Practical knowledge for safer sport
Safe Sport International brings together international principles, research, lived experience and practical safeguarding expertise to help people and organisations create safer, more accountable sport environments.
NEW: SSI Safer Sport Summaries
Safe sport can be complex. SSI Safer Sport Summaries make key concepts easier to understand, share and put into practice.
The International Safe Sport Principles
12 principles designed to support safe, ethical and accountable sport systems.
The International Safeguards for All in Sport
A summary of the practical measures organisations can use to prevent, reduce and respond to abuse across children, adults and esports.
Safe Sport and Safeguarding in Sport
Clarifying the relationship between the safe sport as an outcome and the practical work of safeguarding.
SSI’s Green–Yellow–Red Approach to Safe Sport
A practical way to recognise safe practice, notice concerning behaviour and respond urgently to abuse or harm.
Download the Safer Sport Summaries and supporting graphics as a SUBSCRIBER member of Safe Sport Connect.
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SSI Guidance & Papers
Insight, analysis and discussion from Safe Sport International
SSI Blogs
Explore commentary and practical thinking on emerging safeguarding issues, athlete voice, culture and the development of safer sport.
International Safeguards for All in Sport and Esports
Practical frameworks for strengthening safeguarding.
The International Safeguards provide practical measures that organisations can use to develop, implement and review safeguarding across different sporting environments.
- View the International Safeguards for Children in Sport (ISCIS)
- View the International Safeguards for Children in Esports (ISCIES)
- Take the ISCIS Safe Sport Pledge
- View the International Safeguards for Adults in Sport (ISAIS)
- Take the ISAIS Safe Sport Pledge
- Access the International Safeguards Resource Bank
Safer Recruitment
Safer organisations start with safer recruitment
Recruitment and screening are important parts of creating safe sporting environments and reducing opportunities for harm.
RESOURCE:
As useful resource is the Council of Europe: Guidelines on safer recruitment in sport: Human rights-compliant screening of professionals and volunteers in contact with children (2025) – click HERE to view
Sports Safeguarding Culture Programme
Building cultures that support safer sport
Safeguarding is not only about policies and procedures. Organisational culture, leadership and everyday behaviour all shape whether people experience sport as safe.
RESOURCE:
Access the Culture Programme from the International Safeguards for Children in Sport – click HERE to view
Free Safeguarding and Safe Sports Learning
Accessible learning to build safeguarding knowledge and confidence
There are a number of free learning opportunities available to help people across sport strengthen their understanding of safeguarding, safe practice and their responsibilities.
RESOURCES:
- Safeguarding Essentials, Safeguarding Practice and Effective Safeguarding (From ISCIS)
- FIFA Guardians™ Safeguarding in Football Award (From FIFA)
- Duty to Care in Esports (From British Esports)
SSI Online Education and Training Courses
Specialist learning for people with safeguarding responsibilities in sport
SSI currently offers online learning designed to deepen understanding of safeguarding responsibilities, international policy and practical approaches to safer sport.
RESOURCES:
- International Policy and Practice in Safe Sport Course
- Safeguarding Responsibilities Within Sport Course
Resources For Coaches
Helping coaches create safer and more supportive environments
Coaches play a central role in shaping culture, relationships and everyday experiences in sport. These resources support safer, more inclusive coaching practice.
RESOURCES:
SSI Wellbeing Hub
Supporting athlete mental health, wellbeing and recovery
Safe sport is about more than preventing harm. It is also about creating environments where people feel supported, able to speak up and able to access help when they need it.
The SSI Wellbeing Hub brings together athlete-focused information, guidance and practical support around mental health and wellbeing. It covers topics including anxiety, depression, eating disorders, sleep, self-harm, suicidal feelings and body dysmorphia, alongside advice for people who may be feeling unsafe, overwhelmed or considering disclosing harassment or abuse. SSI Wellbeing Hub
It also includes practical guidance around trauma-informed practice, including support for planning trauma-informed events.
SSI Podcast Series
Safeguarding learning from leading voices in safe sport
The SSI Podcast Series brings together conversations with researchers, practitioners and other experts working across safeguarding and safe sport internationally.
The series gives listeners a more accessible way to explore the evidence, experiences and practical challenges that shape safer sport — complementing SSI’s written guidance, research and professional learning resources. The podcasts are already part of SSI’s wider Resources Hub alongside webinars, research and other educational content. Safe Sport International
They are particularly useful for people who want to engage with safeguarding ideas in a more conversational format and hear directly from those working across the field.
Selected Research Papers
Selected research and evidence helping to shape understanding, strengthen safeguarding practice and advance safer sport.
- Child Protection in Sport: Reflections on Thirty Years of Science and Activism (2014). Celia H. Brackenridge and Daniel Rhind
- The journey to reporting child protection violations in sport: Stakeholder perspectives (2023). Yetsa A. Tuakli-Wosornu, Sandi L. Kirby, Anne Tiivas and Daniel Rhind
- IOC consensus statement: interpersonal violence and safeguarding in sport (2024). Tuakli- Wosornu YA, Burrows K, Fasting K, et al.