By Steven H. Wieczorek & Michael S. Carroll
Providing a safe and secure environment for young persons involved in the sport of soccer is a top priority for officials within US Club soccer. Studies indicate that between 2% and 8% of minor-age athletes are victims of sexual abuse within the sporting framework, with the vast majority of abusers holding positions as coach, teacher or instructor. In response to such troubling data, US Club soccer officials will mandate beginning July 1, 2018 that all US Club Soccer-registered coaches and staff members participate in SafeSport online training in conjunction with their Sideline Sports Doc (SSD) online course and background screening protocols.
The U.S. Center for SafeSport online training program will be available for free to US Club Soccer members and consist of three modules covering the following subjects: sexual abuse, hazing, bullying, emotional misconduct, physical misconduct, harassment (non-sexual) as well as reporting obligations. US Club Soccer-register coaches and staff members will be required to be SafeSport trained by the time of their next background screening. It is recommended that this training occurs as soon as possible and that others within a given club/organization, who may not be required to register with US Club Soccer, become SafeSport Trained.
SafeSport has risen in stature due to federal legislation signed into law in February 2018. The Protecting Young Victims from Sexual Abuse and Safe Sport Authorization Act of 2017 is intended to prevent the sexual abuse of minors and amateur athletes by requiring the prompt reporting of sexual abuse to law enforcement authorities. The bipartisan Act comes in the wake of the USA Gymnastics sexual abuse scandal, during which over 260 young women alleged abuse at the hands of doctor Larry Nassar. The Act makes members of national governing bodies, such as USA Gymnastics, and affiliated amateur sports organizations mandatory reporters of sexual abuse to local or federal law enforcement authorities and requires them to implement standard protections for athletes. The Act also allows victims of sexual abuse to file civil suits against their perpetrators and recover actual or liquidated damages in the amount of $150,000 and costs of the action, including reasonable attorney’s fees. Punitive damages may also be assessed, depending on the circumstances surrounding the case.
The Act extends the statute of limitations for these cases, so that the time limit does not begin until a victim realizes that they have been abused, an important aspect in child sex abuse cases. It also adds a new entity, the Center for SafeSport, to the charter for the United States Olympic Committee (USOC). The Center for SafeSport will be responsible for responding to reports of sexual misconduct within the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Movements as well as for developing and implementing best policies and practices for preventing sexual and physical abuse of amateur athletes. USA Hockey, Gymnastics, Fencing, Volleyball, Track and Field, Swimming, Rowing, and Archery are among the sports which participate in the SafeSport online training modules.
US Club Soccer has also indicated that the need to implement SafeSport training stems from the organization’s Players First philosophy. Players First is a branded, holistic club soccer experience for parents and players, which emphasizes the development of each individual to his or her full potential, and helps parents make better choices about where their children should play. There are five pillars of Players First Support: Club Development, Coaching Development. Player Development, Parent Engagement & Education and Player Health & Safety. SafeSport training is incorporated within the Player Health & Safety pillar, which also provides for education of its member coaches and staff on cardiac conditions, concussions/head injuries, goal safety, conduct, Emergency Action Plans, environmental concerns, and general health and safety tips.
For US Club Soccer and its officials, the goal is to create and sustain the safest possible environment, giving young persons the security to grow and develop within the game of soccer. The implementation of SafeSport training will provide for the requisite education for and screening of the individuals, who can have the biggest impact and most direct contact with these young persons. If these training strategies and platforms achieve the intended outcomes of increasing player safety, then US Club Soccer will score the most important goal possible for the youth of America.
Steven H. Wieczorek is a doctoral student at Troy University specializing in athletic administration and the head men’s soccer coach at Spring Hill College.
Michael S. Carroll is an Associate Professor of Sport Management at Troy University specializing in research related to sport law and risk management in sport and recreation.
