Safe Football Allies

Tens of thousands of young Belgian boys and girls dream of becoming the next Tessa Wullaert, or Kevin De Bruyne. Football is Belgium’s number 1 national sport, with over 400.000 registered players, thousands of football coaches, club administrator, officials and parents run the hundreds of amateur and professional sport clubs and elite youth training programs to allow these children pursuing their dreams. Unfortunately, football is not immune to the endemic of harassment and abuse in our society. Research shows that young athletes on the elite pathway have an increased vulnerability to experience harassment and abuse from their coaches, peer athletes, parents, and entourage. Experiencing harassment and abuse in childhood leads to serious health impacts, decreases in sport performance, motivation, joy and participation, and impacts the child’s family, entourage, the sport organisation, and society as a whole. Although efforts are being made by the Belgian sport authorities and the four main football federations, the process of developing, implementing, and evaluating safeguarding policies has only recently begun. Indeed, up to date, tailored, evidence-based safeguarding programs for elite youth football are currently non-existent. The Safe Football Allies, therefore aims to address this current need.