How does organized sport deal with sanctions for physical, psychological and sexual violence in a legally secure manner? That should be a Safe Sport Code regulate. At the DOSB general meeting a year ago, the delegates approved this uniform set of rules – despite many reservations. Now the first sports association is pulling out.
It should be a signal for safe sport – and against physical, psychological and sexual violence. That’s why the delegates at the DOSB general meeting a year ago voted for the Safe Sport Code.
A set of rules that is intended to help sanction attacks in a legally secure manner, even below the criminal law threshold. For example, when it comes to behavior that is not tolerated, such as yelling, humiliation or deprivation of food.
The celebratory mood at the DOSB is over
Only the German Football Association saw its clubs and associations overwhelmed by some of the wording in the code and voted “no”. All other associations agreed despite some reservations.
The German Swimming Association (DSV) had submitted various amendments at the time, all of which were rejected. Nevertheless, the DSV agreed at the time and, like all other professional associations, committed itself to submitting the code to its state associations for approval by 2028. “Thank you very much for this great vote, I think we can celebrate ourselves a bit right now”said DOSB board member Michaela Röhrbein.
A year later, the celebratory mood is over. Ten of the approximately 100 DOSB member associations have already implemented the Safe Sport Code for their area and others are likely to follow suit. Even the German Football Association is said to be planning to give its approval.
But one is out: the German Swimming Association. With more than 600,000 memberships, one of the largest sports associations in Germany. At the general meeting of the German Swimming Association on November 22nd, the delegates were supposed to decide on a proposal from the DSV leadership: either the Safe Sport Code or the DSV alternative “Right to Safe Swimming Sports”.
The latter should “an individual right to prevention, intervention and reappraisal” according to a press release from the swimming association. And that’s exactly what the delegates decided to do. The Safe Sport Code is no longer an issue for the German Swimming Association. Unless the regional associations decide differently for their direct area of influence.
DOSB is irritated and “a bit annoyed”
The DOSB’s departure from the DSV is met with a lack of understanding. “I hope this doesn’t catch on, because I’m already convinced that we don’t need a patchwork quilt in Germany when it comes to this topic.”says DOSB board member Leon Ries in an interview with Sportschau. “In this respect, the signal that such a decision sends is certainly one that can perhaps cause a little irritation in our structures.”
This sounds like concern that the laboriously achieved approval of the Safe Sport Code could crumble. In an interview with Sportschau, Ries confirmed that the implementation of the complex Safe Sport Code “is not a simple story”but also makes it clear that he cannot understand the either/or of the DSV. This comparison got him “a little upset.”
For Ries, the Safe Sport Code does not exclude the “right to safe swimming.” However, a “both and also” is apparently not possible for David Profit, the President of the German Swimming Association. His association has limited resources, says Profit, justifying its rejection of the Safe Sport Code to the sports show. “That means we have to focus on which path we want to take.”
And that was obviously not that of the DOSB and the Safe Sport Code. Nevertheless, Profit gives the impression of a general rejection. Instead, he emphasizes “that we have the same goal, but that a different path seems sensible to our members”.
DSV program not yet public
However, the concept of this other path is not public. “We’re not done with it yet and don’t want to put anything half-baked into the world”is Profit’s reasoning. In an interview with Sportschau, the DSV President describes the main features of the program: “This should be a right that everyone involved in swimming is personally entitled to – not just a guarantee, but a subjective right. This is linked to the values for safe swimming. This includes fairness, respect, health.”
As a second point, the DSV President mentions guidelines of conduct, i.e. rules that determine what is allowed and what is not allowed in swimming. Thirdly, it’s about “Minimum standards for safe swimming”.
No transfer of cases to external clearinghouse
At first glance, all of these points do not differ from what has been discussed in sports for a long time on the subject of “protection concepts” and has already been partly implemented. However, Profit misses the “prevention” aspect of the Safe Sport Code. The DOSB sees this already implemented in its existing regulations.
By going its own way, the DSV is also initially unable to transfer any cases of abuse to an independent, external clearing house. For example, the long-planned “Center for Safe Sport”, which is due to be built next year. Because there, DSV President Profit argues, the Safe Sport Code is the basis for processing. “I am also convinced that the DSV should handle its own issues”says Profit. “In this respect, I also think it is logical that we implement the intervention rules ourselves.”.
The DSV also considers the code to be too complex and not implementable for small associations or clubs. Other associations had also expressed this criticism. “It’s not a sure-fire success. Just because we made this decision last year doesn’t mean that everyone will implement the Safe Sport Code.”Leon Ries is aware. He therefore sees the DOSB as having a duty to continue to provide educational work, including with the German Swimming Association: “I hope for good discussions with the DSV in the future”
The gap should not get any bigger
They are also trying to ensure that the gap in the Safe Sport Code does not widen despite going it alone. Every sports association has its own history and its own experiences with the topic, says DSV President Profit.
Against this background, every association has “the task of taking responsibility for safe sport in your own sport”. This could happen in very different ways. “It is important that we all achieve the goal together of organizing safe sport, outlawing interpersonal violence and making our contribution to it.”