The CoViS Needs Analysis examined athletes’ experiences and sport professionals’ views concerning sexual harassment, professional boundaries, reporting, and safeguarding in sport. The findings provide the evidence base for the educational resources being developed by the CoViS project.
Study at a glance
Six key findings
These behaviours should not be dismissed as harmless jokes. They can contribute to discomfort, humiliation and the normalisation of inappropriate conduct in sport.
Repeated verbal harassment can affect psychological safety and may reduce athletes’ willingness to speak up or report concerns.
Sport professionals emphasised that some behaviours previously treated as normal expressions of closeness may actually represent violations of professional boundaries.
Education should therefore provide practical knowledge: what to do, whom to contact, how to document a concern and what support should follow.
A reporting system is effective only when it is accessible, confidential, independent and followed by a credible organisational response.
Clubs and federations need clear codes of conduct, trained safeguarding personnel, trusted reporting channels, consistent procedures, appropriate follow-up and organisational accountability.
What this means for CoViS education
The Needs Analysis shows that effective safeguarding education must go beyond definitions. The CoViS educational resources will help athletes and sport professionals to:
- recognise different forms of inappropriate conduct;
- understand professional boundaries and power imbalance;
- identify early warning signs and risky situations;
- challenge victim-blaming and the minimisation of harmful behaviour;
- respond safely when witnessing or receiving a disclosure;
- understand where and how to report a concern;
- clarify the responsibilities of coaches, clubs, federations and athlete-support personnel;
- contribute to a sport culture based on dignity, safety and accountability.