Asd and ssd

In amateur sport an anti-abuse guardian

It must prevent and combat discrimination, violence and abuse against members. An implementation decree is awaited for the definition of information obligations and fulfilments

by Jessica Pettinacci, Giacomo Scicolone and Gabriele Sepio

26 August 2025

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(Photo by Magnus LEJHALL / TT NEWS AGENCY / AFP) / Sweden OUT

2' min read

2' min read

The sports reform introduced the obligation for amateur sports associations and clubs (Asd and Ssd) to adopt organisational and control models for their sports activities and codes of conduct to protect minors and for the prevention of harassment, gender-based violence and any other form of discrimination.

A compliance activity that involved hundreds of thousands of entities on the basis of the indications provided by Coni in Resolution 255/2023 and according to the guidelines adopted by its affiliating bodies (federations, associated sports disciplines and sports promotion bodies).

The safeguarding manager

In addition to this, there is also an obligation for Asd/Ssd to appoint a person responsible against abuse, violence and discrimination (responsible safeguarding). This person is responsible for preventing and combating all forms of abuse, violence and discrimination against members and for ensuring the protection of the physical integrity of sportsmen and sportswomen.

It is clear that, in order to perform their duties, they must be an autonomous and independent person - also with respect to the social organisation - to whom remuneration can be paid for the activity performed. The inclusion of these figures in the job description for sports workers published last April by the Department of Sport must be understood in this sense.

Inclusion in sports work would, however, appear to be relevant only with regard to specific disciplines on the basis of what is stated in the technical regulations of some federations. This is the case, for example, with the baseball and softball federation or the hockey federation, which include safeguarding among the tasks required to perform their sporting activities. This is an aspect that must be clarified, given that this activity is transversal and is mandatory for all Asd/Ssd registered, regardless of the sports disciplines performed. Also in order to avoid hypotheses of unequal treatment for the safeguarding managers of entities in accessing the advantageous taxation that is provided for sports workers.

Regulation in progress

It should also be considered that, although the deadline for appointing the person in charge has now passed (31 December 2024), the implementing decree for regulating the discipline is still missing. That is, the one that should contain specific provisions to protect the health and safety of minors engaged in sporting activities, including fulfilments and obligations, including information, on the part of Asd/Ssd (Article 33, Legislative Decree 36/21).

Pending this implementing decree, national bodies and associations have structured themselves by outliningmodels and procedures that are effective in combating any form of abuse and discrimination.

The reporting channels towards the head of the Asd/Ssd presuppose, in any case, a reporting to the national head for safeguarding. The role of the latter is certainly articulated. On the one hand, it is a person who performs the functions ofsupervision but also has the task of taking appropriate initiatives for the prevention of conduct and of reporting any relevant conduct to the competent bodies. On the other hand, it is a figure that relates both with the head of the affiliates, whose activities must be coordinated in compliance with the diversity of the tasks assigned to them by the Coni regulations, and with the Coni Permanent Observatory for safeguarding policies, with which it has the obligation to report every six months.