The Conversation All Parents of Young Athletes Need to Have
The Conversation All Parents of Young Athletes Need to Have
By Ruthie Fierberg, Parents Magazine, April 3, 2015
For those of you who don’t know, April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month. For those of you who want to stop reading now—it is a tough subject—I remind you that it’s because of this sensitivity that we need to talk about it. According to the CDC, one in four girls and one in six boys will have experienced some form of sexual abuse by age 18. We can all agree that even one person is too many.
Participation in sports can be an invaluable experience for kids. Not only does it keep them active and physically fit, youth sports is where many learn teamwork, sportsmanship, determination, and perseverance. As a kid playing basketball and tennis, I learned how to work with my peers towards a common goal—and have fun while doing it. Yet, sports can also be a high-risk environment for physical and sexual abuse. We’ve seen this in national news stories like the Sayreville High School Football team, but, unfortunately, this is a risk for kids of all ages. Thankfully, there are ways to prevent these harmful situations so that children reap only the benefits of organized sports.
USA Swimming is one organization that has been working to actively increase awareness to reduce the risk of abuse in the sport through the Safe Sport Program. By following a five-point program, USA Swimming aims to create a safe and healthy environment for kids.
Read more: (You will have to scroll down to see the article)
Participation in sports can be an invaluable experience for kids. Not only does it keep them active and physically fit, youth sports is where many learn teamwork, sportsmanship, determination, and perseverance. As a kid playing basketball and tennis, I learned how to work with my peers towards a common goal—and have fun while doing it. Yet, sports can also be a high-risk environment for physical and sexual abuse. We’ve seen this in national news stories like the Sayreville High School Football team, but, unfortunately, this is a risk for kids of all ages. Thankfully, there are ways to prevent these harmful situations so that children reap only the benefits of organized sports.
USA Swimming is one organization that has been working to actively increase awareness to reduce the risk of abuse in the sport through the Safe Sport Program. By following a five-point program, USA Swimming aims to create a safe and healthy environment for kids.
Read more: (You will have to scroll down to see the article)
