Child maltreatment and abuse in sport: prevalence, forms and European guidelines,Gli abusi sui minorenni nello sport: prevalenza, tipologie e direttive Europee

Cases of abuse and/or maltreatment have always occurred within sport enviroments, but they were considered as isolated incidents and sometimes even normalized or seen as advantageous for enhancing performance. Despite the body of research revealing the pervasive nature of violence in all its manifestation and across all levels in sport, there are still few studies that investigate the factors concomitant to the development of the phenomenon and its characteristics. This deficiency delays the dissemination of internationally recognized standards grounded in empirical evidence, which could serve as guidance to prevent and counter the phenomenon. This article aims to describe the various forms of child abuse in sport, offering an overview of the existing European directives and regulations aimed at safeguarding minors participating in sports.