Athlete Sexual Abuse

Athletes deserve safety, respect, and trust, not exploitation. If you or your child experienced sexual abuse in sports, our experienced sports sexual abuse attorneys are here to help you fight back.

Athlete sexual abuse occurs when an individual is in position of trust such as a coach, trainer, staff member, or even another athlete engages in any inappropriate sexual behavior toward an athlete. When the athlete is a child or teenager, the abuse is even more severe because of the imbalance of power and the vulnerability of young athletes.

This abuse can happen in many forms, including:

• Unwanted touching or physical contact
• Sexual comments, jokes, or conversations
• Forcing an athlete to perform sexual acts
• Grooming (building trust with the intent to exploit)

Athlete sexual abuse can happen at any level like youth sports, high school, college athletics, or professional teams. Many survivors stay silent for years out of fear, shame, or because the abuser is a respected figure in the sports community.

Unfortunately, sports sexual abuse is far more common than most people realize. Research show:

• 8% of athletes experience some type of sexual abuse during their sports career.
• Among the best athletes, the numbers are even higher as 15% to 18% reported being sexually abused, and many cases involve coaches or staff.
• In youth sports, 1 in 4 girls and 1 in 13 boys experience athlete sexual abuse at some point. Few sports settings can create situations where predators take advantage of trust and authority.
• Most perpetrators are trusted adults such as coaches, trainers, or officials which makes victims afraid to report what happened.

It is difficult to detect sexual abuse because it often happens in private. Still, there are warning signs that might indicate something is wrong:

Behavioral Changes in the Athlete

• Sudden withdrawal from the team or sport
• Loss of interest in activities they once loved
• Unexplained anxiety, depression, or mood swings
• Drop in performance or frequent excuses to avoid practice

Unusual Relationship with a Coach or Staff Member

• The coach spends excessive one-on-one time with the athlete
• They exchange secretive messages, texts, or gifts
• The athlete is isolated from teammates and parents during events

Physical or Emotional Signs

• Unexplained injuries or pain
• Fear or discomfort around a particular person
• Extreme reactions when someone brings up that individual

These signs don’t always mean abuse is happening, but they should never be ignored. If something feels off, it’s important to ask questions and seek help immediately.

When sexual abuse happens in a sports setting, responsibility often goes beyond the individual abuser. These may include:

1. The Abuser: The person who committed the abuse whether a coach, trainer, team doctor, or staff member is directly responsible.
2. Coaches and Staff: If other team members or staff ignored warning signs or failed to report abuse, they may share liability.
3. Sports Organizations and Clubs: Leagues, schools, colleges, and private sports clubs can be held liable if they failed to properly check backgrounds of coaches, ignored complaints or warning signs and did not enforce safety policies.
4. Governing Bodies: National or state athletic associations that manage sports programs may also be responsible if they neglected their duty to protect athletes.
5. Schools and Institutions: If the abuse happened in a school or college sports program, the institution could be accused of negligence in supervision and failure to act.

It’s important to hold these parties responsible as it not only provides justice for the survivor but also forces organizations to make sports safer for everyone.

Coach sexual abuse claims in sports are not like any other legal cases. It involves difficulties such as powerful organizations, complex liability issues, and survivors who may fear retaliation or loss of their athletic career. So it’s important to work with a sexual harassment attorney who understands the world of sports and abuse cases.

Here’s why a specialized attorney makes a difference:

• They have knowledge of sports organizations and policies
• They are experienced in handling complex liability
• Trauma-Informed Approach
• Fight to provide you maximize compensation
• Helps you fight against powerful institutions
• No Upfront Costs

If you or someone you love has experienced sexual abuse in a sports setting, getting the right athlete sexual abuse lawyer can change everything. They can protect your rights, help you heal financially and emotionally, and make sure no one else suffers in silence.

If anyone of you has experienced any type of sexual abuse in sports, you don’t have to keep it to yourself. Get legal action now and take help from our experienced team to get justice and compensation.