About PSS+
The Council of Europe has a long standing commitment to promote a safe and healthy environment for athletes, and in particular the youngest ones. Beyond the norms and standards set up on this topic, it has been developing new approaches and concrete tools for public authorities and sport organisations with the support of the European Commission:
Guidance, recommendations and training to sport administrators and coaches on physical, psychological and social well-being in sport → Pro Safe Sport project (PSS-2014-2015)
Awareness raising tools and capacity building resources to increase the commitment of both governmental and non-governmental organisations towards sexual violence against children in sport → Pro Safe Sport + project (PSS+-2017).
These tools completed the “Pro Safe Sport” package launched in 2015.
What is PSS?
When practicing sports, child/ young athletes can be very vulnerable and exposed to threats to their mental and physical integrity. PSS aimed at removing those threats by providing adequate learning tools to sport organisations and coaches (2014-2015).
Why a project on the physical and moral well-being of young athletes?
Why a project on the physical and moral well-being of young athletes?
All young athletes have the right to participate in a healthy and safe sport environment which promotes their welfare. Unfortunately, the lack of systematic injury/ harassment prevention mechanisms causes millions of unnecessary sport injuries and harassments per year in Europe.
Therefore, one important aim of the European Sport Charter of the Council of Europe is to ensure that everyone should have the opportunity to take part in sport and physical recreation in a safe and healthy environment.
More specifically, the Code of Sports Ethics of the Council of Europe recommends when working with young people to ensure that safeguards are in place within the context of an overall framework of support and protection for children, young people and women, both to protect the above groups from sexual harassment and abuse and to prevent the exploitation of children, particularly those who demonstrate precocious ability.
In 2009, the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU) – the so called Lisbon Treaty – entered into force and with it article 165 section 2 stating that Union action shall be aimed at (…)developing the European dimension in sport (…)by protecting the physical and moral integrity of sportsmen and sportswomen, especially the youngest sportsmen and sportswomen.
The Enlarged Partial Agreement on Sport (EPAS) used these political and legal instruments as a basis to develop the hands-on initiative "Pro Safe Sport for Young Athletes (PSS)". The main core of PSS is the design of a toolkit which shall effectively promote the physical and mental well-being of emerging athletes. The various target groups of PSS such as coaches and sport organisations can easily use the tools of this kit such as a self-assessment test and tips to enhance the moral and physical integrity of young athletes. This project is cofinanced by the EU.
