500 individuals will be able to take the SafeSport® Trained Core course at no cost

The U.S. Center for SafeSport (the Center) today announced that the SafeSport® Trained Core course will be made available for free to 500 people across the United States for International Safe Sport Day, which is recognized on August 8.

“Training matters—whether you are an athlete striving for better performance, or a coach, parent, and teammate who cares about athlete safety,” said Paralympian April Holmes, interim CEO, U.S. Center for SafeSport. “We strongly encourage everyone in sport to get trained in abuse prevention. International Safe Sport Day is a reminder that protecting athletes is a team effort, and the Center is proud to offer free training spots for our Core course.”

The SafeSport® Trained Core course anchors a four-year progressive training series that provides learners with a certificate valid for one year upon completion. The course is available in multiple languages and trains individuals to:

• Recognize factors unique to sport that can make athletes more vulnerable to abuse,
• Apply researched-based strategies that can help protect athletes,
• Know when and how to report abuse and misconduct, and
• Understand the rules that help create a safer and more positive sport environment.

Between 2017 and the end of 2024, over 7.4 million SafeSport® online courses have been delivered to 3,629,621 individuals.

Options to take the SafeSport® Trained Core course for free

• For first-time learners outside of the Olympic and Paralympic Movement
  
  The Center is offering up to 500 adults—athletes, coaches, parents, and others who care about safety in sport—the ability to take the Core training at no cost. The opportunity is specific to individuals outside of the Olympic and Paralympic Movement who would otherwise need to purchase the course.
  • Registration is open from August 4-8 on a first-come, first-served basis.
  • Sign up here, and use the code SAFESPORTDAY after adding the course to your cart.
  • The course must be completed by August 10.
  • Please reach out to customersuccess@safesport.org if you have questions about the SAFESPORTDAY code.
• For individuals within the Olympic and Paralympic Movement
  
  If you are a member of a sport within the Olympic and Paralympic Movement, the Core course is accessible for free and required for adults who have regular contact with minor athletes. Please reach out to your sport governing body for more information on how to access the course and any training requirements.

Purchasing the Core course for your organization

The Center frequently partners with sport and youth-centered organizations outside of the Movement—currently more than 4,800—that wish to purchase the course to better educate their members, employees, and volunteers on how to recognize, prevent, and respond to abuse when it does occur.

More free resources and tools

In addition to the SafeSport® Trained series, the Center offers free courses for families, including parents, kids (ages 5-12), and teens (13-17).

The Center also has a free Parent and Guardian’s Handbook for Safer Sport and Bullying Prevention Handbook as well as free abuse prevention resources on topics like recognizing signs and symptoms of abuse, tips for creating a positive team environment, and how to respond to abuse disclosures.

For parents on the go, the Center’s free mobile app, SafeSport™ Ready, is a great tool complete with articles, interactive quizzes, and quick access to the database of individuals who have been restricted or banned from sport within the Olympic and Paralympic Movement.

Need for Abuse Prevention in Sport

The U.S. Center for SafeSport is the nation’s only independent organization dedicated to ending sexual, physical, and emotional abuse in U.S. Olympic and Paralympic sport. The Center emerged in response to high profile cases of sexual abuse of minor athletes within Olympic and Paralympic sport in the mid-2010s. With the mission of making athlete well-being the centerpiece of the nation’s sport culture, the Center has since been setting safety policies, and receiving, investigating, and resolving complaints of abuse and misconduct. In 2017 the Center received 281 reports and in 2024 the number of reports received annually grew to 8,098, resulting in a 2,780 percent increase. The Center also serves as an educational resource for sports organizations at all levels, from recreational sports organizations to professional leagues.

With the goal of ensuring athletes within the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Movement are safe, supported, and strengthened, the Center:

• Establishes safety policies, including the SafeSport Code and the Minor Athlete Abuse Prevention Policies (MAAPP).
• Investigates and resolves allegations of abuse and misconduct and levies sanctions, including temporary and permanent bans from sport.
• Delivers comprehensive abuse prevention education within and outside of the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Movement.

About the U.S. Center for SafeSport

The Protecting Young Victims from Sexual Abuse and Safe Sport Authorization Act of 2017 codified the U.S. Center for SafeSport (the Center), as the nation’s safe sport organization. It furthered the Center’s independence while underscoring its authority to hold individuals accountable. It also charged the Center with developing policies, procedures, and training to prevent abuse and misconduct in sport.

In October of 2020, the Empowering Olympic, Paralympic, and Amateur Athletes Act of 2020 became law, even further strengthening the Center’s independence and oversight functions while mandating minimum funding requirements for the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee.

The Center opened its doors in March of 2017.

Reporting and Resources

Report here to the U.S. Center for SafeSport if you have experienced abuse or misconduct—or if you have reasonable suspicion of abuse or misconduct—inflicted by someone in the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Movement. You can also leave a message by calling the Center at: 833-587-7233.

RAINN's 24/7 online hotline is available for crisis intervention, referrals, or emotional support at any time. You can also call RAINN at: 800-656-HOPE (4673).

The Suicide Prevention Lifeline provides 24/7 free and confidential support at 988lifeline.org or by calling 988.

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“We strongly encourage everyone in sport to get trained in abuse prevention. International Safe Sport Day is a reminder that protecting athletes is a team effort, and the Center is proud to offer free training spots for our Core course.” - April Holmes