of abuse in sport in the US.
- Safe sport courses
- Minor athlete abuse prevention policies
- Emotional & Physical Abuse & Misconduct Toolkit
- Safe Sport Code
- Response & resolution process
Abuse-Free Sport
A Canadian non-profit working to prevent and address maltreatment in sport.
Sportieq
A Belgian organisation supporting the Flemish region in creating safe, healthy and ethical sports cultures by providing policy and case support, reporting pathways, and downloadable safeguarding materials.
- Training & education (for gyms, federations, sports services and universities)
- Policy support
- Safe Sport Allies Toolbox
- Integrity Policy for Sports Federations in Practice
- Free campaign materials
- Consultancy for bespoke policy design
Sportieq also offer consultancy for bespoke policy design to sports organisations in Belgium.
Safe Sport Allies
A collaboration between several European sports organisations establishing materials for bystander intervention in sport in Beglium.
- Safe Sport Allies Toolbox
- Safe Sport Allies webinars for parents (available in Dutch & English)
- Safe Sport Allies webinars for club managers (Dutch)
- ‘See Something, Do Something’: Responding to Harassment & Abuse in Sport webinar
Change the Game
The first Italian association of volunteers fighting against sexual, emotional, and physical violence in sports.
- Survivor stories
- Manual for Coaches & Athletes
- Manual for parents of athletes
- Manual: A Story of sports & Children
Athlete 365
An initiative from the International Olympic Committee providing support, resources and tools for elite athletes and Olympians.
- Safeguarding athletes from harassment & abuse course
- Safeguarding officer directory
- Safe sport information hub
- Draw the Line (an interactive, scenario-based learning tool designed to help young athletes learn about harassment and abuse in sport, how to identify it, and what their rights are)
Centre for Sport & Human Rights
A human rights organisation with the aim of raising awareness and promoting the development of human rights in sport.
- Athlete Abuse Webinar: Practical Solutions for Sports Governance
- Roadmap to Remeder: Effective Responses to Abuse in Sport
The Council of Europe’s Joint Programme for Child Safeguarding in Sport
- Pro Safe Sport+ Training Kit
- Safeguarding in sport webinars
- Start to Talk, an initiative to promote child safeguarding policies in sport
- Portugal roadmap for child safeguarding in sport policies
- Belgium roadmap for child safeguarding in sport policies
- Austria roadmap for child safeguarding in sport policies
- Croatia roadmap for child safeguarding in sport policies
Building European Safe Sport Together (BESST)
A project funded by Erasmus+ dedicated to empowering sports organisations across Europe to establish robust safeguarding frameworks.
Sport Integrity Australia
An organisation providing assistance to prevent and address discrimination, harassment and abuse in Australian sports, as well as other integrity issues.
Play By The Rules
An organsisation South Australian Department for Sport and Recreation to provide interactive education and information on discrimination, harassment, abuse and child protection in sport.
- Free safeguarding e-learning courses
- Policy templates (Diversity, equity & inclusion; codes of conduct for coaches, players, parents, spectators & committees; team selection; complaints handling)
- Tips for the inclusion of trans & gender-diverse people in sport
- Good governance tips
The African Union Sports Council
- Safeguarding in Sport & Sport for Development course (available in English & French)
- Safeguarding Sport in Africa: Advocacy Brief
- Safeguarding Practitioners Guide
Consejo Superior de Deportes (Spanish Council for Sports)
The national sports council of Spain, which is responsible for promoting, planning and developing sports activites in the country.
100% Sport – The Austrian Centre for Gender Competence & Safe Sport
An initiative by the Austrian Ministry of Sport promoting gender equity and safeguarding in sport.
- Safe Sport e-learning courses (German)
Other Initiatives to Check Out
- The Dark Side of Sport – An Instagram account with informative posts on negative experiences in sport, led by PhD researcher Katie Alexander.
- Sport Survivor Researcher – An Instagram account advocating for the elimination of child abuse in sports, created by researcher Dr. Aurélie Pankowiak.
- Left Write Hook – A boxing and creative writing program for survivors
- British Martial Arts & Boxing Association – An independent body offering certifications for safeguarding in martial arts, special needs coordinators in martial arts, and trauma-informed coaching.
- FIFA Guardians – A collaboration between FIFA and Open University providing free online courses for safeguarding in football
- The Open University’s free courses on safeguarding essentials in sport
- Victoria University’s guide for applying trauma-informed principles to your sport organisation.
- Supporting Safer Sports, a campaign from the UK’s Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) providing resources for those working in sports to inform safe recruiting processes with robust background checks.
Have something to add to the Safe Sport Community Library? Leave a comment below to make a submission.
Emma Thomas
Creator of Under the Ropes
Emma is a sports ethicist specialising in safeguarding in Muay Thai. She’s also a former fighter, athlete-survivor and advocate, and has been writing about gendered issues in Muay Thai since 2013. After living in Thailand for 12 years, she completed a master’s degree in Sports Ethics & Integrity in Europe, conducting the world’s first study on sexual harassment & abuse in Muay Thai.
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