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Childhelp Speak Up Be Safe for Athletes

Promote the safe physical, emotional, educational and spiritual development of youth athletes.

Speak Up Be Safe for Athletes

The Childhelp Speak Up Be Safe for Athletes initiative is now a curriculum being piloted in Arizona, developed with experts to promote safe development in young athletes.

Promoting the physical and emotional safety of young athletes.

Childhelp Speak Up Be Safe for Athletes aims to raise awareness about the widespread yet often overlooked issue of athlete abuse by promoting the physical and emotional safety of young athletes by equipping them with the tools needed to recognize, prevent, and seek help from athlete mistreatment.

The athlete curriculum builds on the evidence-based core Childhelp Speak Up Be Safe curriculum that teaches body safety, resistance strategies, connecting with safe adults, and more. This athlete curriculum may be taught on its own and is geared specifically to situations encountered by young athletes.

  • 80% of athletes indicate experiencing at least one incident of psychological harm or neglect while participating in youth sports
  • 22% of athletes indicate they were intentionally physically harmed during their participation in youth sports
  • 14-29% of athletes have been a victim of at least one form of sexual violence before age 18
  • Athlete sexual abuse with coaches as the perpetrator account for 0.2-9.7% of cases.
  • 47% of athletes entering college have already experienced some form of hazing abuse

Athlete abuse has been an issue at all levels of sport. It takes courage to come forward about abuse, and the Childhelp Speak Up Be Safe for Athletes curriculum helps young athletes and their safe adults to find their voices, connect with resources, and pursue their sports safely.

For more information and to schedule a Speak Up Be Safe for Athletes presentation contact:

Daphne Young, Chief Communications Officer

Phone: 480-922-8212

Email: dyoung@childhelp.org

6730 North Scottsdale Road, Suite 150
Scottsdale, AZ 85253

Speak Up Be Safe For Athletes

Rumors may be kept initially among themselves at pool or trackside, but hints or comments that are overheard should raise suspicion. It is easy to dismiss these as idle gossip, and indeed at times this may seem the easier option, but we have a duty to listen and report any concern.

D. MacAuley “Child Abuse in Sports” The British Journal of Sports Medicine