According to the National Council of Youth Sports, approximately 60 million children play youth sports every year [1]. While youth sports leagues can have many benefits for children, including building confidence and social skills, young athletes are also at risk of being abused by sexual predators who utilize a sports program to develop close relationships with victims.
Child sexual abuse in youth sports organizations can cause lifelong damage to victims, including anxiety disorders, fear, and a loss of trust in adults [2]. It can impact their school performance significantly, creating issues long after they were sexually abused [3].
If you or your child experienced athlete sexual abuse, Rosenfeld Injury Lawyer can help you seek justice and hold sports organizations accountable for their failures.
WE ARE ONLY ACCEPTING SEXUAL ABUSE CASES INVOLVING INSTITUTIONS.
IF YOU HAVE A MATTER INVOLVING A RELATIVE OR ACQUAINTANCE, PLEASE CONTACT YOUR LOCAL BAR ASSOCIATION
Why Choose Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers
At Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers, our goal is to provide a safe environment for victims to come forward and seek the compensation they deserve for the harm caused by irresponsible organizations or coaches. Working with us offers the following advantages.
Hotel sexual assault case
Coach grooming and abuse
Cruise ship rape settlement
Negligent security assault
Child sexual abuse lawsuit
Therapist sexual abuse settlement
Expertise in Youth Sports Abuse Cases
We have a proven track record of successful representation due in no small part to our deep knowledge of state and federal regulations. Our commitment to protecting children is paired with our litigation of thousands of personal injury cases nationwide to ensure the best possible chances of positive outcomes in a lawsuit.
Compassionate & Confidential Representation
We utilize a trauma-informed approach that prioritizes the well-being of survivors at all times, including the utmost discretion throughout the legal process. As your legal representative, we will handle communications with other parties so you can focus on healing.
Our firm will protect you from third parties and offer resources to manage the healing process, ensuring you’re never alone in this fight. We’ll be there every step of the way, ensuring your voice is heard throughout the legal process.
Youth Sports Abuse Statistics in The USA
According to the US Center for SafeSport, approximately 40% to 50% of athletes have experienced some form of abuse, with the most common type being bullying or emotional abuse [4].
Studies suggest that sexual abuse in sports impacts about 2% to 8% of all athletes, which includes child athlete victims [5]. However, this number may be misleading because 70% of victims of sexual abuse during childhood do not disclose until at least five years later [6].
Research into elite athletes found that 3.8% reported suffering sexual assault during childhood related to youth sports programs [7]. This, too, may be an underrepresentation because the study only considered young athletes who went on to play professionally. Of those studied, 61% reported abuse by coaches or other adults, while 44% were assaulted by a peer [8].
Due to variations in methodology, statistics for sexual abuse cases of children participating in sports teams range from 2% to 48%, with a potential 19% to 92% experiencing sexual harassment [9].
In 2023, the US Center for SafeSport investigated 7,533 reports of abuse or misconduct [10]. 1,584 of these were for alleged sexual misconduct, while another 2,722 were for emotional or physical misconduct; 480 reports specifically related to the Minor Athlete Abuse Prevention Policy [11].
The Center focuses on athletes associated with an Olympic or Paralympic sports organization, including young athletes in training programs.
Grooming Tactics Used by Predators
Sexually abusing a child typically involves grooming. There are a variety of ways that abusers use to gain access to children, including the following.
- Building Trust – Coaches, trainers, or others associated with the sports team will identify potential victims and begin to pay them special attention, offering them special perks or making them privy to “secrets.” One of the most significant warning signs of potential abuse is children spending too much time one-on-one with a specific individual.
- Emotional Manipulation – Using this basis of trust, the perpetrator will encourage the victim to perform sex acts in order to please the abuser. They may also threaten them with being removed from the team or other punishments if they inform others about sexual misconduct.
- Isolation – Sexual abuse often involves isolation, such as ensuring the victim feels alienated from their peers and even their families. They will assure the victim the sexual abuse is “their little secret” and that telling others may get them in trouble.
Parents should always be on the lookout for sexual abuse in youth, including emotional distress, missing practices, vague mentions of discomfort like headaches, or other signs such as poor school performance.
Types of Legal Claims for Youth Sports Sexual Abuse Claims
An athlete sexual abuse lawyer from our team will pursue several types of claims against both the coach responsible and other parties, such as the school district or sports organization. This includes:
- Sexual Assault and Battery – The perpetrator is the foremost defendant we will pursue for choosing to violate a child’s trust.
- Negligence – When an organization fails to protect children, such as school districts failing to perform background checks, our law firm will pursue it for monetary compensation.
- Failure to Report – Those involved in youth athletics have a legal duty to report suspected abuse under Title IX; the sooner action is taken, the better. We can take legal action if individuals or organizations do not uphold their obligations as mandated reporters,
- Conspiracy and Cover-Up – In some cases, like Larry Nassar, organizations intentionally withhold information from authorities and block attempts to seek justice. We can pursue compensation in a civil lawsuit to hold them responsible.
Sexual Abuse Statute of Limitations
Each jurisdiction has its own statute of limitations, some as short as one year. Therefore, filing lawsuits as soon as possible ensures we don’t miss the deadline.
However, there are some exceptions in certain jurisdictions for delayed discovery, which is when the child does not disclose or does not realize they were abused until later in life. For example, a recent California law eliminated the statute of limitations for child sexual abuse entirely.
The statute of limitations for minors is sometimes delayed, or “tolled,” by several years after they reach the age of majority, meaning that children have until age 21 to file criminal charges or civil suits for abuse occurring before the age of 18. This “tolling” differs by state.
Damages You Can Recover for Youth Sports Sexual Abuse
A civil suit is intended to ensure a perpetrator is held accountable for the victim’s healing process through monetary damages. Compensatory damages can include the following:
- Lost wages
- Loss of earning potential
- Medical bills
- Out-of-pocket expenses like therapy
- Pain and suffering
- Loss of enjoyment of life
Punitive damages are also possible. These are meant to punish the perpetrator for their irresponsible actions. Courts award these, but they do not occur in a settlement.
Contact a Youth Sports Sexual Abuse Attorney Today!
Sexual abuse of children is a grave concern in the world of sports, particularly among amateur athletes who place their trust in coaches, trainers, and other authority figures. When this trust is violated, it is not only a betrayal but also a legal matter where the victims deserve to seek compensation and justice for the trauma they have endured.
At Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers, our experienced legal team is dedicated to helping families and victims navigate the complexities of filing lawsuits against those responsible. We believe that those who have been victimized should file lawsuits and pursue the compensation needed to support their recovery and future well-being.
If your child has suffered abuse at the hands of a trusted adult, we are here to fight for you every step of the way. Contact us at (888) 424-5757 or use our online form as the first step toward seeking justice.
Resources: [1] National Council of Youth Sports, [2] Journal of Psychosexual Health, [3] Medicine, [4] US Center for SafeSport, [5] Safe to Compete, [6] Child USA, [7] Child USA, [8] Child USA, [9] Women in Sport and Physical Activity Journal, [10] Deseret News, [11] Deseret News, [12] Centers for Disease Control, [13] National Children’s Alliance, [14] Saprea, [15] US Center for SafeSport, [16] National Public Radio, [17] National Public Radio, [18] National Public Radio, [19] CNN, [20] USA Today, [21] USA Today,