Why Policy Matters in Sport: How Setting Standards Can Lead to a Safer, Happier Youth Sports Experience

 

Parents, guardians, and coaches can all agree that safe sport settings are essential for young athletes to grow and thrive. And, while it’s easy to recognize the impact of a sports environment defined by inclusion, support, and encouragement, understanding the policies put in place to set youth athletes up for success is another story. 

How exactly does policy contribute to these aspiring and inspiring athletic atmospheres? Who creates and enforces the policy? And how can you better understand relevant policies to make sure the athletes in your life are benefiting? 

Impactful Policies that Protect Athletes 

When an athlete, youth or elite, walks into the gym or steps onto the court within the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Movement, there are policies in place to protect them from abuse and misconduct, ensuring they’re treated with respect during every form of participation in sport—from practice to the locker room to the end of year award ceremony. 

The U.S. Center for SafeSport is a driving force behind setting, enacting, and enforcing these policies that redefine the sport environment. Following the 2017 Safe Sport Act, the U.S. Center for SafeSport developed the Minor Athlete Abuse Prevention Policies, also known as the MAAPP. 

The MAAPP sets standards to help protect athletes. Sport organizations that are part of or affiliated with the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Movement are required to adopt and follow the MAAPP. Additionally, sport organizations outside of the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic movement are also encouraged to adopt the MAAPP because we believe that all of youth sport would be safer with these policies in place. 

From equestrian riders to basketball players, the MAAPP protects millions of athletes in over 50 sports representing the entire U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Movement.