Access to qualified professionals
Provision is qualified, available and proportionate to the organisation.
The Standard · 20 indicators
Five pillars, explained from the athlete outward.
Each pillar connects an organisational system to a simple athlete question: what should I be able to see, use and trust here?
P01 / 05
Athlete Support Systems
Checks whether qualified, confidential help exists and whether athletes can actually reach it.
What good feels like
“You should know where to go, what will happen next, and how to ask for help without your selection being put at risk.”
Evidence may include
- Professional contracts or referral agreements
- Athlete-facing support information
- Referral and confidentiality procedures
The four indicators
Awareness and communication
Every athlete is proactively told what support exists.
Check-ins and referral pathways
Wellbeing check-ins and routes to care are defined and used.
Confidential access
Athletes can seek support without unnecessary coaching involvement.
How maturity increases
Bronze asks whether a responsibility or policy exists. Silver asks whether it operates. Gold asks whether it is systematic and monitored. Diamond asks whether practice is embedded, independently verifiable and corroborated by athletes.
P02 / 05
Staff Training & Awareness
Checks whether the people around athletes can notice concern, respond safely and refer within their role.
What good feels like
“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.”
Evidence may include
- Role-based training records
- Refresher schedule and attendance
- Scenario exercises and referral guidance
The four indicators
Training coverage
Training reaches coaches, staff, volunteers and relevant departments.
Recognition and response skills
Staff can recognise concern and respond without diagnosing.
Designated mental-health lead
A named, trained person owns coordination and escalation.
Training cadence and referral skills
Skills are refreshed and referral knowledge remains current.
How maturity increases
Bronze asks whether a responsibility or policy exists. Silver asks whether it operates. Gold asks whether it is systematic and monitored. Diamond asks whether practice is embedded, independently verifiable and corroborated by athletes.
P03 / 05
Policy, Governance & Accountability
Checks whether wellbeing has ownership, resources, athlete voice and board-level accountability behind it.
What good feels like
“Support should not depend on one kind person. It should survive staff changes, budget pressure and a difficult season.”
Evidence may include
- Current policy and review record
- Named board or executive owner
- Budget and athlete-voice records
The four indicators
Written wellbeing policy
A current, accessible policy defines commitments and boundaries.
Leadership accountability
A governing or executive owner is answerable for delivery.
Dedicated budget
Resources are allocated to make provision real.
Athlete voice and policy review
Athletes shape provision and leadership closes the feedback loop.
How maturity increases
Bronze asks whether a responsibility or policy exists. Silver asks whether it operates. Gold asks whether it is systematic and monitored. Diamond asks whether practice is embedded, independently verifiable and corroborated by athletes.
P04 / 05
Crisis Response & Safeguarding
Checks whether serious concerns trigger a rehearsed, country-correct response with clear safeguarding accountability.
What good feels like
“On the worst day, nobody should improvise. You should know how to raise a concern and the organisation should know how to act.”
Evidence may include
- Crisis protocol and rehearsal record
- Safeguarding appointment and escalation map
- Current emergency and external-service contacts
The four indicators
Crisis response protocol
A documented, rehearsed protocol covers foreseeable crises.
Safeguarding officer and incident process
A trained officer owns a visible, non-retaliatory reporting process.
External crisis partnerships
Relationships with qualified external services are established.
Frontline and athlete readiness
Athletes know how to report; frontline staff know what to do.
How maturity increases
Bronze asks whether a responsibility or policy exists. Silver asks whether it operates. Gold asks whether it is systematic and monitored. Diamond asks whether practice is embedded, independently verifiable and corroborated by athletes.
P05 / 05
Culture & Environment
Checks the daily climate: openness, transition support, workload decisions and whether the organisation measures what athletes experience.
What good feels like
“Speaking up should be normal, not brave. Your wellbeing should matter before performance breaks down, not only afterwards.”
Evidence may include
- Culture or climate assessments
- Transition and workload processes
- Actions taken after athlete feedback
The four indicators
Anti-stigma and openness
The organisation actively makes help-seeking safe and ordinary.
Transition support
Athletes are supported through deselection, injury and leaving sport.
Workload and wellbeing balance
Training and organisational load decisions consider wellbeing.
Climate assessment and reporting
Experience is measured and findings lead to visible improvement.
How maturity increases
Bronze asks whether a responsibility or policy exists. Silver asks whether it operates. Gold asks whether it is systematic and monitored. Diamond asks whether practice is embedded, independently verifiable and corroborated by athletes.
One important limit
A policy is evidence of intent—not proof of practice.
Practice-level requirements need implementation records, communication, monitoring, observation or interviews. At higher levels, athlete experience can hold or lower an organisation’s self-reported result; it can never be used as marketing decoration.