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Youth Sports Sheltered Abusive Coaches
2 Sep
Summary
- Organizations failed to protect children from abuse.
- Banned coaches continue working with young athletes.
- SafeSport list bypassed by major sports groups.
Investigations have uncovered significant failures within youth sports organizations to safeguard children from abuse. Reports indicate that individuals banned by SafeSport, a federal initiative designed to protect young athletes, are still actively coaching children. This systemic oversight allows coaches accused of misconduct to bypass prohibitions and continue their involvement.
One major nonprofit, the Amateur Athletic Union (AAU), has been identified as a particular concern, with at least eight coaches banned by SafeSport reportedly still working under its umbrella. Despite the AAU's stated commitment to athlete protection, these findings raise serious questions about their enforcement of safety policies.
Further reporting highlighted a Texas volleyball coach who, despite being banned by SafeSport and subsequently investigated by Homeland Security, continued to coach. This individual previously denied allegations, attributing them to defamation efforts.
The ongoing investigation seeks to identify more instances of banned coaches operating undetected and aims to understand how abusive coaches deceive parents. Special attention is being given to basketball, where SafeSport's influence is reportedly less pronounced.
