ABSTRACT
Concerns about children’s participation in adult-organised sport have existed for decades and remain today. Despite the potential positive benefits of sport for many children, far too many young people experience gender-based violence, including psychological, sexual, and physical violence, and neglect, in their sport experiences. Our understanding of the causes of violence in sport are well-understood and centre on cultural norms of hegemonic masculinity and the prioritisation of performance outcomes, failed policies, and self-regulation, all of which contribute to the violation of children’s rights. To prevent gender-based violence in children’s sport, their rights must be protected and used to drive the design, delivery, and evaluation of children’s sport. Recommendations are made to advance rights-based sport environments where athletes have access to developmentally appropriate participation and autonomy, leadership that is child-centred, and opportunities to be children.
