Today, many parents are going the extra mile to give their kids every chance to succeed, especially in sports. From private coaching to elite summer camps, the drive to gain a competitive edge often begins early. Sports like baseball, hockey, tennis, and gymnastics now demand year-round commitment and intensive training to reach the highest levels. For many families, these programs represent more than just skill development, they’re often seen as stepping stones to college scholarships or even professional careers.

It’s no surprise, then, that some parents are investing in top-tier summer programs for their young athletes. However, with the proliferation of these programs comes the need for increased vigilance around who is running them. Whether it’s a summer league, sleepaway camp, a weekend tournament, or one-on-one training sessions, these activities can place kids in unsupervised or semi-supervised settings with adult trainers and coaches who are often relative strangers. Even if they are people you think you know well, having proactive conversations with your child about what constitutes abuse and what to do if they encounter it can not only help prevent harm but also empower your child to speak up if something feels wrong.

It’s not about being fearful, it’s about being informed. You are placing trust in trainers, camp staff, drivers, chaperones, and team doctors to care for your child in your absence. The unfortunate truth is that, while these adults are there to coach your child and support their athletic development, they also have the potential to cross boundaries and abuse that trust.

What Constitutes Child Abuse in Sports?

According to mass.gov, child abuse is “the non-accidental commission of any act by a caretaker upon a child under age 18 which causes or creates a substantial risk of physical or emotional injury or constitutes a sexual offense under the laws of the Commonwealth or any sexual contact between a caretaker and a child under the care of that individual.” Abuse in youth sports is rooted in the inherent power dynamic between athletes and coaches, making young athletes vulnerable to all forms of abuse. And when the team is winning, or the child is excelling, questions and concerns tend to be pushed aside. Child abuse in sports can take many forms, including:

  • Physical abuse
  • Emotional and psychological abuse
  • Bullying, including physical, verbal, emotional, and cyberbullying
  • Harassment and hazing
  • Sexual abuse
  • Grooming

What is Grooming?

In order to keep children and young people safe, it’s important to understand the concept of grooming. Grooming is a deliberate process where an abuser builds trust with a child and/or their family in order to facilitate sexual abuse, and can happen in person or online. The U.S. Center for SafeSport warns that since grooming involves manipulation, it can be hard to tell the difference between the actions of a caring adult and one who is grooming your child for abuse. Some telltale signs of grooming could include creating opportunities to be alone with your child; getting close to them by acting like a friend, instead of a coach; insisting on physical contact such as hugging or touching; communicating in secret online, or offering private lessons, gifts, or privileges no one else gets. Parents will sometimes ignore these warning signs in the mistaken belief that this means their child has exceptional talent that the coach or other staff member wants to develop. Recent allegations made by Alex Cooper of the popular podcast Call Her Alex, against a BU soccer coach claim this type of grooming behavior.

Most child sexual abuse or grooming is perpetrated in isolated, one-on-one situations. While child sexual abuse often occurs after or alongside grooming, abuse does not always take place. Similarly, perpetrators can also sexually abuse a child without grooming them beforehand. We encourage you to have ongoing, age-appropriate conversations with your children about personal safety, boundaries, and what to do if something doesn’t feel right (see the resources listed below).

How Can You Protect Your Child From Sexual Abuse in Sports?

While laws like the SafeSport Act are a valid attempt to keep kids safer, you know your child best. Watch their mood, look for changes in behavior, and monitor their attitude in relation to the sport to determine if something might be wrong. Try to be as involved in the organization as possible so you can monitor what goes on. Since predatory behavior usually builds over time, you, as a parent, can watch for unusual coaching behavior to try to catch abuse before it starts. Bullying at games, angry outbursts, inappropriate flirting between players and staff, or coaches who encourage excessive hugging or physical contact are all red flags. Whether it’s for your town’s summer league or an out-of-town skills camp, there are a few additional steps you can take to keep your child safe from sexual abuse:

  • Make sure everyone associated with the program has had background checks
  • Ask about the organization’s abuse prevention policies, like those in the Minor Athlete Abuse Prevention Policies (MAAPP)
  • Ask whether and how often staff are required to have training on how to spot and report abuse
  • Ask to see abuse prevention policies and procedures
  • Ask to be copied on all communication with your child
  • Check in with your child regularly to make sure they’re still enjoying the sport
  • Help your child set boundaries and empower them to say “no”
  • Teach your child never to be alone with another adult
  • Speak up when you see concerning behavior from coaches, volunteers, administrators, or older teenagers
  • Set guidelines for local and overnight travel, and make sure your child is comfortable with everything and everyone involved

Above all, keep lines of communication open—with your child, your child’s coaches, and other parents. Let your child know that they can tell you or another trusted adult if something is wrong, that you will always believe them, and that they should never keep secrets from you.

Contact an Experienced Sexual Abuse Attorney

Participating in youth sports has many benefits, and we hope you and your child have a positive experience this summer and beyond. If you have any questions or need to speak with an experienced sexual abuse attorney, call us for a free, confidential conversation. Our compassionate legal team works with survivors of child sexual abuse, and our in-house victim advocate is available to provide a safe, non-judgemental space in which to process what has happened. From your first conversation with us, you’ll have someone by your side who understands the emotional toll of trauma and is there to offer guidance, comfort, and practical support.

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