Safe Sport Flashcards
Mastery
Safe sport = “A sport environment that…
Safe sport = “A sport environment that is free from
maltreatment, and optimizes sport experiences through promoting holistic development, respect, human rights (e.g., safety, inclusion), and fun.”
Safe Sport and EDI
* Whole person - includes EDI & providing safe sport
spaces for…
- Who gets to bring their whole self to sport and who gets to bring a small fraction of themselves to sport to be safe?
- But research shows currently that is not the case…equity-deserving athletes experience…
- “Safe Sport efforts that rely on broad, open-door
practices to promote (or force) assimilation of
equity-deserving athletes into a sport system that is
inherently exclusionary, rather than fostering spaces
for diverse participants to meaningfully enter and
participate”
Safe Sport and EDI
* Whole person - includes EDI & providing safe sport
spaces for individuals from diverse backgrounds
- Who gets to bring their whole self to sport and who gets to bring a small fraction of themselves to sport to be safe?
- But research shows currently that is not the case…equity-deserving athletes experience increased prevalence of harm in sport
- “Safe Sport efforts that rely on broad, open-door
practices to promote (or force) assimilation of
equity-deserving athletes into a sport system that is
inherently exclusionary, rather than fostering spaces
for diverse participants to meaningfully enter and
participate”
Safe sport – Canadian context
* Biggest challenge: most abuse happens at the …. sport level, but most of the resources go to …
- Lack of consistency in policy & execution from national to provincial to community level
- Challenges at community level
- Volunteer run organizations & Low funding - lack of of capacity to implement
- Current culture of fear - particularly for _______________
Safe sport – Canadian context
* Biggest challenge: most abuse happens at the community sport level, but most of the resources go to national organizations and don’t trickle down to clubs
- Lack of consistency in policy & execution from national to provincial to community level
- Challenges at community level
- Volunteer run organizations & Low funding - lack of of capacity to implement
- Current culture of fear - particularly for minorities
Coaching & punishment
* Study of youth athlete perspectives on coach use of punishment
- All athletes suggested punishment was used. Examples: benching, yelling, physical conditioning (whole team), cleaning up after practice, changing positions
- Impact of punishment: …
- Importance of educating sport stakeholders (e.g., coaches, parents, athletes) on appropriate behaviour management strategies and alternatives to punishment to safeguard vulnerable youth:
- Providing feedback
- Encouraging and supporting athletes (i.e., + reinforcement)
- Conversation with athletes – including them in the learning & decision making
Coaching & punishment
* Study of youth athlete perspectives on coach use of punishment (Battaglia et al., 2017)
- All athletes suggested punishment was used. Examples: benching, yelling, physical conditioning (whole team), cleaning up after practice, changing positions
- Impact of punishment: trust in coach (and possibly other adults) eroded; negative feelings and eroded self esteem & self worth – can have long term impacts
- Importance of educating sport stakeholders (e.g., coaches, parents, athletes) on appropriate behaviour management strategies and alternatives to punishment to safeguard vulnerable youth:
- Providing feedback
- Encouraging and supporting athletes (i.e., + reinforcement)
- Conversation with athletes – including them in the learning & decision making
- Shift from punitive approaches to …
- Positioning coaches and others as people who can …
- Teaching all sport stakeholders how to create a positive environment vs. teaching…
- Shift from punitive approaches to strengths based approaches
- Positioning coaches and others as people who can contribute to creating a positive sport environment rather than as perpetrators
- Teaching all sport stakeholders how to create a positive environment vs. teaching “what not to do”
- Mental health = _________
- Mental health is a …
- Mental illness = _________
- A …
- Mental performance = _________
- The …
- Mental health = _________
- Mental health is a state of psychological, emotional and social well-being.
- Mental illness = _________
- A health condition characterized by alterations in individuals’ feeling, thinking, and behaving that lead to significant distress and impaired functioning in their personal and professional activities.
- Mental performance = _________
- The capability with which individuals use cognitive processes and mental or self-regulation competencies to perform in their changing environment.
Mental triad
“Mental performance is key for bolstering mental health and buffering against the risks of mental health challenges and illness.”
Good mental performance and still be struggling mentally.
No mental illness, but feel mentally unwell or unmotivated.
Mental illness, but still perform well with the right tools.
Physical activity & MH - benefits
* Lots of research shows that physical activity contributes to…
* Some reasons
* Physiological – e.g., …
* Psychosocial – e.g., …
Mental health & sport
* Many benefits as well as opportunities to develop skills to manage stress
* But a number of challenges as well… (not an exhaustive list)
*
*
*
*
Physical activity & MH - benefits
* Lots of research shows that physical activity contributes to positive mental health outcomes
* Some reasons
* Physiological – e.g., Endorphins/hormones from
exercise
* Psychosocial – e.g., Mastery, social interaction, development of self efficacy
Mental health & sport
* Many benefits as well as opportunities to develop skills to manage stress
* But a number of challenges as well… (not an exhaustive list)
* Performance anxiety
* Sport related injury
* Abusive environments (last week)
* Retirement from competition
Role of coach
* If athletes don’t feel supported by their coaches,
they may be…
* Coaches who prioritize and speak openly about
mental health and help seeking are better
positioned to ____________
- YET …% of coaches feel they …
- System starting to catch up…Coach training programs, Game Plan, and offerings through the Canadian Olympic and Paralympic Sport Institute Network (COPSIN) are working to address the need for professional development in this area.
Role of coach
* If athletes don’t feel supported by their coaches,
they may be less likely to speak about mental
health
* Coaches who prioritize and speak openly about
mental health and help seeking are better
positioned to promote athlete well-being and performance
- YET 70% of coaches feel they do not have the skills to
support athlete mental health - System starting to catch up…Coach training programs,
Game Plan, and offerings through the Canadian Olympic and Paralympic Sport Institute Network
(COPSIN) are working to address the need for
professional development in this area.
Link back to advocacy
* Need to change the sport environment that gives rise to ED/DE in sport – link back to social ecological model
* Jessie uses her platform to:
* Create awareness - normalizing ED/DE and encouraging help seeking
* Model healthy behaviours (e.g., eating during
training)
* Educate: how coaches and media should speak to,
and about, athletes
Link back to advocacy
* Need to change the sport environment that gives rise to ED/DE in sport – link back to social ecological model
* Jessie uses her platform to:
* Create awareness - normalizing ED/DE and encouraging help seeking
* Model healthy behaviours (e.g., eating during
training)
* Educate: how coaches and media should speak to,
and about, athletes
Who is the main researcher in the article?
How can negative body image affect athletic performance?
What are some sources of body image pressure in sport environments?
Why are indoor training spaces sometimes more harmful for body image?
Dr. Catherine Sabiston – University of Toronto, Director of the Mental Health and Physical Activity Research Centre
Lowers confidence, slows reaction time, impairs decision-making, increases injury risk, and may cause athletes to quit.
Coach comments, teammate comparisons, mirrors, tight uniforms, and posters of elite athletes.
They often feature idealized images of athletes, leading to comparison and self-consciousness.
What is Sabiston’s recommendation regarding weight-based language?
How do uniforms impact body image and performance?
What is the solution to the uniform problem?
What role does menstruation play in body image concerns for athletes?
Remove it entirely – it’s unnecessary and harmful.
Uncomfortable or tight uniforms increase body focus and decrease performance.
Offer various sizes and styles, allow athletes to choose what feels comfortable, and provide extras due to puberty-related body changes.
Fear of visibility or discomfort can distract from performance – athletes need supportive uniform options.
Do boys experience body image issues in sport?
What is one strategy for athletes to improve body image?
What can coaches do to support positive body image?
How can training spaces be more body-positive?
Q: What cultural changes does Sabiston recommend in sport?
Yes – often related to muscularity or fatness, and they experience similar performance impacts as girls.
Practice self-compassion – treat yourself with kindness, not criticism.
Talk openly with athletes, avoid appearance-based comments, create safe training spaces, and focus on performance.
Minimize mirrors, avoid harmful imagery, use clothing that prioritizes function over form.
Educate coaches, eliminate weight talk, offer uniform choice, promote diversity, and foster open dialogue.
