ABSTRACT
Based on the finding that 37% of elite athletes in Germany have already experienced some form of sexual violence in sport and that these occurrences are most frequent at sports clubs related to organised sport, this chapter examines the initiatives taken by sports clubs to prevent sexual violence. Data from a large-scale survey of sports clubs are presented, and findings from an evaluation study conducted in the federal state of North Rhine-Westphalia are described. The results show that sports clubs in Germany are still not sufficiently attuned to protecting their athletes and that specific efforts are needed to support clubs in this area. The pilot project in North Rhine-Westphalia presented positive findings, but it simultaneously showed that the introduction of professional protection standards for athletes in voluntarily organised sport systems is highly complex.
