Athlete safety has improved dramatically since many parents were involved in competitive, school, or recreational sports. We used to play shortly after hitting our head, as long as we remembered our name. Weigh-ins with our team and body shaming was normal to keep us aware and motivated (obsessed) to stay fit and “healthy.” Coaches often yelled obscenities to their athletes and teams during practice. Also, a coach could chaperone an athlete to an event without any other supervision. These circumstances seem outrageous to us in 2023, yet some still persist.
Fortunately, there are organizations offering training for coaches, athletes, and parents. I believe learning how to keep your child physically and mentally safe should be your top priority. Here are a few organizations willing to teach and assist you as you send your child out to play.
Protecting Young Brains
The CDC ”HEADS UP to Youth Sports” program offers training for coaches and officials designed to educate everyone to protect athletes from damaging concussions. There are easy to read and understand Informational sheets for athletes. Helmet safety is addressed for sports ranging from hockey to biking, and equestrian to snowboarding. Policies and laws adopted by many states are mentioned on their website. Furthermore, they urge you to become involved and educate your children about concussion safety. Your athlete’s coaches should be vigilant about keeping your athlete safe and healthy. If you have any questions regarding their protocol when an athlete hits their head, please reach out to ask. Be sure you are comfortable with their approach after a head injury.
A Safe Space
The U.S. Center for SafeSport is an organization focused on the safety of athletes. SafeSport believes athletes have a right to be involved in sports free of abuse and misconduct. Their training resources are available for coaches, parents, amateur organizations and athletes. Everyone involved has a responsibility to keep their sports environment a safe space for all ages.
The SafeSport training will explain how to prevent abuse and how to recognize signs that abuse may appear in the sports environment. You will learn how to react in a situation. If you feel compelled to intervene in a situation, SafeSport has guidelines for intervention techniques and reporting claims of abuse. We expect our children to be in safe environments with trainers and teammates working together for a positive athletic experience. It’s important to know the signs that may indicate negative situations and tools to best help your child stay safe.
Positive Sport Experience
TrueSport is an organization with educational opportunities for coaches, parents, and athletes focused on good sportsmanship and “clean healthy performance.” Sports provide life skills on every level for our children. TrueSport has resources to help you and your athlete’s trainers focus on positive sports experiences from Little League through elite competitions. You may notice your child values winning at all costs. Perhaps the coaches are using damaging rhetoric to motivate their athletes for the next game. You realize your child is beginning to burn out from the pressure of their sport. If you are experiencing either of these scenarios or other similar situations, use the resources TrueSport has to promote change for a healthier and enjoyable athletic experience for everyone.
While it seems being the best is the ultimate goal for our athletes, we may lose sight of why they became active in their sport in the beginning. Your child thought it looked fun, their friends were all on a team, or it was a sport you excelled at and they enjoyed having a common activity with you. Help keep them safe and healthy with the many resources available for you, your child and their trainers. Finally, you may ask if your athlete’s coaches have been trained in the programs mentioned above along with others that advocate for their well-being and mental and physical health.