SafeSport Provides Abuse Prevention Resources for Parents and Coaches as Kids Dive Back into School Sports Season

Resources Offer Tips to Reinforce Positive Environments and Recognize Warning Signs

DENVER, Sept. 9, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- The U.S. Center for SafeSport recognizes back to school, fall sports, and other active programs as an opportunity for parents and coaches to refresh and increase their knowledge about abuse prevention to better safeguard children and teens in sport environments.

"While picking up our athlete or making sure they packed their cleats is part of our daily duty as sports parents, our primary concern is the safety of our kids," said Benita Fitzgerald Mosley, SafeSport CEO and LA84 Olympic Gold Medalist. "With children going back to school athletics and fall sports, parents and coaches can get back to learning with essential abuse prevention resources to refresh knowledge and better prioritize safety and well-being."

SafeSport maintains the Centralized Disciplinary Database (CDD), which lists individuals banned or restricted from participating in sport within the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Movement. The public database is searchable, updated in real time, and a recommended resource for anyone who cares about safeguarding within their communities. The Center also offers guidance on what to do if you recognize a name on the CDD. Additionally, SafeSport provides free resources on abuse prevention specifically tailored to parents, coaches, and other adults committed to safeguarding in sports.

For Parents:

• Designed specifically for parents, guardians, teens, and kids, the Center's free online courses for families share best practices for empowering families to protect youth athletes from abuse.
• Is It Appropriate Coaching or Abuse? helps parents and guardians be aware of behaviors coaches should model, and behaviors they should not.
• What Parents Need to Know About Grooming offers key information for parents about how to identify, prevent, and respond to harmful grooming behaviors in sport.
• The Parent and Guardian's Handbook for Safer Sport equips parents of youth athletes with essential knowledge and skills so they can advocate for safer sport environments for their children.
• The SafeSport Ready™ App features resources like those mentioned above and more all on one free app that parents can access from anywhere via their phones.

For Coaches:

• Tips for Creating a Positive Team Environment and Creating Inclusive Sport Environments offer helpful strategies for leading a successful and safe season for all athletes.
• The Bullying Prevention Handbook for Coaches of Minor Athletes provides youth sports coaches with strategies for responding to bullying behavior on their team.
• To help athletes understand how they can safely respond when witnessing inappropriate or hurtful behavior, coaches can learn how to Talk with Athletes About Bystander Intervention.
• Highlighting phrases to say and a plan of action to take, Responding to Abuse or Misconduct Disclosures supports coaches if an athlete chooses to disclose abuse or neglect.

"Returning to school and fall sports can be demanding, but it's important for parents and coaches to acknowledge the role they play in helping protect young athletes," said Monica Rivera, VP, Education & Research at the Center. "By taking the initiative, parents and coaches can learn how to prevent and address inappropriate behavior early, putting athlete safety at the forefront."

In addition to numerous free resources, SafeSport offers a continued education course for volunteers, which was recently updated and is available to individuals within the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Movement through their sport National Governing Bodies. A version of the course can also be purchased by organizations not connected with the Movement to help volunteers understand and contribute to safe environments.

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. SafeSport 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 leading the movement to make sports safer for all, SafeSport has since been setting safety policies, and receiving, investigating, and resolving complaints of abuse and misconduct. SafeSport 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, SafeSport:

• 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 Olympic and Paralympic Sport,
• Delivers comprehensive abuse prevention education within and outside of the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Movement, and
• Implements a comprehensive audit and compliance function over all National Governing Bodies (NGBs) within the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Movement to ensure adherence to safety, abuse prevention, and accountability standards.

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, as the nation's safe sport organization. It furthered SafeSport's independence while underscoring its authority to hold individuals accountable. It also charged SafeSport 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 SafeSport's independence and oversight functions while mandating minimum funding requirements for the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee.

SafeSport opened its doors in March of 2017.

Reporting and Resources 

Report 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 by someone in the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Movement. You can also call SafeSport at 833-587-7233 to make a report or ask questions about the reporting process. The hotline is staffed from 6:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. (MT), and you can leave a voicemail if calling after hours.

RAINN's 24/7 online hotline is available for crisis intervention, referrals, or emotional support at any time. You can also call RAINN at: 800-656-HOPE (4673).

The 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline provides 24/7 free and confidential support at 988lifeline.org or by calling 988.

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SOURCE U.S. Center for SafeSport