WGI Sport of the Arts is committed to building a community where participants can learn together in an atmosphere free of emotional, physical, and sexual misconduct. We are proud to introduce WGI Studio, our new online learning management system, and Participant Protection Practice (3P), WGI’s custom built, four-year, progressive learning pathway designed to build a strong foundation of safety, ethical behavior, and proactive prevention across the WGI community.
Prior to working with participants, all adult supervisors must complete the Participant Protection Practice (3P) courses, beginning with Course 1: Setting the Standard.
WGI defines an adult supervisor as “an individual in a managerial, instructional, design, or volunteer role spending two or more hours in-person per season with participants.”
Completion of Participant Protection Practices training can be tracked by group directors through WGI Studio. For the 2026 season, all adult supervisors must complete Course 1: Setting the Standard by December 31, 2025. All groups will be audited for Participant Protection requirements prior to the season; groups not in compliance will be removed from their registered event(s).
Additional details:
The first course will cost $17 per learner.
- Courses may be purchased individually by learners or groups may purchase in bulk to distribute among their personnel.
- The course will taken an estimated 30 minutes or less to complete and will provide valuable resources to save at the end of the course.
Participant Protection FAQ
Abuse prevention training is essential to creating a culture of safety, trust, and accountability within the WGI community. Every adult in a supervisory role has a responsibility to foster environments that are emotionally, physically, and psychologically safe. These trainings are not just about compliance but rather about equipping adults with the tools to recognize, prevent, and respond to misconduct in ways that prioritize well-being. Our training goes beyond basic definitions; it is tailored to the unique dynamics of performing arts settings and emphasizes proactive relationship-building, appropriate boundaries, and ethical leadership. This shared educational foundation helps ensure that all participants, regardless of where they come from or who they are, feel respected, seen, and protected.
- Groups may bulk purchase the access to the training.
- Details coming soon.
While we commend and support the important training initiatives of school districts, completion of district-mandated training does not fulfill the WGI Participant Protection educational requirement. WGI’s educational modules are specifically designed to reflect the structure, relationships, and cultural nuances of the marching arts. Because WGI cannot review, regulate, or align external trainings with our standards and philosophies, our training remains a required and separate component. That said, we believe additional training is a sign of deeper commitment to participant safety. District trainings are excellent resources for understanding localized policies, reporting obligations, and institutional protocols and should be viewed as complementary to WGI’s program, not as replacements. Together, they offer a more holistic and layered understanding of abuse prevention.
Yes. Our commitment to providing a safe, supported, and strengthened environment extends to those groups participating in our virtual events.
Yes. Anyone serving in an instructional role – regardless of age – is required to complete WGI’s Participant Protection training. Instructional roles carry a duty of care, and this training ensures all individuals understand appropriate boundaries, reporting responsibilities, and participant safety expectations. For minors, we recommend obtaining parental consent, assigning adult supervision, and providing clear role guidance.
WGI requires this training to uphold a consistent standard of safety across all participating groups. The cost is assigned to individuals or ensembles rather than covered by WGI to ensure that those assuming instructional or supervisory roles take shared responsibility for their training. Ultimately, the training is an investment in the safety and well-being of every participant, and it reflects the seriousness of the role we all play in shaping the culture of our activity. WGI remains committed to offering high-quality, targeted education at minimal cost, and we continue to subsidize administrative and development expenses to keep that cost as low as possible. Many groups choose to cover this cost for their staff as part of their program budget.
Not at this time. Currently, WGI’s Participant Protection Practices (3Ps) training is required and available only for those involved in groups participating in WGI-sanctioned events or as WGI personnel (staff, volunteers, judges). However, our long-term goal is to expand access to this training across the broader WGI community by the 2027 season. In the meantime, please see our free educational best practice guides and should you have questions or need guidance please reach out to Dr. Will Frankenberger, Director of Participant Protection, at will@wgi.org for support.
Please direct your questions regarding the training to Dr. Will Frankenberger, Director of Participant Protection at will@wgi.org.
No. While we appreciate the efforts of other organizations to promote participant safety, WGI’s Participant Protection training is specifically designed to reflect the unique dynamics, values, and expectations of the WGI community. Because we cannot review or regulate external trainings for alignment with our standards, completion of another organization’s training does not fulfill WGI’s requirement. However, we encourage you to view such trainings as complementary and part of your continued commitment to participant well-being.
WGI made the decision to transition away from SafeSport to provide a more customized, relevant, and accessible educational experience for our community and to deepen our ownership and commitment of the work. While SafeSport offers important training, it is designed primarily for national governing bodies in Olympic sports and does not fully reflect the specific dynamics, relationships, and environments present in the marching arts. Our new Participant Protection Practices training is tailored to the unique needs of performers, educators, and volunteers within WGI. It allows us to directly align content with our values, prioritize scenarios and guidance relevant to our activity, and respond more quickly to emerging issues or feedback from our participants.