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We Owe it to Our Children to Know Who is Coaching

The recent charges of sexual abuse against a long-time Penn State University football coach should give every parent and those responsible for children pause as they ponder their own child's sport participation.

One must ask:

  • Do we know who is coaching our children?
  • What should we expect from those that coach our children?
  • What can be done to help ensure children participate in a safe and healthy environment?

As former athletes, and now as coaches, coaching educators and parents, we believe that more needs to be done to protect our children. They deserve it. Young athletes do not have the power to protect themselves. Parents and sports program administrators must be vigilant in screening and observing those who coach kids. The vast majority of coaches are positive influences in the lives of our children, but there are always some who are not. We have the power to protect children against manipulative, ill-meaning adults. Yet, it is very possible that we are not taking the very first step - as parents we often do not know who is coaching our children. Pilot data from West Virginia University researcher Dr. Kristen Dieffenbach has revealed that nearly 66% of parents assume (but have not directly asked to find out) that coaches are qualified, certified, and have been screened. Not asking allows those that would harm our children to continue to do so.

We recommend that all coaches undergo a background screening, but that is not enough. Coaches need to go through more extensive interview procedures while being recruited. Further, coaches must understand their responsibility in contributing to the development of our children, and then we have to prepare them to be successful.

Still, extensive interviewing of coaches does not solve the issue of child abuse in sport. We need to raise our expectations of coaches. In these situations it is often a failure in the system that allows abuse to occur. Leagues need to set up procedures and guidelines for educating adults involved in their programs about what is appropriate and inappropriate, and then monitor their coaches. Finally, a mechanism to deal with any concerns that are raised needs to exist - a process that first and foremost protects young athletes but also allows coaches due process.

One thing is clear. We cannot allow this to happen anymore. As parents and members of communities throughout this country we need to hold our coaches to a higher expectation, as well as those that supervise sport programs.

The United States Anti-Doping Agency survey conducted in 2010 revealed that coaches are seen as the number one positive influence on children. If this is the case we have to make sure we prepare our nation's coaches for such a large responsibility. There is an ongoing need for coach training and a need to look at youth sport coaching as a more serious endeavor requiring expertise and ethics.

This is by no means an attack on coaches; good coaches have been some of the most important people in our lives. However, there is a need for coach training that is ongoing. And, there is a need to look at coaching as a profession worth striving for expertise and not just about avoiding bad situations.

This is a call to all parents and sport administrators to expect more when it comes to protecting our children, and even more, creating a positive learning experience. Parents: Know the qualifications of your coach, hold your leagues accountable for providing educational training to those individuals who coach (even for volunteers, many sport governing bodies provide coach training and if they do not there are numerous commercial organizations that provide coach education), and make sure policies and procedures exist that hold coaches accountable for protecting and enhancing the sport experience for all young people.

Some specific actions you can take include:

  1. Ask for your coach to be certified and know their qualifications
  2. Get to know the coach on and off the court
  3. Monitor the situation, but don't be a helicopter parent who becomes over involved and interferes with the coach doing his or her job
  4. Always communicate with your child and listen to them
  5. Educate your child about behaviors that would be considered abuse
  6. Avoid situations where the coach and the child are spending too much time together alone (both for the child and being fair to the coach), expect two adults to be present
  7. Request your organization to look at the CDC's educational materials on abuse and violence (or at least make yourself knowledgeable)

Administrators must apply due diligence by interviewing candidates. Talk to previous employers and sport organizations about aspiring coaches' behaviors, and then monitor their behaviors at practices and games. Most importantly, provide children a simple, confidential, and respectful way to report interactions that are abusive or just don't seem right.

After proper certification, coaches should be provided continuing education. Positively oriented coaches will appreciate these opportunities and will be more capable in fulfilling their duties. Plus, such trained and motivated coaches should make your child's sports program a safer place.

Most of us make sure that our mechanic is certified. Now it's time to ensure our children's coaches are equally or even more prepared for their role. Screen, educate, certify, and monitor coaches to ensure another tragic incident does not occur. Why would leave the training of a coach, who will highly impact our children's lives, to chance?

Resources:

Written by:

The following coaching experts support this statement:

Contact:

Dr. Larry Lauer, Media Contact, Institute for the Study of Youth Sports,
Michigan State University
lauerl@msu.edu
517-353-5395

Posted Nov 28, 2011

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