Including a “misconceptions” section. https://www.usef.org/safe-sport
@skydy - thanks so much for drawing attention to this and sharing a link. I checked out a number of things on the website, and think it’s a BIG step forward.
Nothing against the earlier videos with Anne K and McLain W, but I think the first four videos they have on the new portion of the USEF website are MUCH more useful, and well done. The choice to have Sonja Keating as the primary speaker on the topic is appropriate, and neutral. The videos are well produced, and I liked all the footage of clips from various disciplines, and how they frequently featured kids participating. It helps keeps the viewer mindful of what precisely the whole program is about. It’s also enjoyable to see young kids participating (I’m a parent though, and rode as a child, and am admittedly someone who just loves watching kids with horses). I did find it amusing that they chose to include multiple scenes of a trainer respectfully and appropriately adjusting a minor’s leg position. :lol: My only major criticism is that the background music was repetitive, and some of the intro information about Safe Sport was a bit dull and repetitive.
I did dig into some of the individual stakeholder links. The link for parents is REALLY well done in my opinion. Lots of great resources there. The “Parent toolkit” link is worth checking out in particular. It’s useful well beyond SafeSport and equestrian activities. There is a ton of information, grouped by age, concerning how a parent can engage with their child about a variety of emotional, physical and sexual abuse concerns. Basic bullet points on how to start conversations with your child, things to watch out for, etc. It’s quite a long “toolkit”, but something I will definitely dig into more in detail when I have more time. honestly, at first glance, it actyally immediately offered useful and relevant info for some issues of concern I’ve had with my older child, and a few peer to peer interactions that seemed negative with respect to totally unrelated team sports he participates in. Also, some negative experiences he had at a younger age with team sports and coaches and what amounts to emotional abuse are CLEARLY defined. In a basic way. I wish I had this link about two years ago when going through one particular season that was pretty negative for my son. I would have been able to talk to the coach in a more pointed and effective way, and supported my child better. Oh well.
I applaud USEF on this effort. I’m sure there are things folks can, and will, pick apart about this new portion of the website and the links… but my overwhelming initial impression is positive. Clearly a lot of work went into this, and it’s quite content rich. It seems whatever resources they have spent in order to have better communications with membership, and an effective education strategy with respect to SafeSport, was money well spent.
Hopefully it’s a more positive 2020 with respect to this issue and the whole organization 
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