Can I find the support route without asking my coach?
Act · the Standard in athlete language
What good support should look and feel like.
A policy on a website is not the test. The test is whether you can find help, trust the route, speak safely and see the organisation learn.
Will someone explain what stays confidential and what cannot?
Can I raise a concern without risking selection or retaliation?
Does the organisation check whether its support works in practice?
P01 / 05
Athlete Support Systems
“You should know where to go, what will happen next, and how to ask for help without your selection being put at risk.”
In practice, you should be able to see
P1.1
Access to qualified professionals
Provision is qualified, available and proportionate to the organisation.
P1.2
Awareness and communication
Every athlete is proactively told what support exists.
P1.3
Check-ins and referral pathways
Wellbeing check-ins and routes to care are defined and used.
P1.4
Confidential access
Athletes can seek support without unnecessary coaching involvement.
P02 / 05
Staff Training & Awareness
“A coach does not need to be your therapist, but they should know how to listen, what not to promise, and where to refer you.”
In practice, you should be able to see
P2.1
Training coverage
Training reaches coaches, staff, volunteers and relevant departments.
P2.2
Recognition and response skills
Staff can recognise concern and respond without diagnosing.
P2.3
Designated mental-health lead
A named, trained person owns coordination and escalation.
P2.4
Training cadence and referral skills
Skills are refreshed and referral knowledge remains current.
P03 / 05
Policy, Governance & Accountability
“Support should not depend on one kind person. It should survive staff changes, budget pressure and a difficult season.”
In practice, you should be able to see
P3.1
Written wellbeing policy
A current, accessible policy defines commitments and boundaries.
P3.2
Leadership accountability
A governing or executive owner is answerable for delivery.
P3.3
Dedicated budget
Resources are allocated to make provision real.
P3.4
Athlete voice and policy review
Athletes shape provision and leadership closes the feedback loop.
P04 / 05
Crisis Response & Safeguarding
“On the worst day, nobody should improvise. You should know how to raise a concern and the organisation should know how to act.”
In practice, you should be able to see
P4.1
Crisis response protocol
A documented, rehearsed protocol covers foreseeable crises.
P4.2
Safeguarding officer and incident process
A trained officer owns a visible, non-retaliatory reporting process.
P4.3
External crisis partnerships
Relationships with qualified external services are established.
P4.4
Frontline and athlete readiness
Athletes know how to report; frontline staff know what to do.
P05 / 05
Culture & Environment
“Speaking up should be normal, not brave. Your wellbeing should matter before performance breaks down, not only afterwards.”
In practice, you should be able to see
P5.1
Anti-stigma and openness
The organisation actively makes help-seeking safe and ordinary.
P5.2
Transition support
Athletes are supported through deselection, injury and leaving sport.
P5.3
Workload and wellbeing balance
Training and organisational load decisions consider wellbeing.
P5.4
Climate assessment and reporting
Experience is measured and findings lead to visible improvement.
What the badge can—and cannot—tell you.
A current award means organisational systems were checked within a published scope. It does not promise that every athlete is well or that harm can never occur. Always check scope, exclusions, dates and status.
Check an organisationSomething does not match?
If there is immediate danger, use emergency or crisis support. For a safeguarding concern, use the dedicated safeguarding information. The formal public-complaints route remains an R2 release gate and will replace generic contact for certification concerns.