The Four Types of Safe Participation

Explore ways to keep yourself and others safe during sport, recreation, and physical activity.

At viaSport, we are committed to leading a culture that prioritizes respectful sport experiences that are safe for everyone. We also know that it can be hard to understand exactly what we mean by “sport safety” or “safe participation”. We really like the definition that the Indigenous Sport, Physical Activity & Recreation Council (IžSPARC) has developed to provide a clear explanation of the different types of safety and what they mean.

We recognize and acknowledge the leadership of the Indigenous Sport, Physical Activity & Recreation Council (IžSPARC) and thank them for their permission to share their work below. You can learn more about their approach to safe participation here.

What is “safe participation”?

Safe participation is all-encompassing, referring to physical, emotional, psychological and cultural safety for all participants.

• Physical safety refers to reducing the risk of injuries, concussion management, appropriate and progressive return to training and competition after injury, proper access to and use of equipment, etc. Creating physical environments that are designed for all types of participants is also a consideration for physical safety. Protecting participants from any form of physical harm, injury, violence or abuse is central to physical safety.

• Emotional safety stresses the creation of an environment where participants feel secure and supported in expressing their emotions, thoughts, and concerns without fear of judgment, prejudice, ridicule, or retribution, promoting their overall well-being and mental health.

• Psychological safety focuses on cultivating an atmosphere where participants, coaches, leaders, community members, families, officials, and others feel comfortable and empowered to take risks, share their ideas, ask questions, and engage in open and honest communication without the fear of negative consequences or retaliation.

• Cultural safety emphasizes creating an inclusive and respectful environment that recognizes and embraces the diversity of participants, considering their cultural backgrounds, values, and beliefs, and actively working to prevent any form of discrimination, prejudice, or bias based on cultural differences. Cultural safety promotes the infusion of culture, language and holistic approaches to programming, to foster an increased sense of cultural identity and pride.