Safe Sport Task Force to help takedown misconduct and expand communication within wrestling
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by Gary Abbott, USA Wrestling
USA Wrestling has created an ad-hoc Safe Sport Task Force, a group of 10 volunteer leaders with a diverse background in wrestling and in life, who are focused on making our sport safer.
The Task Force will meet regularly and work with USA Wrestling Safe Sport Director Dan Prochnow on a variety of initiatives to help USA Wrestling improve and expand its Safe Sport program.
“We can all have differing points of view on many things in the wrestling community. However, we can not be divided when it comes to wiping out misconduct and keeping our athletes safe,” said Prochnow.
The Task Force includes present and past National Team athletes, referees, state leaders, youth club coaches and administrators, all with a shared passion for the sport and providing the best possible experience for all of its athletes. In addition to the wrestling background, many have a variety of professional and educational experiences that will assist them as part of the Task Force.
Task Force members include Veronica Carlson (CO), Jon Carpenter (NV), Jose Delgado (TX), Kyven Gadson (IA), Krista Graff (OK), Bior Guigni (MA), Sam Julian (PA), Hardell Moore (OK), Julia Salata (TN) and John Stefanowicz (VA).
These leaders are very familiar within wrestling. Carlson, Gadson, Salata and Stefanowicz are current or past National Team athletes. Julian has been an Olympic referee. Guigni, Carpenter and Delgado are state association leaders. Moore is youth coach and past Div. I wrestling star. Graff is State Chapter Director of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame.
Among the skill sets and experiences of this group includes law enforcement, special education teaching, child services training, event management, child abuse training, youth development, technology background and social media innovation.
“We want new out-of-the-box thoughts on how we communicate Safe Sport to all of our constituents, athletes, coaches, officials, parents and others. The Task Force will have input on anything we do with Safe Sport. There is two criteria for their work, that it is 1) meaningful and 2) effective. That is why we have this Task Force, to address how we make this a priority in all aspects of the sport,” said Prochnow.
Some of the topics being addressed by the Task Force are:
• How do we effectively reach minor athletes with the Safe Sport message?
• How do we effectively reach minor athletes with easy way(s) of reporting misconduct?
• How do we get local clubs to more strongly embrace Safe Sport?
• What kind of new parent orientation materials must be developed?
“We have high quality people on the Task Force. They will help us find new ways to reach kids and encourage them to report misconduct. They will help us give the wrestling community the tools to succeed,” said Prochnow.
The Task Force will meet regularly and work with USA Wrestling Safe Sport Director Dan Prochnow on a variety of initiatives to help USA Wrestling improve and expand its Safe Sport program.
“We can all have differing points of view on many things in the wrestling community. However, we can not be divided when it comes to wiping out misconduct and keeping our athletes safe,” said Prochnow.
The Task Force includes present and past National Team athletes, referees, state leaders, youth club coaches and administrators, all with a shared passion for the sport and providing the best possible experience for all of its athletes. In addition to the wrestling background, many have a variety of professional and educational experiences that will assist them as part of the Task Force.
Task Force members include Veronica Carlson (CO), Jon Carpenter (NV), Jose Delgado (TX), Kyven Gadson (IA), Krista Graff (OK), Bior Guigni (MA), Sam Julian (PA), Hardell Moore (OK), Julia Salata (TN) and John Stefanowicz (VA).
These leaders are very familiar within wrestling. Carlson, Gadson, Salata and Stefanowicz are current or past National Team athletes. Julian has been an Olympic referee. Guigni, Carpenter and Delgado are state association leaders. Moore is youth coach and past Div. I wrestling star. Graff is State Chapter Director of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame.
Among the skill sets and experiences of this group includes law enforcement, special education teaching, child services training, event management, child abuse training, youth development, technology background and social media innovation.
“We want new out-of-the-box thoughts on how we communicate Safe Sport to all of our constituents, athletes, coaches, officials, parents and others. The Task Force will have input on anything we do with Safe Sport. There is two criteria for their work, that it is 1) meaningful and 2) effective. That is why we have this Task Force, to address how we make this a priority in all aspects of the sport,” said Prochnow.
Some of the topics being addressed by the Task Force are:
• How do we effectively reach minor athletes with the Safe Sport message?
• How do we effectively reach minor athletes with easy way(s) of reporting misconduct?
• How do we get local clubs to more strongly embrace Safe Sport?
• What kind of new parent orientation materials must be developed?
“We have high quality people on the Task Force. They will help us find new ways to reach kids and encourage them to report misconduct. They will help us give the wrestling community the tools to succeed,” said Prochnow.
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