Training
All youth athletes deserve a safe experience within their sport. Awareness and education are important tools to help prevent sexual abuse in the sport of gymnastics.
The Athletes are Children First initiative provides education and training on how to prevent abuse, how to recognize if an athlete is being abused, and how to respond to and report abuse. This initiative, a partnership between The New York Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (The NYSPCC) and the Athlete Assistance Fund (AAF), aims to provide comprehensive child sexual abuse prevention training for gymnastics club owners, staff, gymnasts, parents, and caregivers..
Throughout 2021 and most of 2022, all child sexual abuse prevention training through the Athletes are Children First initiative will be available free-of-charge across the country.