CARS – Competitive Artistic Roller Sports
Elevating the Sport, Honoring the Art, Inspiring the Skater.
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🛡 SafeSport-Aligned Communication & Culture

Protecting Skaters. Empowering Voices. Building Trust.
A comprehensive guide for coaches, parents, and club leaders

Creating a thriving artistic roller sports community requires more than technical excellence — it demands a culture where every athlete feels valued, respected, protected, and empowered to reach their full potential.

This guide establishes communication expectations and cultural standards that align with SafeSport policies and the requirements of governing bodies including the Artistic Roller Skating Association (ARS) and the USA Roller Sports (USARS).

These are not suggestions. These are the standards that define who we are as a community.

✨ Our Core Beliefs

Our community grows strongest when every member feels safe to grow, question, and contribute.

🗣 Principle 1: Communication That Builds Confidence

Words shape performance. Words shape identity. Choose them with intention.

The language coaches use doesn't just correct technique — it shapes how athletes see themselves, their potential, and their relationship with the sport. Every interaction is an opportunity to build confidence or diminish it.

✓ Effective Communication Practices

  • Praise effort and progress, not just outcomes — "I can see how much harder you're working on that entry" builds growth mindset
  • Correct with clarity and kindness — focus on what to improve and how, not what's wrong
  • Address the skill, never the skater's worth — "That edge needs more pressure" not "You're not trying hard enough"
  • Ask questions that promote self-awareness — "What did that edge feel like?" rather than just telling them what went wrong
  • Acknowledge when something is difficult — normalize struggle as part of learning

Communication in Action

✓ Effective: "I noticed your edge was a bit flat there. Let's try bending your knee deeper and see if you feel the difference."

✗ Harmful: "You're doing it wrong again. How many times do I have to tell you?"


✓ Effective: "That's closer! Your timing improved. Now let's work on holding that edge longer."

✗ Harmful: "Still not right. Watch [other skater] — why can't you do it like that?"

Remember: Athletes remember how you made them feel long after they've forgotten specific corrections. Make every word count toward building them up.

❤️ Principle 2: Protect Emotional and Mental Safety

Athletes — especially youth — are still developing their sense of self-worth. Handle with care.

Emotional abuse leaves invisible scars that can last a lifetime. Mental safety is not "soft coaching" — it's the foundation of sustainable athletic development and lifelong love of the sport.

✗ Never Acceptable — Zero Tolerance

  • Shaming — public humiliation, mockery, or deliberately embarrassing an athlete
  • Yelling or aggressive tone — raising voice to intimidate or control
  • Belittling comparisons — "Everyone else can do this, what's wrong with you?"
  • Body-image comments — any comment about weight, appearance, or body type (EVER)
  • Withholding dignity as punishment — isolation, exclusion, or silent treatment
  • Sarcasm at an athlete's expense — humor that diminishes

✓ Build Resilience Through Support

  • Encourage self-awareness without judgment — "What do you think you could improve?"
  • Celebrate personal bests, not just podium finishes — growth matters more than rank
  • Normalize setbacks as learning opportunities — "That's tough, but it teaches us something"
  • Create space for emotions — frustration and disappointment are valid
  • Model emotional regulation — coaches who lose control teach athletes to do the same

Critical Understanding: An athlete who fears their coach will never reach their full potential. Fear-based coaching produces compliance, not excellence.

🤝 Principle 3: Boundaries Are a Form of Care

Healthy boundaries protect relationships, maintain professionalism, and keep athletes safe.

Boundaries are not barriers to connection — they are the framework that allows trust to develop safely. When adults maintain appropriate boundaries, athletes learn what healthy relationships look like.

✓ Professional Boundary Standards

  • Use approved communication channels — club email, team platforms, or parent-copied messages for minors
  • Maintain transparency with parents/guardians — no secret conversations or private arrangements
  • Follow the two-adult rule — avoid one-on-one situations in private spaces whenever possible
  • Conduct private conversations in observable locations — offices with windows, open gym areas
  • Use touch appropriately and sparingly — only for spotting or demonstration, always explained beforehand
  • Never engage in personal relationships that blur professional lines — no favoritism, special treatment, or intimate friendships
  • Document concerns and incidents — maintain clear records of behavioral issues or safety concerns

When an Athlete Expresses Discomfort

  1. Take it seriously immediately — do not dismiss, minimize, or question their perception
  2. Thank them for speaking up — reinforce that reporting concerns is the right thing to do
  3. Stop the behavior — if it's your own action, apologize and adjust; if it's another person, intervene
  4. Document what happened — record the date, location, concern, and your response
  5. Report to appropriate authorities — follow club protocols and SafeSport guidelines
  6. Follow up — check in with the athlete to ensure they feel safe and heard

Non-negotiable principle: If an athlete says they are uncomfortable, that boundary must be respected — no questions, no excuses, no exceptions.

🛑 Principle 4: Zero Tolerance for Power Abuse

Coaches hold authority. Athletes hold trust. Never exploit that dynamic.

The coach-athlete relationship is inherently unequal in power. This power differential creates vulnerability that must never be exploited. SafeSport exists precisely because authority can be abused.

SafeSport Prohibits

  • Manipulation — using guilt, fear, or obligation to control athlete behavior or decisions
  • Harassment — any unwelcome conduct based on protected characteristics or that creates a hostile environment
  • Coercion — forcing participation, compliance, or silence through threats or pressure
  • Retaliation — punishing athletes or families for reporting concerns or asserting boundaries
  • "Favoritism for loyalty" dynamics — rewarding athletes who comply without question while excluding those who advocate for themselves
  • Grooming behaviors — gradually breaking down boundaries to normalize inappropriate conduct
  • Any form of sexual misconduct — including inappropriate touching, comments, or relationships

Recognizing Power Abuse

✗ Manipulation: "If you really cared about this team, you'd compete even though you're injured."

✗ Retaliation: Reducing ice time or excluding an athlete after their parent questioned coaching methods.

✗ Coercion: "You won't get private lessons unless you agree to train on weekends."

✗ Inappropriate favoritism: Giving preferential treatment only to athletes who never question decisions.

Foundational Truth: Respect is earned through integrity and competence — never through compliance, fear, or silence. Athletes have the right to advocate for themselves without penalty.

🧩 Principle 5: Invite and Value Athlete Voice

Athletes are not passive recipients of coaching — they are active participants in their own development.

When athletes have voice and agency in their training, they develop ownership, self-awareness, and resilience. Questions are not challenges to authority — they are signs of engagement.

✓ Creating Space for Athlete Voice

  • Normalize questions at every level — "What am I supposed to feel here?" should always be welcome
  • Include athletes in goal-setting — collaborative planning creates buy-in and motivation
  • Ask for their input on training approaches — "What's working for you? What isn't?"
  • Encourage self-assessment — "How did that feel to you?" before giving your evaluation
  • Respect when they need a break — athletes know their bodies; trust them
  • Acknowledge when they teach you something — learning is mutual

Empowering Questions Athletes Should Feel Safe to Ask

"Why do we do it this way?"

"Can I try that again at a slower speed?"

"I don't understand what you mean — can you explain it differently?"

"I'm feeling really fatigued today — can we adjust?"

"That correction isn't working for me. Can we try something else?"

Coach's Role: Create an environment where curiosity is encouraged, self-advocacy is respected, and athletes are partners in their own journey — not followers of rigid commands.

🏳️‍🌈 Principle 6: Inclusion Is Our Strength

Every athlete belongs here. No exceptions. No asterisks.

Artistic roller sports thrives when we embrace diversity in all its forms. Inclusion is not a buzzword — it's a commitment to creating space where every skater can show up fully as themselves.

All Genders
All Races & Ethnicities
All Body Types
All Ages
All Backgrounds
All Learning Styles
All Abilities
All Experience Levels
All Sexual Orientations
All Gender Identities
All Socioeconomic Statuses
All Religions & Beliefs

✓ Practicing Radical Inclusion

  • Use inclusive language — gender-neutral terms, respectful pronouns, culturally sensitive phrasing
  • Challenge stereotypes actively — interrupt bias when you see it, even in casual conversation
  • Adapt coaching to different learning styles — visual, verbal, kinesthetic learners all deserve access
  • Make financial accessibility a priority — sliding scale fees, equipment sharing, fundraising support
  • Celebrate diverse representation — showcase role models from all backgrounds
  • Create policies that protect marginalized athletes — anti-discrimination policies with teeth
  • Seek out diverse perspectives in decision-making — leadership should reflect the community

Our Promise: We break barriers in performance — and we break barriers to participation. If someone wants to skate, we find a way to make it happen.

📣 Principle 7: Community Accountability

We protect each other. We speak up. We act.

SafeSport culture only works when the entire community takes responsibility for upholding standards. Silence enables harm. Action protects athletes.

When Someone Crosses a Boundary

  1. Speak up in the moment if safe to do so — "That's not okay" can stop harm immediately
  2. Support those affected — check in privately, validate their experience, offer resources
  3. Document what you observed — specific details, dates, locations, witnesses
  4. Report through proper channels — club leadership, SafeSport, USARS, local authorities as appropriate
  5. Assume positive intent initially — address concerns directly before escalating when appropriate
  6. Escalate when behavior repeats or harm is severe — patterns demand intervention
  7. Follow through — ensure action is taken and impacted parties are protected

✗ What We Do NOT Do

  • Shame individuals — address behavior, protect dignity
  • Enable repeat offenders — accountability requires consequences
  • Protect reputation over safety — athletes matter more than image
  • Dismiss concerns because "they didn't mean it" — impact matters more than intent
  • Allow power dynamics to silence reporting — everyone's voice deserves to be heard equally

We Course-Correct for the Good of Athletes: Accountability is not punishment — it's an opportunity for growth, repair, and prevention of future harm.

🧭 Principle 8: When in Doubt, Follow SafeSport

Policies exist to protect everyone. Trust them.

If a situation causes hesitation, feels unclear, or seems "not a big deal" — default to SafeSport protocols. These policies were written because real harm occurred when people dismissed their instincts.

Trust the Process

  1. If you're unsure whether to report → Report it. Let trained professionals assess.
  2. If you're worried about overreacting → Better to be cautious than allow harm to continue.
  3. If someone asks you to keep something confidential → You cannot promise confidentiality if safety is at risk.
  4. If you think "it's probably fine" → Seek guidance from SafeSport resources to be certain.
  5. If others dismiss your concern → Trust your instincts and escalate appropriately.

When We Align with SafeSport, We Protect:

  • Athletes — from harm, exploitation, and unsafe environments
  • Coaches — from false accusations through clear, documented practices
  • Clubs — from liability and reputational damage
  • Families — by ensuring their children are in safe, ethical programs
  • The Sport — by building a culture that attracts and retains participants

SafeSport Resources:

🛼 The CARS Culture Commitment

Elevating the Sport. Honoring the Art. Inspiring the Skater.

We, the CARS community, commit to maintaining a SafeSport-aligned environment where excellence and empathy grow together.

We pledge to:

This is who we are. This is how we skate. Together.

📘 Developed by the CARS Community
This resource reflects the collective expertise of coaches, judges, and athletes in Competitive Artistic Roller Sports.