KNOW THE RULES
For child safety in youth sports

According to the American Academy of Pediatrics report titled Sports and Your Child, 26 million children in the United States participate in school or community-based sports programs.¹ The benefits of these extracurricular athletic activities are many and varied. For instance, children can learn about discipline, responsibility, respect, and good sportsmanship. They can also develop self-confidence and a positive self-image, while learning new skills. So, with all of these positive reasons for children to participate, why is there such a sharp decline in participation in sports between the ages of 10 and 18? At the age of 10, 45 percent of children say that they participate or intend to participate on a non-school team, but among 18 year olds, the figure is 26 percent.² According to Martha E. Ewing and Vern Seefeldt, in their study titled American Youth and Sports Participation, it is because children either aren't having fun or they feel pressured or anxious about their performance.³

What can parents do to protect their children and assure both their children and themselves that the experience remains positive and productive? First and foremost, parents should have expectations about the coach and the program. Parents have expectations that when their child goes to school, the teacher will have the training and expertise needed to teach their child and the school will have the standards and guidelines in place to run efficiently and effectively. Their is a tendency to lower the expectations for sporting activities in which the coach is a volunteer and may be a fellow parent or neighbor. Good intentions and a willingness to spend time with children just aren't enough when you're talking about the safety and well-being of children. Parents need to understand that most of the people who volunteer as coaches truly care about children and mean them no harm. The risk comes in the small percentage of volunteers who see the coaching experience as an opportunity to gain access to children for the purpose of exploiting them. Couple that with the trust, respect, and authority that the word "coach" implies, and you've got a lethal combination if the coach chooses to betray that relationship with the child. Children may also be reluctant to discuss their feelings with their parents, especially if they've been taught not to be a "tattletale" and to respect adult authority.

The questions and answers below offer guidelines by which parents can assess their child's sporting activity., including the coach, and help ensure their child's safety and fun in the sport.

1. Does the sports or youth-serving organization do a background check on coaches? This should include a fingerprint/criminal-history check (both state and federal), a check of sex-offender registries, and reference checks. Parents should inquire whether the club or organization has a harassment/abuse policy and whether the coach is certified or a member of a coaching association that has an ethics or conduct code.

2. What is the coach's philosophy about winning and sportsmanship? Children should be given the opportunity to have fun while playing the sport, and emphasis should be placed on individual accomplishments. Children should be praised for playing fairly and trying their best. Parents should be wary of a coach who advocates winning at any cost.

3. Are there other adults who supervise off-site travel? If the coach plays favorites with gifts or treats, or uses his or her authority to be alone with children, that should raise a red flag with parents. The coach should not be alone with children during team sleepovers or trips. You as a parent should know the other adults who supervise or have access to your child.

4. Do children use a locker room to dress, and are there multiple adults present in the locker room when children are using it? If the children are of the opposite sex, there need to be at least two adult supervisors of that sex present. Locker rooms should not be closed to parents, and children should be afforded privacy, but still be supervised by responsible adults.

5. Do you as a parent have input into the sporting activity? Parents should be kept informed through such things as meetings and newsletters. You should be given the opportunity to offer suggestions, particularly on developmental issues. You should be concerned if your child's practices are closed or private. Parents who are involved and attend their child's sporting events not only show support for their child, but also have the opportunity to monitor the coach and the coach's interaction with children. If there is something that troubles you as a parent, your should first talk to the coach about it. If you are still concerned, discuss that concern with the organization's management or administration.

6. Does the coach promise to make your child a champion player or want to spend time alone with your child outside of scheduled team activities or events? Parents should be cautious of such promises or private meetings, because they may be a smoke screen to win the parent's trust ort gain inappropriate access to your child. Once parental trust is obtained, the coach then believes that he or she will have unlimited access to your child. Single parents should also be careful about a coach who appears to want to "take the place" of the absent parent.

7. Do you as a parent talk to your child about how he or she likes the coach or the sport? Parents should always listen carefully to their children. If your child says that he or she doesn't "like" the coach or want to play the sport anymore, it may be a signal of something more serious than a personality conflict or loss of interest in the sport.  As a parent, you should encourage your child to express his or her feelings and keep the lines of communication open. You should be able to speak to your child about personal-safety issues and reinforce the safety rules with your child. Children should be taught that it is okay to say "no" to adults who make them feel uncomfortable, frightened, or confused, and parents should reassure their child that it's okay to tell them if anything happens that makes them feel that way.

End Notes

1. Sports and Your Child. Elk Grove Village, Illinois: American Academy of Pediatrics, 1992, page 1.

2. Ewing, Martha E., and Seefeldt, Vern. American Youth and Sports Participation. North Palm Beach, FL: Athletic Footwear Association, 1988, page 2.

3. Ibid., page 4.