Author: kelsey.erwin

You Can Help Change Sport for the Better

As athletes, sport builds us up. It challenges us and helps us grow. But in order to do this, sport settings should be free of misconduct and abuse. And, ideally, they should be safe, supportive, and respectful so participants can thrive as athletes and in life.

Many athletes want sport to be safer for all participants, but they don’t know how they can help make this a reality. At the U.S. Center for SafeSport, we believe your voice and your experience as an athlete count, which is why we’re inviting athletes to take the 2024 Athlete Culture & Climate Survey.

Designed to empower athlete voices and assess athlete experiences across the world of sport, this critical survey will help shed needed light on our nation’s sport culture. If you have an athlete experience to share – be it positive or negative – your survey response will help the U.S. Center for SafeSport inform the wider sports sector about athlete needs, leading to needed awareness and culture change in sport environments across the United States.

The survey is open to athletes age 18 and over who have participated in any sport, at any age or level, in the United States. And, as a token of appreciation, all athletes who complete the survey will be entered to win one of two hundred $20 Amazon gift cards or one of four $100 Amazon gift cards, all of which will be randomly selected and sent out after the survey closes.

As athletes, we all know that the environments we find ourselves in can mean the difference between loving the game and walking away. With your voice, you can change the sport you love for the better – and help make future experiences for athletes more positive.

Exercise your voice today and take the survey by Friday, February 11, 2024.

Take the survey here --> 

*Must be 18 years of age or over located in the United States to participate. Survey closes February 11, 2024 at 12:00am CT.

View the original article on uscenterforsafesport.org

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About The U.S. Center for SafeSport

The U.S. Center for SafeSport is an independent nonprofit organization responsible for responding to and preventing emotional, physical, and sexual misconduct and abuse in the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Movement. The Center also serves as an educational resource for sports organizations at all levels, from recreational sports organizations to professional leagues.  Learn more >

 

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The Critical Need for Locker Room Safety

by Guest Post

U.S. Center for SafeSport

February 5, 2024 | 2 minutes, 19 seconds read

Locker rooms can be ideal places for team bonding, building friendships, and camaraderie between athletes. But left unmonitored, these spaces can quickly turn dangerous. From negative “locker room talk” to silly behavior that sometimes becomes inappropriate, the locker room can foster actions that might appear harmless but can easily become abusive.

So, how do we keep kids safe in the locker room?

Whether you’re a parent, coach, or volunteer, you might feel unsure about your role in helping monitor locker room behavior. Not to mention the fact that adults often feel uncomfortable in locker rooms. But for athletes, locker rooms are vulnerable spaces – and because of this, they can experience privacy violations or abuse.

Supervision Plays a Key Role

Kids are full of energy. They like to be silly and play around. While this behavior is natural and healthy, it can sometimes become unsafe when it occurs in unsupervised areas – like locker rooms. Adult supervision can change locker room culture, making it a safer space for all participants.

To help keep your organization’s locker room free from hazing, bullying, or misconduct, there are a few simple things you should know:

1) Adults should supervise. All locker rooms should be monitored by two or more adults. Remember, a child should never be left alone with an adult.

2) Privacy is key. Children in the locker room should have access to a private or semi-private area where they can change.

3) No phones or cameras allowed. No device that has a camera, such as a phone or tablet, should be allowed in the locker room. Make sure your sports organization practices a device-free locker room culture to protect athletes.

At the U.S. Center for SafeSport, we believe that athletes must be safe in order to thrive. Together, we can all help make sport safer, from the locker room to the playing field. To learn more about how you can help create abuse-free sport environments, visit uscenterforsafesport.org.

Read the original article at U.S. Center for SafeSport
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About The U.S. Center for SafeSport

The U.S. Center for SafeSport is an independent nonprofit organization responsible for responding to and preventing emotional, physical, and sexual misconduct and abuse in the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Movement. The Center also serves as an educational resource for sports organizations at all levels, from recreational sports organizations to professional leagues.  Learn more >

 

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Quick Guide to Crafting a Youth Sports Sponsorship Packet

by Kelsey Erwin-Formaneck

Content Contributor at SportsEngine

January 25, 2024 | 2 minutes, 57 seconds read

This quick guide aims to help you secure valuable sponsorships for your youth sports team or organization, ensuring sustainable funding and support. Follow these steps to create a compelling sponsorship packet that attracts sponsors and fosters lasting partnerships.

Step 1: Introduction

Start with a compelling introduction that succinctly outlines your youth sports organization. Highlight your mission, values, and the positive impact you have on the community. Keep it short but engaging to capture the sponsor's attention from the beginning. The letter should be written in a professional tone of voice and show passion for your club or organization. 

Pro Tip 

Include outstanding metrics such as:

  • Attendees at an event
  • Traffic to Team's Website (Impressions)
  • Amount of Social Followers and Channels

Step 2: Sponsorship Tiers

Present clear and attractive sponsorship tiers. Create Gold, Silver, and Bronze levels with distinct benefits for sponsors at each level. Keep it simple and make sure the value proposition is evident. Provide customization options to cater to different sponsor preferences. Do you know the cost to run your team? Calculate this as you price out each level of sponsorship.

Pro Tip 

Packages could differentiate from a large lift for your team to a smaller lift (pending sport and availability).

  • The gold-level package could include:
    • Presenting sponsorship across all promotional materials (i.e. presented by [Name/logo])
    • Newsletter inclusion "Thank you to our sponsors" section or ad feature
    • Certificate to showcase sponsorship in sponsor's place of business
    • Logo added to end-of-year awards
  • The silver-level package could include:
    • Logo included on team jersey's and court/field/scoreboard
    • Newsletter inclusion "Thank you to our sponsors" section or ad feature
    • Certificate to showcase sponsorship in sponsor's place of business
    • Logo added to end-of-year awards
  • The bronze-level package could include:
    • Logo included on court/field/scoreboard
    • Newsletter inclusion "Thank you to our sponsors" section or ad feature
    • Certificate to showcase sponsorship in sponsor's place of business

Step 3: Demographics and Reach

Share your audience's key demographics and your organization's reach (ages, income, location). Highlight social media statistics, website traffic, and anticipated event attendance. Help potential sponsors understand the exposure they will gain by partnering with your youth sports program.

Pro Tip 

Get feedback from your parents, volunteers, or board members to ideate how to best present to local businesses and set up an evening to meet you and the team, and present sponsorship options. These teammates will help you identify who best to bring in to support your athletes.

Step 4: Contact and Next Steps

End with a straightforward call to action. Provide contact information for inquiries and express your availability for meetings or presentations. Make it easy for sponsors to take the next steps. Conclude with a thank-you message for considering sponsorship and express excitement about potential collaboration.

Design Pro Tips

  • Keep each section concise and visually appealing.
  • Use impactful visuals to showcase your team and events.
  • Maintain a consistent theme and branding throughout the sponsorship packet.

Crafting a youth sports sponsorship packet doesn't have to be complicated. Follow these steps, customize the content for your organization, and present a compelling case that resonates with potential sponsors. Good luck!

Kelsey Erwin-Formaneck

About Kelsey Erwin-Formaneck

Content Contributor at SportsEngine

Kelsey Erwin-Formaneck is a marketer, writer, and podcast producer for SportsEngine, Inc. She currently works to provide solutions across various digital platforms to help increase youth sports participation, and share the love of sport. Kelsey grew up playing golf, softball, and dance in southeastern Minnesota. In her spare time, you can find her cheering on her favorite Minnesota Wild players, fulfilling her need for speed at a racetrack, or getting out for a trail run.

Schedule your free demo

Not on SportsEngine, yet? Fill out this form, and one of our experts will show you how we can take your organization to the next level.

 
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What is Misconduct in Sport and How Can You Respond?

by Guest Post

TrueSport

January 11, 2024 | 3 minutes, 53 seconds read

While sport should be a safe place for athletes to grow and thrive, the devastating reality is that there are times when that’s not true. That is why it’s so important for the many adults who surround young athletes to understand what qualifies as misconduct, intervene when necessary, and report information to authorities.

While intervention and reporting may be uncomfortable, the most important thing you can do for your athlete is protect them, and it’s your responsibility as a parent, coach, official, or other present adult to educate yourself and act. According to the U.S. Center for SafeSport, here’s what you need to know about recognizing, responding to, and reporting abuse and misconduct.

Recognize Abuse and Misconduct

Recognizing abuse and misconduct is a critical first step to both preventing and responding to it. To start, it’s important to realize that abuse and misconduct can happen between an athlete and many different people, including another athlete, a coach, coach’s assistant, athletic trainer, or physical therapist.

We’ll cover the types of misconduct and abuse below, but keep in mind that even if you can’t label a behavior or it doesn’t violate a policy, you should always report anything that concerns you. Additionally, while the below are referred to as misconduct, they can all be considered child abuse depending on severity, as per federal and/or state law.

  • Emotional Misconduct: Emotional misconduct can include both verbal and physical acts, from name-calling to throwing equipment at an athlete. Stalking and denying support can also be considered emotional misconduct.
  • Physical Misconduct: Physical misconduct is any behavior that does or could lead to physical harm, which includes both contact and non-contact acts. Examples include punching, knowingly letting athletes return to play after injury without medical clearance, and withholding food or water.
  • Sexual Misconduct: Sexual misconduct includes a wide range of sexual actions that are done without consent. It also includes grooming, sexual harassment, nonconsensual sexual contact or intercourse, sexual exploitation, exposing a minor to sexual content/imagery, sexual bullying behavior, and sexual hazing.
  • Bullying: Bullying involves repeated and severe physical, verbal, social, or sexual behaviors, including name-calling, spreading rumors, taunting, or ridiculing someone based on gender or sexual preferences.
  • Harassment: Harassment refers to repeated or severe conduct that causes fear or humiliation, degrades an athlete, creates a hostile environment, or attempts to establish superiority based on an athlete’s age, race, ethnicity, culture, religion, national origin, or disability.
  • Hazing: Hazing involves physical, mental, emotional, or psychological conduct that could intimidate, degrade, abuse, or put an athlete in danger in order to be socially accepted. This could include conduct like making people play drinking games, physically restraining them, or depriving them of water, food, or sleep.


Respond to Abuse and Misconduct

If you witness or know about misconduct or abuse, never assume that someone else is taking care of it. Be sure to intervene and put an immediate stop to any misconduct or other harmful behavior you witness. If you learn about misconduct after the fact, determine if it has stopped, and if not, take action to stop it.

As you prepare for your role as an active bystander and/or mandatory reporter, keep these best practices in mind:

  • Understand your sport organization’s policies and know what actions to look for, how you are expected to respond, and how to report.
  • Regularly discuss acceptable and unacceptable behavior and hold everyone accountable for their behavior.
  • Respond quickly to inappropriate behaviors to prevent escalation and continued harm.
  • Respond consistently to misconduct you witness or learn about so there is no confusion about boundaries and accountability.
  • Consider the developmental level of those involved when identifying acceptable behaviors and responses to those behaviors.
Read the Full Article at TrueSport

TrueSport supports athletes, parents, and coaches. Discover how >

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About TrueSport

TrueSport®, a movement powered by the experience and values of the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency, champions the positive values and life lessons learned through youth sport. TrueSport inspires athletes, coaches, parents, and administrators to change the culture of youth sport through active engagement and thoughtful curriculum based on cornerstone lessons of sportsmanship, character-building, and clean and healthy performance, while also creating leaders across communities through sport.

For more expert-driven articles and materials, visit TrueSport’s comprehensive library of resources.

This content was reproduced in partnership with TrueSport. Any content copied or reproduced without TrueSport and the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency’s express written permission would be in violation of our copyright, and subject to legal recourse. To learn more or request permission to reproduce content, click here.

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For the Love of Sport Podcast Book Sweepstakes Official Rules

January 26, 2024 - February 02, 2024

PRELIMINARY INFORMATION:

NO PURCHASE NECESSARY. A purchase will not improve your chances of winning. Void where prohibited. The For the Love of Sport Podcast Book Giveaway (“Sweepstakes”) will begin on January 26, 2024 at 12:00 AM ET and end on February 02, 2024 at 11:59 PM ET (“Sweepstakes Period”). All times in the Sweepstakes refer to Eastern Time (“ET”). Odds of winning depend upon the number of eligible Entries (as defined below) received. Sweepstakes is subject to all applicable federal, state and local laws.

ELIGIBILITY:

Open only to permanent, legal United States residents who are physically residing in one (1) of the fifty (50) United States or the District of Columbia (excluding Puerto Rico, Guam, the Virgin Islands and other United States territories), and who are eighteen (18) years of age or older as of the start of the Sweepstakes Period. Officers, directors, and employees of Sweepstakes Entities (as defined below), members of these persons’ immediate families (spouses and/or parents, children, and siblings, and each of their respective spouses, regardless of where they reside), and/or persons living in the same households as these persons (whether or not related thereto) are not eligible to enter or win the Sweepstakes. Sweepstakes Entities, as referenced herein, shall include SportsEngine, Inc., 807 Broadway St. NE, Suite 300, Minneapolis, MN 55413, NBCUniversal Media, LLC, 30 Rockefeller Plaza, New York, NY 10112, (collectively, “Sponsors”), and each of their respective parent, subsidiary, and affiliate companies, and their administrative, advertising, and promotion agencies, and any other entity involved in the development, administration, promotion, or implementation of the Sweepstakes

TO ENTER:

To enter the Sweepstakes, during the Sweepstakes Period, use your personal Instagram account to visit both the SportsEngine and Kirsten Jones Inc. account located at https://www.instagram.com/sportsengine/ and https://www.instagram.com/kirstenjonescoach/ (the “Websites”) and click the “follow” button to follow @sportsengine and @KirstenJonesCoach After you follow both accounts, you must post a photo or video of your favorite youth sports moment and tag @sportsengine along with the hashtag #ftlosbooksweepstakes for your entry. If your Instagram account is set to the “Posts are Private” setting, your Entry may be disqualified and rejected as ineligible for consideration in the Sweepstakes.

You may enter once during the Sweepstakes Period. Multiple Entries received from any person beyond this limit will void all such additional Entries. Entries generated by a script, macro, or other automated means or by any means that subverts the entry process will be disqualified. Entries must be received before January 26, 2024 at 11:59 PM ET to be eligible for the Sweepstakes. Sponsors’ computer shall be the official timekeeper for all matters related to this Sweepstakes. Entries that are incomplete, garbled, corrupted, fraudulent, or unintelligible for any reason, including, but not limited to, computer or network malfunction or congestion, are void and will not be accepted. In case of a dispute over the identity of an entrant, the authorized account holder of the email address used to enter will be deemed to be the entrant. “Authorized account holder” is defined as the person who is assigned to an email address by an Internet access provider, online service provider or other organization that is responsible for assigning email addresses for the domain associated with the submitted email address. Entry constitutes permission (except where prohibited by law) to use entrant’s name, city, state, likeness, image, and/or voice for purposes of advertising, promotion, and publicity in any and all media now or hereafter known, throughout the world in perpetuity, without additional compensation, notification, permission, or approval.

WINNER SELECTION AND NOTIFICATION:

On or about February 02, 2024 four (4) potential winners (each a “Winner”) will be selected in a random drawing by representatives of Sponsors from all eligible Entries received during the Sweepstakes Period. Sponsors will make two (2) attempts to notify potential Winner(s) via direct message to each potential Winner’s Instagram account in order to obtain potential Winner’s email addresses and phone number. Sponsors may share potential Winner’s name and contact information with Sweepstakes Entities and/or any prize provider, as applicable, if necessary. Potential Winner(s) may be required to execute and return an affidavit of eligibility, release of liability, and, except where prohibited, publicity release (collectively, “Sweepstakes Documents”) within one (1) day of such notification.  Noncompliance within this time period will result in disqualification, and, at Sponsors’ sole discretion an alternate potential Winner(s) may be selected from the remaining eligible Entries. If potential Winner(s) cannot be reached, is found to be ineligible, cannot or does not comply with these Official Rules, or if Prize (as defined below) or prize notification is returned as undeliverable, potential Winner(s) will be disqualified and time permitting, at Sponsors’ sole discretion, an alternate potential Winner(s) may be selected from the remaining eligible Entries. Limit one (1) Prize (defined below) per family or household.

PRIZE:

There will be four (4) prizes awarded (each a “Prize”) to Winners. Each prize will consist of the following:

  •  1 hardcover book entitled 'Raising Empowered Athletes' by Kirsten Jones.

Estimated Retail Value (“ERV”) of each Prize is twenty-eight dollars ($28). ERV of all Prizes is one hundred twelve dollars ($112). Actual Retail Value (“ARV”) of Prize may vary.

All details of Prize will be determined by Sponsors in their sole discretion. Sponsors reserve the right to substitute Prize (or portion thereof) with a similar prize (or prize element) of comparable or greater value. All taxes and other expenses, costs, or fees associated with the acceptance and/or use of Prize are the sole responsibility of Winner(s). Prize cannot be transferred by Winner(s) or redeemed for cash and is valid only for the items detailed above, with no substitution of Prize by Winner(s). If Prize is unclaimed within a reasonable time after notification from Sponsors, as determined by Sponsors in their sole discretion, it will be forfeited, and time permitting, an alternate Winner(s) may be selected from the remaining eligible Entries at Sponsors’ sole discretion.

Winner must be able to provide address to provider, or Prize will be forfeited. Sponsors shall have no responsibility or liability for cancellations, delays, or any other change by any company or person providing any element of Prize due to reasons beyond Sponsors’ control, and are not responsible or liable for any expenses incurred as a consequence thereof.

CONDITIONS:

By entering the Sweepstakes, each entrant agrees for entrant and for entrant’s heirs, executors, and administrators (a) to release and hold harmless Sweepstakes Entities, Instagram, and each of their respective officers, directors, and employees (collectively, “Released Parties”) from any liability, illness, injury, death, loss, litigation, or damage that may occur, directly or indirectly, whether caused by negligence or not, from such entrant’s participation in the Sweepstakes and/or his/her acceptance, possession, use, or misuse of Prize or any portion thereof (including any travel related thereto); (b) to indemnify Released Parties from any and all liability resulting or arising from the Sweepstakes and to hereby acknowledge that Released Parties have neither made nor are in any manner responsible or liable for any warranty, representation, or guarantee, express or implied, in fact or in law, relative to Prize, including express warranties provided exclusively by prize supplier that are sent along with Prize; (c) if selected as a Winner, to the posting of such entrant’s name on the Website and the use by Released Parties of such name, voice, image, and/or likeness for publicity, promotional, and advertising purposes in any and all media now or hereafter known, throughout the world in perpetuity, without additional compensation, notification, permission, or approval, and, upon request, to the giving of consent, in writing, to such use; and (d) to be bound by these Official Rules and to waive any right to claim any ambiguity or error therein or in the Sweepstakes itself, and to be bound by all decisions of the Sponsors, which are binding and final. Failure to comply with these conditions may result in disqualification from the Sweepstakes at Sponsors’ sole discretion.

ADDITIONAL TERMS:

Sponsors reserve the right to permanently disqualify from any promotion any person they believe has intentionally violated these Official Rules.  Any attempt to deliberately damage the Sweepstakes or the operation thereof is unlawful and subject to legal action by Sponsors, who may seek damages to the fullest extent permitted by law. The failure of Sponsors to comply with any provision of these Official Rules due to an act of God, hurricane, war, fire, riot, earthquake, terrorism, act of public enemies, actions of governmental authorities outside of the control of Sponsors (excepting compliance with applicable codes and regulations), or other “force majeure” event will not be considered a breach of these Official Rules.  Released Parties assume no responsibility for any injury or damage to entrants’ or to any other person’s computer relating to or resulting from entering or downloading materials or software in connection with the Sweepstakes. Released Parties are not responsible for telecommunications, network, electronic, technical, or computer failures of any kind; for inaccurate transcription of entry information; for errors in any promotional or marketing materials or in these Official Rules; for any human or electronic error; or for Entries that are stolen, misdirected, garbled, delayed, lost, late, damaged, or returned. Sponsors reserve the right to cancel, modify, or suspend the Sweepstakes or any element thereof (including, without limitation, these Official Rules) without notice in any manner and for any reason (including, without limitation, in the event of any unanticipated occurrence that is not fully addressed in these Official Rules).  In the event of cancellation, modification, or suspension, Sponsors reserve the right to select Winners in a random drawing from among all eligible, non-suspect Entries received prior to the time of the event warranting such cancellation, modification, or suspension.  Notice of such cancellation, modification, or suspension will be posted on the Website.  Sponsors may prohibit any entrant or potential entrant from participating in the Sweepstakes, if such entrant or potential entrant shows a disregard for these Official Rules; acts with an intent to annoy, abuse, threaten, or harass any other entrant, Sponsors, or Sponsors’ agents or representatives; or behaves in any other disruptive manner (as determined by Sponsors in their sole discretion).  Sponsors reserve the right to modify these rules for clarification purposes without materially affecting the terms and conditions of the Sweepstakes.

DISPUTES:  The Sweepstakes is governed by, and will be construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of New York, and the forum and venue for any dispute shall be in New York, New York. If THE controversy or claim is not otherwise resolved through direct discussions or mediation, it shall THEN be resolved by FINAL AND binding arbitration administered by JUDICIAL ARBITRATION AND MEDIATION SERVICES, INC., in accordance with its Streamlined Arbitration Rules and Procedures or subsequent versions thereof (“JAMS Rules”). The JAMS Rules for selection of an arbitrator shall be followed, except that the arbitrator shall be experienced and licensed to practice law in New York. All proceedings brought pursuant to this paragraph will be conducted in the County of New York. THE REMEDY FOR ANY CLAIM SHALL BE LIMITED TO ACTUAL DAMAGES, AND IN NO EVENT SHALL ANY PARTY BE ENTITLED TO RECOVER PUNITIVE, EXEMPLARY, CONSEQUENTIAL, OR INCIDENTAL DAMAGES, INCLUDING ATTORNEY’S FEES OR OTHER SUCH RELATED COSTS OF BRINGING A CLAIM, OR TO RESCIND THIS AGREEMENT OR SEEK INJUNCTIVE OR ANY OTHER EQUITABLE RELIEF.

WINNER ANNOUNCEMENT:

For the name of the Winner(s), available after February 02, 2024, send a self-addressed, stamped envelope to be received by Kelsey Erwin to 807 Broadway Street NE, Suite 300, Minneapolis, MN 55413.

This Sweepstakes is in no way sponsored, endorsed or administered by, or associated with Instagram.

Building a Positive Sport Culture

by Ju'Riese Colón

Chief Executive Officer at U.S. Center for SafeSport

November 28, 2023 | 3 minutes, 12 seconds read

Sport is powerful. It can teach leadership skills, build camaraderie, and demonstrate what real teamwork looks like. Sport builds resiliency and has created heroes and role models for many of us, myself included. But, when something is so powerful, it doesn’t take much for the pendulum to swing the other way. And we’ve all seen what that looks like – people and institutions that were trusted, believed in, and supported by many have managed to use that power to do harm.

Over the past five years, the U.S. Center for SafeSport has worked to usher in a new era of accountability to build and enforce structures that support youth in their athletic journeys. For the Center, this started with the introduction of the Minor Athlete Abuse Prevention Polices (MAAPP), a set of comprehensive policies that focuses on creating safe environments and clear guidelines to help sporting organizations implement practices that put safety first. The MAAPP limits one-on-one contact, defines prohibited conduct, and lays out stronger team travel requirements for youth. These policies also identify who should be trained to report sexual, emotional, and physical abuse and misconduct, going further than many mandatory reporting laws by creating additional layers of protection.

Of course, even the strongest policies can’t do it all – consistent implementation and ongoing focus are key to creating safe environments. Truly putting athlete well-being first, empowering parents with the right questions to ask, and taking the time to recognize the work that many coaches put in every day to build strong teams is ultimately how we build healthy culture.

I’m often asked what a good, positive culture looks like – where does it begin, and how do you know when you’ve achieved it? The answer is never simple and can be different for every team, every community, and every organization. But there are a few things that I encourage everyone to ask themselves to help figure out where their team’s culture stands:

  1. Do we truly put safety and well-being first? How are you engaging athletes, coaches, and parents around safety and wellbeing? Is it early and often or are you only covering it at the beginning of the season? Check out these resources to start and keep conversations going.
  2. Do we have rules that protect our athletes? Policies are a great way to shape positive behavior and define what is and isn’t acceptable for teams. They also should be updated, trained on, implemented, and customized to fit your needs.
  3. Do we hold everyone accountable for their actions? If the answer is no or sometimes, then you’ve got work to do. Athletes, coaches, and parents should not only understand the rules, but that breaking them has consequences, for everyone.

To report if you have experienced abuse or misconduct or have reasonable suspicion of abuse or misconduct inflicted on, or by, someone in the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Movement, click here.

Read the original article at U.S. Center for SafeSport

Ju'Riese Colón

About Ju'Riese Colón

Chief Executive Officer at U.S. Center for SafeSport

Ju'Riese Colón is the Chief Executive Officer of the U.S. Center for SafeSport, where since July 2019, she has led the organization's strategic vision and direction. An experienced child advocate who serves as an expert on issues related to child safety, Ju'Riese has led prevention and outreach initiatives with youth-serving organizations serving families, educators, law enforcement, and diverse communities.

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About The U.S. Center for SafeSport

The U.S. Center for SafeSport is an independent nonprofit organization responsible for responding to and preventing emotional, physical, and sexual misconduct and abuse in the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Movement. The Center also serves as an educational resource for sports organizations at all levels, from recreational sports organizations to professional leagues.  Learn more >

 

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Celebrate the Launch of Your New Live and On Demand Broadcasting Solution

by Marie Fitzgerald

Director, Product Marketing & Content Strategy at SportsEngine

November 23, 2023 | 3 minutes, 33 seconds read

This is the fifth article in our Roadmap to Success: SportsEngine Play series. Explore the full series and learn more about what SportsEngine Play can offer you here.

It’s finally game day. Teams have been preparing, parents have been getting excited, and you are ready to stream your first games with SportsEngine Play. We’ll share some important things to remember as you begin streaming games. Remember, it's not about being perfect; it’s about trying something new and bringing an awesome new offering to your athletes and their families.  

Hear from Frisco Independent School District (ISD) Broadcast Director Steven Doherty on how he started his video production with a few people and an idea and built it into an operation of more than 100 students and staff.  

Steven also shares some key learnings from when he first started out:

Celebrate Game Day by Sharing Links and Resources

To help celebrate when your teams are playing, share important links and resources on your website and social channels to ensure parents have everything they need. Whether they are attending the game in person and need a reminder of uniform color or location or if they can't make it and want to view it from your live stream.

Learn more by diving into our toolkit here

Make a Game Day Checklist

Use this cheatsheet and send it out to anyone streaming the game today to ensure they feel prepared and confident. The checklist includes things like what equipment you should bring with you, what to keep in mind while you are streaming, and, of course, don’t forget to hit record!

Have fun during the game while you are live streaming; note this isn’t a world-class production on your first go. Make room for error because you’ll have plenty of chances to perfect your process.  Celebrate the successes and laugh at the mishaps, but most importantly, don’t get discouraged. You are taking the steps to provide your members with an added experience and benefit to being part of your organization.  

The Game Ended. Now What? 

Ensure you have a plan for what happens after a game. Like before the game, we’d recommend posting the live stream link so families can watch the replay when they have time. They can also clip and share highlights if they have SportsEngine Play’s Premier or All-Access subscriptions. 

Learn more about our subscriptions here

We recommend at least a weekly check-in with all of your content creators from across your organization to see how the latest stream went and what can be improved and to create a culture of sharing and learning with one another. This can be as simple as an email chain or as sophisticated as a weekly virtual meeting.  

Stay Consistent Throughout the Season

It’s easy to do one game, but it’s a commitment to continuing to live-stream games. Keep at it and share resources links and promote your live stream to gain adoption with your members.  

Check out our toolkit to get easy-to-use templates, graphics, and a QR code generator for on-the-go access to all your live streams. Learn more

Marie Fitzgerald

About Marie Fitzgerald

Director, Product Marketing & Content Strategy at SportsEngine

Marie Fitzgerald is a Director, Product Marketing & Content Strategy at NBC Sports Next. She currently works to ensure the customer's voice is ever present in the way we build, communicate, and improve the SportsEngine platform. She is also the co-host of the For the Love of Sport podcast, celebrating the stories and people who make youth sports happen. 

Marie grew up playing soccer and basketball, and you can find a Bucky Badger bobblehead, a Chicago Cubs W flag, and a Man City scarf proudly displayed on or around her home desk in Whitefish, Montana. Marie was recently named to the Augsburg Women's Athletics All-Decade Team for the 2010s.

Connect with Marie Fitzgerald

Schedule your free demo

Not on SportsEngine, yet? Fill out this form, and one of our experts will show you how we can take your organization to the next level.

 

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How is Your Organization Helping Protect Youth Athletes from Abuse?

by Marie Fitzgerald

Director, Product Marketing & Content Strategy at SportsEngine

November 20, 2023 | 2 minutes, 12 seconds read

After the SafeSport Act of 2017 came into law, abuse in athletics has been even more so at the forefront of many parents' and youth sports organizations' minds. Now, more than ever, it’s not just enough as leaders to be against abuse, but also provide access to the tools to help everyone a part of your youth sports organization take a stance.  

NEW! Abuse Prevention Training For Families Now Available 

SportsEngine is pleased to announce that abuse prevention training for families is now available. Organizations on the SportsEngine HQ platform can provide this optional training to their members at checkout to allow them to be part of the solution of protecting youth athletes from abuse in sports. 

When a family registers their child for a sport, they can access the training upon checkout.  This new offering will make this training accessible to more families—the more educated we can all be, the better. 

New! Coach Training Added 

In addition to the new family training offering, we provide abuse prevention training for coaches and volunteers. Organizations can require a coach to complete the training through our membership and eligibility features to ensure the people working closest to your athlete are eligible to step on the playing field. 

Help Lower the Risk 

The more robust an organization’s safety program can be, the lower the risk of abuse. We understand that there is a lot on your plate as an administrator and volunteer. Still, by providing members access to this training, you mobilize your families as stewards in your commitment to safety.  

We are committed to continuing the fight to help end abuse in youth sports. We hope you will join us to bring this vital education to your families and athletes.  

If you are interested in learning more about our other safety offerings, dive into our full list of programs here >  

Get in Touch with Us! 

Want to get in touch with someone right away? Fill out the form below, and someone will be in touch shortly. 

Marie Fitzgerald

About Marie Fitzgerald

Director, Product Marketing & Content Strategy at SportsEngine

Marie Fitzgerald is a Director, Product Marketing & Content Strategy at NBC Sports Next. She currently works to ensure the customer's voice is ever present in the way we build, communicate, and improve the SportsEngine platform. She is also the co-host of the For the Love of Sport podcast, celebrating the stories and people who make youth sports happen. 

Marie grew up playing soccer and basketball, and you can find a Bucky Badger bobblehead, a Chicago Cubs W flag, and a Man City scarf proudly displayed on or around her home desk in Whitefish, Montana. Marie was recently named to the Augsburg Women's Athletics All-Decade Team for the 2010s.

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Case Study: Frisco Independent School District Expands their Broadcast

by Kelsey Erwin-Formaneck

Content Contributor at SportsEngine

November 16, 2023 | 2 minutes, 25 seconds read

At a Glance

Technology toolsChallenge: Finding a singular solution that will allow live sports streaming across a large school district that includes 67,000+ students across 77 schools.
Technology leaderSolution: A platform that can easily host local league games, tournaments, and clinics with low cost and high-quality impact.
Live stream capabilitesResults: For the 2023 season, over 4,000 of the district’s games will be streamed annually across the 12 middle schools and 18 high schools. Additionally, the district’s broadcast class offerings and clubs expanded across the board, taking their program to the next level.

Intro:

Frisco Independent School District (ISD) of Texas was in search of ways to connect with their team on and off the field. Bringing live streaming broadcasts into the homes of thousands across the district not only generates new revenue streams for the district but also expands opportunities for the students and would continue to grow engagement across the community of 210,000.

Challenge:

Hear first-hand from Steven Doherty, Frisco’s broadcast facilitator, who discusses the beginnings of the program and challenges the school district faced in terms of expanding outreach and maintaining the broadcast from our For the Love of Sport podcast episode below:

Solution:

Once Frisco's program took off, searching for a streaming provider that could streamline the maintenance, expansion, and training became critical. The right provider would also help Frisco become a standard model for streaming across school districts. An additional factor was keeping youth sports families in mind—keeping costs low, access wide, and on the go. Hear from Frisco's Facilitator for Athletic Communications, Matt Wixon, on the feedback from families once a provider was found:

Advice:

From finding the right provider to figuring out ways to expand your broadcast program or start from scratch, Frisco has you covered.  Here's their advice on creating a broadcast program for their athletics program: 

Conclusion:

Friscosportslive.com is now live and expected to stream over 4,000 sports games featuring over 12,000 student athletes for Frisco's high school and middle school level teams (friscoisd.com). In addition, Frisco's broadcast classes and clubs are looking forward to the new technology development and expansion. 

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Kelsey Erwin-Formaneck

About Kelsey Erwin-Formaneck

Content Contributor at SportsEngine

Kelsey Erwin-Formaneck is a marketer, writer, and podcast producer for SportsEngine, Inc. She currently works to provide solutions across various digital platforms to help increase youth sports participation, and share the love of sport. Kelsey grew up playing golf, softball, and dance in southeastern Minnesota. In her spare time, you can find her cheering on her favorite Minnesota Wild players, fulfilling her need for speed at a racetrack, or getting out for a trail run.

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Recap | On Ice to On Air: Streaming Youth Hockey Games and Events

by kelsey-erwin

November 7, 2023 | 1 minute, 13 seconds read

Are you curious about how to bring live-streaming to your youth hockey organization? With SportsEngine's launch of the new home of youth sports videos and streaming service, SportsEngine Play, you can never miss a moment.

Watch as the Vice President of Video Operations, Nick Busto, and Director of Product Marketing and Content Strategy, Marie Fitzgerald, discuss how your team can bring their games to life with streaming and on-demand video. An added bonus—they are joined by surprise guest Ken Martel—Senior Director, Player & Coach Development at USA Hockey, who talks through how broadcast can also help with player development on the go. 

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Request your demo  

Fill out this form for a personalized demo of SportsEngine Play. We'll show how easy it is to stream events.

 

 

 

 

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