Children’s right to play sports in a safe and healthy environment

Abstract

According to the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC), every child has a right to practise sports in a healthy, safe environment (art. 19). However, research indicates that child athletes experience various forms of violence in sports. Violence is particularly harmful to children, as the effects may be significant and long lasting. In addition, children often have difficulty identifying and reacting to violence. In this article, we first aim to shed light on the prevalence and implications of violence towards child athletes in sports. By child athletes, we mean athletes under the age of 18 (CRC art. 1). Thereafter, we discuss the following questions: (1) How does the CRC protect children in sports? (2) Can children’s rights be effectively protected through sports self-regulation of sports bodies and legal remedies? (3) Who is responsible for safeguarding children’s rights in sports? To answer these questions, we employ a multidisciplinary perspective that combines jurisprudence and sport psychology. In summary, we conclude that the CRC unequivocally prohibits all violence against children in all sectors of society, including sports. The responsibility for enforcing this prohibition lies with both member states and sports bodies. It is always the responsibility of adults. The full realisation of children’s rights requires action on multiple fronts, including legislation, information, education and resources.

Determinants of the adherence to Mediterranean diet: application of the k-means cluster analysis profiling children in the Metropolitan City of Bari

“…In the same way, a recent study (Rubini et al, 2022) highlighted that low income was combined with poor MD adherence. Moreover, children with high adherence play sports regularly; indeed, these findings are in line with the previous research (Aine et al, 2022) since they highlighted the association between a good dietary pattern and proper time spent doing physical exercise. Furthermore, the results showed a high percentage of children who skipped breakfast; on the other hand, several studies performed on the Italian and foreign population highlighted various percentages, in particular around 14 and 20% (Deshmukh-Taskar et al, 2010;Lazzeri et al, 2014;Ferranti et al, 2016;Rosi et al, 2020).…”

Athletic identity affects prevalence and disclosure of emotional abuse in Finnish athletes

“…The insights of coaches on this subject are valuable as they are directly affected, yet often overlooked, in research that predominantly focuses on athletes' experiences ( 13 ). Similarly, the perspectives of children and equity-deserving groups are underrepresented in sports research, and their viewpoints are critical to a comprehensive understanding of emotional abuse in sports ( 1 , 33 ). Diversifying research to encompass these different perspectives is essential ( 57 ).…”

“…Hence, the main aim of the present study is to ascertain the presence of any correlation between emotional abuse, athletic identity, and disclosure of abusive behaviors. To further address the limitations of past research, and to research the arguments made by Stirling and Kerr (24), our research questions were threefold: (1) is there an association between athletic identity and the prevalence of emotional abuse by coaches? ( 2) is there a relationship between athletic identity and disclosure of emotional abuse by coaches?…”

“…Over the past few years, several high-profile cases of emotional abuse have emerged in sports environments worldwide. One of these is that of a Finnish synchronized skating coach who, according to reports, repeatedly and intentionally emotionally abused their athletes for several years by, for instance, telling their athletes, including children, to kill themselves ( 1 ). The case was considered a landmark case by many industry professionals.…”

“…The case was considered a landmark case by many industry professionals. It highlighted that the issue of violence by coaches, and that of emotional abuse is very much present in Finnish sports ( 1 ). Similar cases can be observed in sports environments worldwide.…”