Safeguarding as an integral part of development camps

FIS keeps on taking concrete steps towards the objective of ensuring that snow sports provide a safe and fair environment for all participants, across all levels.  

Following the production of a comprehensive safeguarding toolkit for event organizers, FIS has introduced safeguarding training as a mandatory assignment for coaches, coordinators, and FIS experts who take part in development camps.

The safeguarding training program is an evolution of “Safeguarding in Sport”, an online series launched by FIS in July 2023, with courses covering safeguarding essentials, safeguarding practice, and effective safeguarding.  

The program for development camps comprises webinars developed by FIS that combine safeguarding principles education with psychological awareness training prior to joining development activities. 

The objective is to proactively prevent harm with a focus on the potential impact on the athletes and an awareness of the critical role a coach plays in the athlete’s life. 

With many young athletes away from home for months at a time, their coach is in a position of trust and bears personal and professional responsibilities. 

Coaches play a critical role in overseeing the development of the athlete and improving performance while also being responsible for creating a safe environment in which risks are minimised. 

In turn the athlete trusts the coach to know what’s best for them in terms of health, nutrition, lifestyle and training but also in keeping them safe. 

Real-life examples 

Verena Stuffer is a former alpine skier who competed at the 2014 Olympic Winter Games and in three FIS World Championships as well as making 148 FIS World Cup starts. 

The Italian is now co-chair of the FIS Athletes’ Commission and says: “Coaches are role models for athletes, especially for young athletes, and it is important that they develop a healthy relationship.  

“They are travelling around the world for much of the year, so the relationship must always be respectful and structured, with both parties knowing their role.” 

Stuffer enjoyed solely positive experiences in training and competition as well as with the public and on social media. However, she feels that increased scrutiny calls for greater protection. 

Co-chair of the FIS Athletes’ Commission, Alex Fiva won Olympic Ski Cross silver in Beijing 2022 a year after having become world champion. 

He believes that young men and young women are equally at risk and understands how difficult it is for them to speak out because of the potential impact on their careers. 

“If qualifications or support fall under the authority of the person who is forcing the abuse, it becomes extremely difficult for young athletes to speak up,” he says. 

“There is immense pressure involved, possibly even the entire athletic career depending on it. The younger the athletes are, the more responsible individuals should be involved in different positions to better detect and prevent abuse.” 

It starts with psychological awareness 

Marcella Leonard is a social worker and director of Leonard Consultancy with 30 years’ experience specializing in sexual and domestic violent risk. 

Leonard works with both victims and perpetrators believing that to properly protect the former, she needs to understand the people who do them harm. 

She works across a range of organizations including sport and education as well as with religious and statutory bodies doing risk assessments and interventions.  

Leonard came on board with FIS in April 2024 and with an emphasis on proactively trying to prevent further harm, she suggested psychological awareness sessions. 

Leonard believes coaches need to understand what it is about their demeanor, language and behavior that is making an athlete feel uncomfortable which in turn will enable them to reflect on their behavior and change.  

“I do risk assessments all over the world – trying to get people to understand is the difference, as opposed to an assumptive base that they are all predatory,” says Leonard. 

There are generational and cultural differences as well as issues with attitudes, beliefs, atmosphere, and culture, including inappropriate language and sexual banter. 

“Sport in some ways is still trying to understand the exact dichotomy of the athlete still doing very well when they are being abused,” Leonard adds. “An assumptive base that a victim must fall apart, that a victim is someone who is crying, a victim is somebody who is self-harming.  

“All of those things: the difference between an intent to harm versus somebody who has done it without a genuine realization. It’s quite complicated.”