Athlete Safety
Our Commitment to Creating a Safe Space
At NENSA, we are committed to building a culture where every athlete can learn, grow, and compete in an environment that is safe, respectful, and supportive. A healthy sport culture protects our community, nurtures our athletes, and inspires a lifelong love of cross-country skiing. The resource below are designed to help you, our coaches and leaders, in creating and fostering physically, psychologically and emotionally safe spaces where skiers can grow and excel as athletes and community members.
Team Culture
Safety begins with culture. An inclusive, supportive team forms the foundation for physical and psychological well-being. Among the many resources available, Chapter 2 of NENSA’s BKL Manual offers practical strategies to build a positive team climate and an emotionally safe environment.
Background Checks
Screening those who work with youth is one of the most effective ways to ensure a safe, positive environment.
We strongly encourage all clubs to conduct annual background checks for anyone in direct contact with young athletes, whether they’re leading every practice or volunteering occasionally. For clubs covered by NENSA’s club liability insurance, background checks are required for applicable individuals working directly with youth.
There are many affordable resources available through state agencies and private companies, including providers that search the National Center for Safety Initiatives (NCSI) database.
Need help finding the right resource? Contact NENSA staff at staff@nensa.net or visit our background check resources page.
Abuse Prevention
Whether you’re a parent, official, medical professional, or athlete of any age, you can be part of protecting and uplifting our sport community. Abuse prevention education doesn’t just stop harm — it actively builds a culture where athletes feel supported, valued, and empowered.
The U.S. Center for SafeSport is dedicated to preventing abuse and misconduct in sports and offers a variety of free online abuse prevention courses. These courses provide practical strategies for recognizing, preventing, and responding to concerning behaviors, ensuring that everyone can participate with confidence and support.
Learn more and choose the course best suited to your role here or below.
Reporting Concerns
Every member of our community plays a role in upholding our values. If you suspect misconduct or abuse, you can protect others by reporting it right away to the SafeSport hotline and local authorities. If you suspect misconduct or abuse, do not investigate the situation yourself. Report it to the SafeSport hotline and local authorities immediately. When in doubt, report.
For free, confidential, 24/7 support, you can also contact the National Sexual Assault Hotline offered by RAINN, the nation’s largest anti-sexual violence organization:
Minor Athlete Abuse Prevention Policies
As a U.S. Ski & Snowboard club, NENSA follows the U.S. Center for SafeSport’s Minor Athlete Abuse Prevention Policies, which have been adapted for U.S. Ski & Snowboard members and clubs.
The MAAPP exists to protect trust, respect, and fairness in sport – especially for minor athletes – by:
- Limiting one-on-one interactions between adult participants and minor athletes.
- Establishing organization-wide education and prevention policies.
- Requiring education and training for certain adult participants.
- Recommending additional best-practice prevention measures.
Read the full policy and know your responsibilities:
We are all responsible for creating a safe culture
Creating a culture of safety starts with understanding the rules and completing the necessary training, but it goes far beyond that foundation. By staying informed, listening to concerns, and addressing issues promptly, we ensure that cross-country skiing remains a sport where every participant feels welcome, valued, and safe. Remember, we all have easy access to resources (Report-a-Concern) to address inappropriate behavior
