Sexual Abuse, Safeguarding and Prevention in Sport

This chapter offers a critique of key issues around safeguarding and prevention in relation to sexual abuse in sport. Central to the chapter is a consideration of the prevalence and incidence of sexual abuse in sport and responses from a number of governing bodies around the world. Ramifications of the findings from these reviews go beyond the respective disciplines for which they were produced and point towards the need for greater joined up thinking and sharing of practice between sports and governing bodies to support and protect potential victims and survivors of abuse. Simultaneously, we offer a critique of the change in approach to risk management which has occurred in recent years and the implications of this for coach-athlete relationships.