Safe Sport Storyline #7
Athletes voice, Convicted sex offender in leadership position, Next generation sports leaders, Every stain should be part of the game, plus more Resources, Events and News.
Athlete Voice - A Safe Sport and Performance Sport Issue
The right of every child to express their views, feelings and wishes in all matters affecting them, and to have their views considered and taken seriously, is not just a safe sport issue but also a performance sport issue.
The rights of children are set out in the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child which has been ratified by almost every country in the World. A child is a person under the age of 18 years.
Article 12 of the convention concerns respect for the views of the child and gives every child the right to express their views, feelings and wishes in all matters affecting them, and to have their views considered and taken seriously.
In sport, we are not really that good at respecting the right of the children we coach to express their views, feelings, and wishes, nor do we tend to consider their views and take them seriously. Sport for children and young people is led by adults, who usually think they know better than children or young people, and dictate training and competition activities.
In sport, the norm is often a directive style of coaching where children are told what to do. Coaches take little time to listen to the views, feelings, and wishes of the children and young people they work with. Sessions are planned with little input from children or young people attending the sports activities.
This type of approach is not conducive to establishing a safe sport environment, where children or young people who are experiencing harassment, abuse, or exploitation, feel they can come forward and share their concerns with a trusted adult at the sports club.
It is also not conducive to achieving success in sport as we need to develop athletes and players that can make informed decisions on and off the playing field.
British Triathlon has enjoyed some considerable success in recent years with their triathletes winning no less than eleven Olympic medals from 2012 onwards. Their athlete development framework is designed around a set of principles that align with the organisation’s core values on talent development and coaching practice. The framework focuses on developing more than physical performance in swim, bike, and run. They seek to create independent learners and problem solvers, athletes capable of consistently making the right decisions at the right time.
This successful British program is one where the philosophy is about creating “engagement” and adding value to the athlete or coach’s delivery. Engagement requires listening to the views, feelings, and wishes of athletes, considering and taking their views seriously.
I recently had the opportunity of interviewing the Head of Football for a group of international football academies. He expressed his desire to develop young players who were both team players and individuals who could make informed decisions both on and off the football pitch. At the heart of this approach was “engagement” with the players before, during, and after each training session.
We can see that implementing article 12 of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child is not just a safe sport issue but is also a performance sport issue. Sports organisations and coaches need to ensure the children and young people they work with can practice in a safe sport environment and can develop as independent learners and problem solvers, athletes capable of consistently making the right decisions at the right time. To do this we need to use approaches and coaching styles that reflect article 12 of the convention and give every child the right to express their views, feelings and wishes in all matters affecting them, and to have their views considered and taken seriously.
Athletics South Africa challenged over convicted sex offender holding provincial leadership position
Steven Swarts, who is the stepfather of 400m world record holder Wayde van Niekerk, was convicted of the rape in 2020 of one of the female athletes he was coaching. Swarts received five years suspended sentence after admitting guilt in court. This, after a 21-year-old female athlete he coached made a complaint that he had inserted his fingers into her genitals while he was giving her a massage.
It was reported at the time that the incident occurred at the Eunice High School for girls on 25 June 2018. After the incident, the victim immediately laid a charge of rape and sexual assault at the Park Road Police Station in Bloemfontein.
Swarts, initially denied the allegation stating that he “gives all his athletes the same deep-tissue massage” and that “the groin area is also massaged because this is where the thyroid gland drains.” Furthermore, he reportedly, “warned the young woman that the massage would feel ‘odd’ and was shocked when he found out about the allegations.” Swarts also told Rapport newspaper that he has been “coaching children for free for 20 years”.
The case took two years to come to court where Swarts pled guilty to rape and sexual assault. He signed his conviction papers on 5 March 2020, receiving a suspended five-year sentence, suspended on condition of not being convicted of a further sexual offences or related matter.
“In terms of section 276 (1) (b) of act 51 of 1977 as amended, the accused is sentenced to 5 years imprisonment, which imprisonment is suspended for a period of 5 years on condition that the accused is not during the time of suspension convicted of contravention of section 3 of the Criminal Law Amendment act 32 of 2007 (sexual offences and related matters).”
The judge was also reported to have ordered that Swarts be included on the National Register of Sex Offenders. This I do not think is accurate as the victim was aged 21 years and the legislation in 2020 applied to sexual offenders committing crimes against children or persons with a mental disability. The law was amended in 2022 to add other vulnerable persons including young women under 25 years of age in certain circumstances.
Swarts was placed on precautionary suspension from the multiple positions he held within the Free State sporting fraternity by the then MEC of Sports, Arts, Culture, and Recreation in the province, Mathabo Leeto. It is unclear if ASA/AFC exercised their duty of care and also suspended Swartz from athletics.
It is also unclear what happened after Swarts received his suspended sentence. Did ASA/AFC conduct a disciplinary enquiry into the matter? How was Swarts’ precautionary suspension removed and how did he become again eligible to hold positions within ASA/AFC?
Swarts was elected as President of the provincial body, Athletics Free State (AFS), just over a year ago and when asked by members about the case before the election allegedly failed to disclose his conviction. When it became evident that he had a suspended sentence for rape, nine members made moves to remove him in a vote of no confidence. Ironically, this led to the nine members being suspended by Athletics South Africa (ASA).
James Moloi, ASA President, appeared to support Swarts when he claimed that AFS members were aware of his conviction when he was elected provincial president. Moloi is also said to have insisted that Swarts had been cleared by the court to retain his sports administrator and coach positions. This is unlikely, as this matter falls under ASA’s jurisdiction, not the courts.
Moloi confirmed the matter was in the hands of the ASA safeguarding committee, and the federation’s legal team, and that a decision (on Swarts’ eligibility and the suspension of AFS club members) would be reached soon. Moloi also revealed that World Athletics were aware of the case and had requested for the issue to be resolved.
Links to articles here and here.
Stellenbosch University student sports leaders safeguarding training
Last week a future generation of sports leaders studying at Stellenbosch University in South Africa undertook training in safeguarding with Donny Jurgens, Dynamic Development Solutions.
Donny is an experienced sports trainer who has delivered training in South Africa, regionally and internationally. As President of Gymnastics South Africa, he and CEO Anne Vermaak introduced safeguarding policies into the sport following the Larry Nasser scandal in US Gymnastics.
The team at Gymnastics South Africa quickly gained experience in implementing safeguarding measures. Donny is now sharing this expertise across various sports, including with upcoming sports leaders.
𝐄𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐲 𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐢𝐧 𝐒𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐁𝐞 𝐏𝐚𝐫𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐆𝐚𝐦𝐞
Arsenal Football Club are supporting “Every Stain Should Be Part of the Game”, a new campaign launched by their partner Dirt Is Good to support the 6 out of 10 girls who fear playing sport due to period leaks (Youth Sport Trust, 2024).
No girl should feel excluded from the game she loves because of fear or stigma. That principle laid the foundation of Aresena’s women’s team, which started as a programme run by Arsenal in the Community around 40 years ago with no other goal than to give local women a safe and inclusive space to play football.
That sense of belonging paved the way for four decades of progress in the women’s game – and remains at the heart of the programmes they deliver through Arsenal in the Community that connect with young girls across north London today.
As part of “Every Stain Should Be Part of the Game”, together with Dirt is Good we have launched a new programme of workshops and spaces designed to support young girls and boys break down barriers to sport participation – because everyone deserves to play with confidence and feel like we belong in the game we love.
Here in Africa where there is a lack of knowledge on menstrual health, access to hygiene products, gender sensitive football wear, changing areas and toilets, this is an issue that sports should be addressing to safeguard and protect player wellbeing in sport.
RESOURCES
Where is the Line?
UK Coaching has produced a short film that explores the complexities of duty to care in coaching. It follows the journey of fictional coach Sabrina as she negotiates a catalogue of issues. Can you spot where the line has been crossed and distinguish between good practice and poor practice? By engaging with this high-impact film, replay clips and accompanying guides, you will pick up essential tips and learn the value of putting people’s safety, well-being, and welfare at the centre of what you do.
Access the film clips and learning resources here
Julie Keeps Quiet/Julie Se Tait
As the star player at an elite youth tennis academy, Julie's life revolves around the game she loves. She trains hard, pausing only for class or physical therapy before returning to the gym fixated on making it into the Belgian Tennis Team. When her coach Jérémy is suddenly suspended following the suicide of one of his female protégées, all the players at the academy are encouraged to speak up about their experiences with him. Julie, however, decides to keep quiet.
Despite strong suspicions from those around her that Julie's relationship with Jérémy was inappropriate at best, her persistent silence begins to speak volumes. Confused and full of anxiety, the pressure she once channeled solely towards training shifts inward, affecting her confidence, her focus, and her game.
Executive produced by tennis champion Naomi Osaka, JULIE KEEPS QUIET is a "tense, taut, artfully hushed debut feature" (Variety) by Belgian writer-director Leonardo van Dijl. Led by newcomer Tessa Van den Broeck whose performance embodies the different ways trauma is internalized, JULIE KEEPS QUIET respectfully and empathetically examines why some victims choose to remain silent.
This film will be released next month so look out for it. If we see it become available online we will let you know.
A guide for managing high-risk activities
Sporting Integrity Australia have published another excellent safeguarding guide.
This essential resource helps sporting organisations to identify and reduce risks in environments where children may be vulnerable to harm or abuse by a person in a position of authority, such as:
Overnight camps and competitions.
Travelling and hosting arrangements.
Change rooms and public environments.
Online spaces.
The guide offers practical steps for organisations to protect young athletes, from implementing safe travel protocols, to promoting digital safety and clear communication.
Find resource here
EVENTS
First African Forum on Gender Equality in & Through PEPAS
March 11, 2025 | Artscape Theatre, Cape Town
The First African Forum on Gender Equality in & Through PEPAS is bringing together policymakers, sports leaders, and advocates to drive real change for women and girls in sports.
What to Expect:
-Expert Panels & Keynote Speakers
-Sessions on SRHR, safeguarding, and equity in access
-Networking with industry leaders & changemakers
-Innovative research & community-driven solutions
Limited seats available!
Register here
NEWS
Spain's ex-football boss Luis Rubiales fined for World Cup kiss
Spain's former football federation boss Luis Rubiales has been found guilty of sexual assault for kissing player Jenni Hermoso without her consent and ordered to pay a fine of €10,800 (£8,942), Spain's High Court has ruled.
He was acquitted of coercion, for allegedly trying to pressure Hermoso into saying publicly that the kiss was consensual.
Read article here
Court of Arbitration for Sport rejects Rubiales ban appeal
The former head of the Spanish football federation, Luis Rubiales, who was found guilty of kissing player Jenni Hermoso without her consent, has failed in his appeal against his suspension from football, the Court of Arbitration for Sport said last Friday.
Read article here
Harassment of Emma Raducanu reminds us women still bear brunt of abuse
Women in sport are left exposed by the lack of backing that men receive, and by toxic attitudes that must be called out.
Read article here
Former Tunisian FA boss Jary jailed for corruption
Wadie Jary, the former president of the Tunisian Football Federation (FTF), has been sentenced to four years in prison on corruption charges. This follows a four-year ban from the Tunisian National Olympic Committee after it claimed he had "breached national and international Olympic ethics codes".
Read article here
US Senate probes SafeSport
The Chairman of the US Senate Judiciary Committee, Chuck Grassley, initiated an investigation into the selection process conducted by US Safe Sport when it hired Jason Krasley as an investigator, a former police officer with a history of sexual offence allegations.
Read article here