DOSP-VHR-002512 | Safe Sport Allies: Beschermen van kinderen tegen grensoverschrijdend gedrag in de lokale sport clubs

Too many children experience sexual, psychological or physical violence during their participation in organized sport. Following painful disclosures and prevalence studies that can no longer be overlooked, child protection and safeguarding practices are being developed and implemented throughout European sport.

However, to date, these initiatives lack solid evidence. Monitoring and evaluation data are barely existing, which compromises an evaluation of their effectiveness. Moreover, grassroots sport clubs seldom have designated staff to adequately implement the required procedures and practices.

This project will provide useful insights in developing, implementing and evaluating an intervention program to stimulate prosocial bystander behavior and safeguard children in grassroots sport clubs. By organizing national workshops and a European webinar, the educational materials will be disseminated into the wider EU sport community.

In this European collaborative partnership, we aim to take an evidence-based approach in setting up, implementing, and evaluating a bystander intervention.

A multidisciplinary group of sport administrators, survivors, safeguarding practitioners, and researchers will develop an educational program for athletes, coaches, and parents, as well as a policy roadmap for club managers.

To test the effectiveness, a longitudinal evaluation study with an intervention and control group will be conducted in two countries.

• SSA toolbox: script interventions, discussion cards, factsheets, animation video