The European Sport Safeguarding Education and Promotion Action (ESSEPA) project has reached its next major milestone with the publication of the ESSEPA Survey Analysis Report. Following the initial mapping of national legal frameworks, this empirical study dives directly into the lived experiences, awareness levels, and practical needs of the university sport community across Europe, providing a critical roadmap for future action.

The report is based on a multi-stakeholder online survey that collected 240 valid responses across 19 countries, representing student-athletes (62%), higher education employees (14%), coaches, officials, referees, and volunteers.

The survey results reveal a significant gap between how safe participants feel on paper versus what they actually experience on the ground:
- The Safety Paradox: While 80% of respondents reported feeling generally safe during university sports events, 59% indicated that they had personally experienced at least one form of transgressive or inappropriate behaviour.
- Prevalent Misconduct: Psychological violence was the most common issue, reported by 14% of respondents, followed by pressure to train or compete despite injury (8%), neglect (7%), physical violence (7%), and discrimination (6%).
- The Reporting Gap: Half of the respondents (50%) were unsure if their institution has an active safeguarding policy or code of conduct. Furthermore, only 48% definitively knew who to contact to report a safeguarding concern, and 18% had no idea what steps to take if they witnessed misconduct.
- Barriers to Action: The most common reasons preventing individuals from reporting abuse were fear of negative consequences (24%), the belief that nothing will change (21%), and a lack of trust in the system (16%).

Despite these barriers, there is an overwhelming desire for change: 79% of respondents expressed a strong interest in receiving safeguarding training, with a clear preference for hybrid or interactive in-person learning formats focusing on abuse recognition, mental health, and professional boundaries.

These empirical insights will directly inform the ongoing evaluation and development of the EUSA Safeguarding and Incidents Policy. To ensure EUSA events remain safe and inclusive, the findings underscore the necessity of moving beyond passive policies toward active, standardized measures.

Key policy recommendations stemming from the ESSEPA research include:
- Establishing common minimum safeguarding standards across all participating delegations.
- Introducing mandatory safeguarding training for all event participants, officials, and volunteers.
- Appointing dedicated safeguarding contact persons to provide clear, trusted, and accessible reporting pathways.

The vital topics of safeguarding, athlete well-being, and positive values in sport will take center stage at the upcoming EUSA Forum on July 19, held in Salerno, Italy. Organized during the European Universities Games 2026 and in close cooperation with project partners and hosts, this forum will bring together university sport leaders, policy-makers, and student-athletes. It will serve as a premier platform to discuss these newly published survey results, share best practices, and chart the next steps for integrating effective safeguarding tools into the daily reality of European university sports.

The complete Survey Analysis Report and other Resources are available on the official website https://essepa.eusa.eu/resources where you can also find more information about the project. ESSEPA is co-funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA). Neither the European Union nor EACEA can be held responsible for them.