Author, Dr. Yetsa A Tuakli-Wosornu from the Sports Equity Lab has partnered with #WeRideTogether to collaborate and create this athlete-centered IOC Consensus Dissemination Project, which unpacks and elaborates on critical points from the IOC Consensus. The Dissemination Project will provide a 10-part series that highlights key takeaways from the IOC Consensus with visuals, activities, and social content that can be tangibly applied and integrated into sporting communities. This series aligns with the values and mission of both the Sports Equity Lab and #WeRideTogether to promote awareness on the topic of abuse in sports, eliminate inequities in sport, and provide everyone with accessible information on positive values and best practices to keep sports safe and healthy.
Why do Safeguarding Officers matter?
The 2024 IOC Consensus Statement concludes with actionable guidelines per the report's top recommendations, the last of which is measuring effectiveness. Thus, once an evidence-informed safeguarding intervention has been implemented in a sports setting, it must be evaluated in context. Safeguarding officers, leads, and teams are critical to implementing safeguarding in their sporting community. They are the boots on the ground stewards keeping sports safe and healthy, and their success depends on how much they are supported, resourced, and empowered.
With more organisations introducing safeguarding roles, it is critical that these positions are not just appointed, but embedded. As Dr. Yetsa A Tuakli-Wosornu says, “inclusion without belonging is injury.” Safeguarding Officers must not only be included in an organization but also fully belong to it to avoid risks and harm to themselves and the athletes' safety.
What does belonging look like for Safeguarding Officers?
Safeguarding Officers cannot simply be instated as figureheads. Rather, they must be accepted and respected by senior levels at sporting organizations. This connects them to financial support to fulfill their child protection duties and shows leadership buy-in, valuing safeguarding. With such commitment and support, safeguarding officers are positioned to be effective in their role.
What does injury look like to Safeguarding Officers?
Safeguarding Officers often operate alone or in small teams. They hold complex and specific roles with significant responsibility and emotional load. They manage cases, talk with survivors and perpetrators, develop policy and procedures, and advocate for institutional courage.
When they do not belong, beyond their job description, they are often left to persuade and promote the basic need for safeguarding amongst a resistant leadership or community. This can lead to compounded stress, ineffective safeguarding systems, and increased risk for all participants.
Current Realities of Safeguarding Officers
Across the world of sports, safeguarding officers commonly deal with:
- No ubiquitous formal training or qualifications
- Have broad responsibilities that they must be able to fulfill (doping, equity, safeguarding – case management, training, policies and procedures, measuring effectiveness)
- Being under-resourced and undervalued
- Navigating an inconsistent and still emerging landscape of sports safeguarding
The lack of tools, authority, and support often makes it extremely difficult for Safeguarding Officers to protect athletes.
Recommendations for Sporting Organizations
To ensure that safeguarding systems are truly protecting sporting participants, organizations must empower their Safeguarding Officers. This means:
- Selecting Safeguarding Officers who hold a huge commitment and passion for the role
- Regularly asking and listening to what Safeguarding Officers need (If your organization cannot fulfill that need, reach out for help and support)
- Confirming that the job descriptions for the Safeguarding Officer and Team are clear and transparent
- Supporting your Safeguarding Officer and Team with resources and the latest evidence-based information
- Backing your Safeguarding Officers publicly and privately through your shared commitment to athlete safety
- Facilitating interactions between your Safeguarding Officer and Team with peers across sports and child protection entities to strengthen practice and build connections
- Following best practices for appointing your Safeguarding Officer and Team (see resources below)
Activity
Safeguarding Officers and organizational leadership can use this self-audit checklist to foster belonging, well-being, and effectiveness among those in safeguarding roles, promoting the safety of all participants.
If you or someone you know needs support, please visit our Crisis Resources or Resources for assistance.
Kathryn McClain, MSW, MBA
Program and Partnerships Director at #WeRideTogether
kmcclain@weridetogether.today
References
- Hartill, M., & Lang, M. (2014). “I Know People Think I’m a Complete Pain in the Neck”: An Examination of the Introduction of Child Protection and “Safeguarding” in English Sport from the Perspective of National Governing Body Safeguarding Lead Officers. Social Sciences, 3(4), 606-627. https://doi.org/10.3390/socsci3040606
- Tuakli-Wosornu Y.A., Burrows K., Fasting K., et al. (2024). IOC consensus statement: interpersonal violence and safeguarding in sport. British Journal of Sports Medicine. 58:1322-1344. https://doi.org/10.1136/bjsports-2024-108766
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