More countries curb 1-on-1 coaching of underage athletes to prevent abuse

[Jim Burton]

https://english.kyodonews.net/articles/-/65508

TOKYO - As awareness of abuse and violence toward young athletes has risen, a growing number of sporting bodies around the world are restricting one-on-one coaching of those underage as a precaution.

In the United States, it comes against the backdrop of a series of sexual abuse cases in recent years. Some 470 cases among a record-high 8,098 reported in 2024 to the U.S Center for Safesport -- an independent specialized agency on violence and abuse prevention -- accounted for abuse prevention violations against the minors.

The center, set up in 2017, introduced the Minor Athlete Abuse Prevention Policies, which stipulate that individual training sessions for athletes under 18 must be observable and interruptible, or easily stopped if necessary, even with written consent from a parent or guardian.

"Because child sexual abuse frequently occurs in isolation or in private, we created the MAAPP as a series of protective factors to reduce that risk of harm to minors," said Kyle MacTaggart, the center's Deputy General Counsel, with the rules set under federal law.