Help Your Child Thrive This Summer: Learn How to Spot 9 Signs of a Negative Sport or Camp Environment
Every child deserves the chance to explore, play, and learn in an environment that prioritizes well-being and encourages growth as they practice a new skill or enjoy their favorite sport.
But growth can only happen if these environments are supportive and safe. As you prepare for your child’s upcoming summer camp or sports season, take a moment to pause and survey the environment they’ll be entering.
By paying attention to the warning signs of potentially unsafe sport, camp, or other active environments, parents and guardians of youth athletes can help cultivate sport atmospheres where athletes can thrive.
Signs to Be Aware Of
Abuse prevention strategies usually involve understanding positive attributes of a sporting environment. But just as a positive sport environment can help prevent abuse and misconduct, a negative setting can open the door to it.
While exploring the following list, remember that unsafe or negative environments can have lasting effects, which filter down to athletes and affect how they are treated—and how they treat each other. When adults in the lives of athletes prioritize positive, supportive team values, you demonstrate that abuse or misconduct will not be tolerated.
